SCOUT TRACKING
Way of the scout

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OUR HISTORY (MOUNTAIN HAWK SCOUTS)

 

The way of the Indian scout was a warrior rite of passage. They learned the skill within the tribe by observation, meditation, and by doing. They became warriors one skill at a time, day by day. They would be tested to warriorhood with various ordeals depending on the tribe. From stealing horses, stalking close to the enemy, touching an enemy warrior by hand, knife, or bow, capturing slaves, and killing the enemy. The Native American War Tactics were admired and learned as part of every irregular group, unit, and government that graced the America’s. Many of them trace their heraldry back to men and units that learned their skills from many of our ancestors. They even employed them within their ranks to accomplish their objectives. The skill today is acquired in a similar way adapted for our modern times. 

•    Colonial, Union, & Confederacy Indian Scouts (1634-1865)
      o    Pequot War, French and Indian War, Revolutionary War, War of 1812,                        American Civil War.

•    U.S. Army Indian Scouts (1866-1947)
      o    Texas-Indian War, Apache wars, Navajo Wars, Yavapai War, Spanish-                        American War, Border War, WWII, and other government work.

•    Alaska Native Scouts WWII (1942-1947), Alaska Territorial Guard
      o    Aleut, Athabaskan, Inupiaq, Haida, Tlingit, Tsimshian, Yupik, and Non-                    Native (Over 6,000 scouts throughout Alaska, 107 villages/towns/cities                    from Barrow to Metlakatla).

•    U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Native American Trackers            (1972-Present), Tohono O'odham Nation in southern Arizona "Shadow                    Wolves"

      o Tohono O'odham, Blackfeet, Lakota, Navajo, Omaha, Sioux, and Yaqui

•    U.S. Marshals Scout-Tracker Unit (1998-2012) District of Alaska (Tactical Tracking Unit—TTU)

•    U.S. Marshals Scout-Tracker Unit "Mountain Hawk Scouts" (2002-2006) District of Wyoming (Mounted Tracking Unit—MTU) 

      o    Joint Task Force - Native Tracker (U.S. Marshal Mountain Saemie) and                      Non-Native (U.S. Marshals/US Secret Service Agents/State, County, and                  Municipal Officers) 
 

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ELEMENT 1 - SCOUT TRACKING PRONG (STANDARD)

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• Five Management Areas of Visual Tracking

  • Spoor Management- The ability of the SCOUT to recognize and interpret spoor. Indicators may include:

    • Spoor confirmation is accurate and at appropriate times.

    • Appropriate analysis and interpretation of quarry behavior from spoor.

    • Can recognize and interpret both bottom and top spoor even over hard substrate.

    • Recognizes when there is no spoor and why.

    • Notices spoor contamination and interpretations are accurate.

  • Trail Management- The ability of the SCOUT to anticipate quarry actions and therefore the quarry spoor. Indicators may include:

    • Uses the Tracker’s Triangle & Track Pursuit Drill for trail maintenance.

    • Uses the Extended Spoor Area to follow the trail.

    • Moves the trail at a smooth pace-not too fast, not to slow.

    • Institutes appropriate Lost Trail Procedures with the Track Casting Drill.

    • Ability to re-establish trail after losing it.

  • Risk Management- The ability of the SCOUT to mitigate and anticipate trailing dangers. Indicators may include:

    • Demonstrates knowledge of quarry behavior (security halt procedures, etc.).

    • Recognizes changes in quarry behavior indicating danger.

    • Monitors the wind for minimizing and maximizing scent cones.

    • Leaves the trail using the offset method when danger is present and mitigates all danger to himself and team.

    • Can determine the location of the quarry and other dangerous animals without risk to self and team.

  • Terrain Management- The ability of the SCOUT to understand OCOKA and project the trail to terrain for mission enhancement. Indicators may include:

    • Uses terrain to project quarry movements.

    • Uses cover and concealment to approach quarry and withdraw from quarry.

    • Uses listening and security halts as needed.

    • Notices and minimizes alarm and warning calls of local animals.

    • Employs additional scouts and trackers to move the trail along.

  • Security Management- The ability of the SCOUT to take appropriate security measures for the trailing mission. Indicators may include:

    • Appropriately negotiates the signs of environmental and quarry dangers.

    • Institutes noise and light discipline (hand/arm signals, etc).

    • Maintains appropriate Time Distance Interval or Gap for mission.

    • Quarry remains unaware of scout or tracker.

    • Scout or tracker sees quarry before quarry notices scout or tracker.

    • Does not place scout OR team in danger.

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