With the aid of flashlights, night tracking becomes an easy extension of tracking during the day. A flashlight can be readily used to highlight the features of a track by holding it close to the ground and at a low angle. This allows the small features of the track to throw shadows which causes them to stand out as well or better than low angle sunlight. The flashlight needs to be a low density light with a broad beam which will not wear out the eyes as the tracker will be starring at the beams spot for quite some time. Today's flashlights are designed for various specific functions, most of which offer a bright adjustable beam of white light that will illuminate objects at a distance. The ideal flashlight for night tracking is a common cheap flashlight that will cast a soft light without the shadow ring often found with brighter lights. A three "D" cell flashlight will last in the field longer and is preferred. Head lamps, while useful for walking trails at night, are not to be used for tracking while mounted on your head, this would offer the worst light angle for identifying tracks. A hand held flashlight gives the user control over the beam and can be held at a much lower angle to the track.

Care needs to be taken when using a flashlight in the vicinity of other members of the tracking team. Waving the beam around will invariably wind up zapping one or more of your team members, causing not only intense discomfort but rendering them unable to see for quite some time. Only the point person should have a light in the vicinity of the prime sign area, this allows everyone on the team to focus in the prime sign area together. The light must always be kept low to the ground and moved slowly over the prime sign area. Jerky movement causes confusion and leads to premature eye fatigue. Frequent rests with all lights off are needed if the team is to make it through the night.

One of the prime benefits of night tracking is that the subject may stop moving, allowing the teams to catch up. Also going out at night may give the tracking team a head start over other search resources which ordinarily wait for daylight. This will give the teams access to the search area before other searchers have a chance to trample over sign.

Back