http://www.abebooks.com/Mammal-Trac...racks-Scat-Life-Size-Tracking-Guide/13982031891/bd?cm_mmc=gmc-_-gmc-_-PLA-_-v01
Enjoy
The best way to do this is dirt time
Take a camera a straight stick with two rubber bands on it to measure stride and something to give scale to the photos.
Hair spray to stabilize the soil, plaster of Paris for casting.
Depending how deep you get into this build a sand box so you can experiment with thrust ridges and angles.

 

I don't know much about tracking, but I've picked some things up just from being out there a lot. As far as identification, that can be made easier by knowing what animals habitate that area. Is that print a cougar, a bobcat, a coyote, or a wolf? If it's smudged and worn it may be hard to tell even to an expert. But if you know that coyotes are the only large pawed animal in that area, process of elimination tells you what the print is.

Another trick is to lay out a smooth area of fine dirt or sand so it will be prime for a footprint impression if something passes through. That doesn't really help you identify things you come across on the fly, but if you are in an area for a while it's a good strategy.

I was able to kill a javelina once in an area where I had no idea they lived in. One day I see hoof prints show up in a dry creek bed near one of my coyote sets. The javelina was coming in stealing the bait. Never saw one before or after except for the day I killed it. And the only reason I knew it was there and was prepared to hunt it was because its tracks gave it away.

 

I don't know much about tracking, but I've picked some things up just from being out there a lot. As far as identification, that can be made easier by knowing what animals habitate that area. Is that print a cougar, a bobcat, a coyote, or a wolf? If it's smudged and worn it may be hard to tell even to an expert. But if you know that coyotes are the only large pawed animal in that area, process of elimination tells you what the print is.

Good thinking. One thing to remember if you're determining between canine and feline tracks is that canines cannot retract claws, and felines can. So you typically don't see claws on mountain lion tracks. Canines will always have claws.

The best way to learn this is get a book or an app and go find tracks. Sandy or slightly muddy areas nears creeks, ponds, and food sources are good places to look as you can find good imprints easily. But you also learn about the habitat and what animals would frequent the area. Like berry bushes and bears, for example. Although it's not hard to tell bear tracks

Az

 

j j j j sidewinder.

Cougar Mountain Lion type. Normal walk 44" between prints with this boy.

 

FYI Tom Brown Jr has some excellent books on tracks and tracking.

https://www.trackerschool.com/default.aspx


Added

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Brown is considered possibly the best tracker in North America.