Recognizing nocturnal tracks vs. daytime movement.

I've seen this mentioned on the forum and in magazines but never heard how best to distinguish the two. Anybody master this or know how it’s done?

I think I may be falling victim to hunting nocturnal tracks during my day hunts.

Thanks

 

A trail camera will answer your question.

 

That should do the trick.

 

Now that you mention it, thats sound obvious. I'm just not comparing foots prints with pixels

I'll do that in the future.

You guys are wicked smart here.

 

Wicked smart would be the art of being able to look at a track and know if it was made at night or during the day.

 

You might be able to discern a little more about the tracks without using a camera as well. For instance, which direction are the tracks headed in. If you know where the animal typically beds or feeds, direction will be a great clue as to when the track was made.

You can also determine the age of the track by looking at any aging signs it might show. A track is an area of compressed and displaced substrate. The soil in the deepest part of the track will keep it's shape longer than the soil at the top of the track. Get an idea for the soils in your area and how they change over the period of 24 hours. It can be subtle, especially if there is extremely calm weather, but it will be there.

Moisture is a tracker's friend. When a soil is moist, it not only produces a more prominent track, but as it dries the difference in the substrates becomes more prominent.

If you find a spot with a track that will take an impression relatively easy, use your finger or make a fist and press it into the ground. After about ten minutes, do the same thing right next to it. You might be surprised to see how different the two will be. Use the differences as a guide in aging the animal track.

Weather can play a big role in helping you read a track. Use recent storms to help you age when possible.

 

Afflicted, usually if the tracks appear in spots that appear to be too good to be true, they are nighttime tracks. At least they are that way where I hunt. If the tracks appear in a wide open field or a place with little cover they are more than likely nighttime tracks. If they appear closer to cover/edgelines/around bedding areas or other hidden/cover spots, the chance that at least some of them are made during the daytime increase.

 

If its a well traveled area you could take something maybe a brush top and sweep out the
tracks late in the evening and then check the area early next morning if you find tracks they are made at night.

As for looking at the tracks maybe maybe consult your local indian
scout

 

General rule is: in the open at all and theres alot of them then it's usually at night, at least that's my experience.