Tracker: Case Files & Adventures of a Professional Mantracker

By Joel Hardin and Matt Condon Joel Hardin

Tracker is a much requested recounting of homicide case files, missing person searches and other legendary adventures of Joel Hardin during his thirty year law enforcement and tracking career. True tracking skill is detailed in a wide variety of cases from the tracking and capture of armed fugitive Artie Ray Baker who executed a U.S. Customs Inspector to the following of six-week old footprints to find trekker Robert Bogucki in the Great Sandy Desert of Western Australia. Joel tells of his beginning with the U.S. Border Patrol and surreptitious border crossers where he became a recognized Sign Cutter and tracking expert. Technical tracking chapters of Tracking Basics, Sign Aging and Advanced Tracking provide reader insight to understand tracking concepts and Joel's principle ?trackers see that which others look at and do not see.' Walk the trails of true tracking adventures with Joel as he tells the stories in his ?round the campfire? style.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0975346008
• ISBN13: 9780975346006
• Release Date: January 2004
• Publisher: J. Hardin]
• Length: 432 Pages
• Weight: 2.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Tracking, history, good stories

This book is not just for search and rescue personnel or trackers specifically - this book contains suspenseful stories, a thoughtful appreciation of the outdoors, and a very interesting piece of history concerning the desert southwest and the U.S. - Mexican border. Wake up your inner-adventurer and dare to dream about how an age-old skill can be used for modern rescue and crime-solving.

As a Search and Rescue tracker, I found the book superb

Joel's book was very intertaining, useful and readable. It is a treasure of stories that train. I have attended his training courses (twice) and found the committment and loyality he expresses in this book absolutely accurate. The book is fun and the casual reader will enjoy it as much as the professional.

Getting a taste of man-tracking tracking lure

The easy reading and "puts you out there with me" style of Joel Hardin makes this book both entertaining and informative for anyone who ever wondered how to find a needle in a haystack with an informed plan of attack. For those less familiar with the art and science of man tracking, this book is enough to make you want to change professions and join the world community in a field where there is a real need -- for "sign cutters." In a high tech world where societies depend on robotics more and more to go beyond man's capabilities, this is one sigificant instance where man's skills need to be preserved and utilized.

Joel Hardin~Master Tracker ~Master Storyteller

Joel has trained my Search & Rescue unit in the art of tracking which is my main resource to finding lost people. Joel has trained Hundreds of Search & Rescue units and Law Enforcement agencies here in the U.S. and in countries around the world. He has also trained our U.S. Special Forces in tracking methods that are designed to keep them alive and complete their mission. Joel wrote that he didn't want to create a "how-To" book, but his book is a wealth of tracking information for anyone at any level of tracking. Advanced students will learn from Joel's numerous stories where he applied out of the box thinking to the successful missions. Joel also has dedicated chapters on "Tracking Basics" "Advanced Training" and "Aging Sign", as well as chapters on "Search & Rescue Tracking", " Law Enforcement Tracking" and "Military Tracking". Stories are true life adventures that will enterain everyone. A great tracking book with 432 pages, to add to your collection. A great book for everyone wanting to read the adventures of a professional mantracker who has dedicated his life to serving our community and teaching others. Bob Brady V-President Snohomish County SAR.

The Real Deal

I first read this book in parts, then from cover to cover. Now, every so often, I revisit a chapter. In addition to the book being filled with interesting and useful information about tracking, it is absolutely beautifully produced. World renowned tracker, Joel Hardin, has fulfilled the longtime request of his students and admirers by publishing this book. Interspersing case files and mantracking adventures with instructional techniques for tracking makes a subject that is often considered esoteric accessible. Reading about real life success stories using the art and skill of tracking to find missing persons and criminals inspires those of us who use tracking in our search and rescue work to refine and further develop our skill. Don't miss this book. It is absolutely inspired!