Customer Reviews

Tactical Tracking Operations

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I had read Scott-Donelan's book seven years ago and had went through his tracking class with a friend from my police department back in 1999. So I got to be trained and met David and two of his instructors. I absolutely loved Scott-Donelan's booked and recommend it to anyone going to do tactical tracking. It was well put together with good stories of Scott-Donelan's time in combat in Rhodesia. I have read several other tracking books and this is probably the best in tactical tracking. I am a member of the tracking team for the Washoe County Search and Rescue team in Nevada and had to purchase this book because I had lent my other book out and never got it back. Great book as far as I'm concerned.

This book is about tracking men-armed and violent men. I know David Scott-Donelan well and graduated from the TTOS he now operates full time. His training is the best in the world. When our military figured out they needed tactical tracking training after we got into Afghanistan they found the best in world. They found David Scott-Donelan a 30-year guerrilla warfare veteran in both Rhodesian and South Afrikan military commando units. You see, properly identifying, tracking and then apprehending or eliminating armed and dangerous subject(s) is serious business. David is the best in this business and this book reflects the pride and professionalism you rarely see anymore. If you want the best tactical tracking operations information buy this book. If you're interested mystics, myth, or malarkey there are other books on tracking to buy. This one is for keeps!

Scott-Donelan writes a good book on tracking. He points out at the beginning that other books (such as Jack Kearney's) are a fine supplement and details HOW and WHY his book is written. The chapters are concise, accurate when it comes to the subject matter and VERY instructive. The one detractor in these Reviews indicates a collection of 'self-congratulating' war stories. Didn't see it, read it, find it. There are discussions of requirements, techniques, cautions and equipment. Methodology, outlook or attitude and results are discussed. Good book. Won't replace actual training but that is stated at the beginning. Worth the read.

David Scott-Donelan with this fascinating book brings his hard learned lessons of aggressive mantracking as he used in the counter-insurgency bush wars of Rhodesia and South Africa. His techniques were gleaned from the elite units (Rhodesian SAS, Selous Scouts, and South African Recces) he served with and instructed in the craft of combat tracking. He does not conjure up spirits from the spirit world to interpret spoor but uses techniques of observation and reduction, with a little common sense. His book covers all fundamentals of mantracking on up to equipment selection, multiple team operations, and follow-up methods to list but a few. Donelan has also taken these tried and proven techniques and has slightly modified them for use in law enforcement employment; using tracking as a tool to apprehend fleeing suspects or escapees, to its use and employment in a search and rescue role. All I can say is if you are to own one book on tactical/combat mantracking this is the book, with its 30 years plus of experience between the covers. Donelan is currently working on a follow up book (working title unknown) so keep your eyes open for it. Also if his book is just not enough and you need or want hands on experience or training; Check out his courses on tactical tracking at his website "Scott-Donelan Tracking School".

I found this book to be very helpful. We use this as a text book for advanced tracking in our Search and Rescue team.

I have enjoyed the opportunity to take several classes with the author of this book. I suggest that this is a must read book for any tracking operation. I find myself reviewing this book frequently.

I'm prejudiced. I have served in combat as a pointman/tracker and was taught the step-by-step approach, had some minor success with it and was wounded several times as a result. You simply cannot serve as a pointman and a tracker at the same time without serious consequence. You can't have your eyes on the ground and your eyes on the bush at the same time. The Tactical Tracking Operations School method offers proven and reliable tactical tracking techniques honed from decades of combat experience in a number of conflict zones. What you get with David Scott-Donelan and this book is a remarkable introduction into the world of tactical tracking from someone with impressive credentials. This isn't esoteric hype or 'Hey! Let's go search for grandma' tracking. With Tactical Tracking Operations you're getting decades of hard fought and earned experienced confined in just several hundred pages. You won't learn to become a tactical tracker with one reading nor will you earn a badge or beret. That comes from hands-on, boots on the ground missions against armed enemies who are determined to do you harm. Then, if you're oh so fortunate-to survive you learn to refine those techniques, learn in spite of your ego, and realize the value of those like Scott-Donelan and what they bring to the table.
Perhaps that is why elite Special Operations units today employ his Tactical Tracking techniques and why it is even part of the Marines Combat Hunter program.
I have high respect for Search and Rescue teams who go out to bring back those who are injured or lost just as I do for those trackers who introduce something of real value into the mix. However, Tactical Tracking is for combat or special operations missions where the need to know which weapons work best, which cammo pattern assists the team members in the bush, and which tactics and strategies can save lives out weigh the nonsense of puffed up personalities vying for time in the limelight.
If you're looking for a book that delves into what tactical tracking is all about without the hoopla, hype or gloss then you need to add David Scott-Donelan's book to your library. It is battle born and battle bled and all you're risking here is a papercut.
Now, let me hear a loud Hoo-ah and Semper Fi for all of those honorably serving in uniform. And while we're at it, let's hear one for Scott-Donelan as well.

Great book that is a must for anybody interested in tracking from world's premiere tracker. Good reference for any tracking team member or leader to read and set their team's training/standards to. Goto the TTOS if you are military, law enforcement, or search and rescue-you will truly see the world with new eyes and this book will complement that training!

I bought this after a Search and Rescue mission, hoping to get an insight on tracking subjects that may be avoiding the search teams.

The author spends over half the already short text on either self-congratulatory war stories or "my favorite gun" weapon reviews. The latter in fact are so totally subjective as to be essentially useless. (As a side note, it was the only time in my life I've EVER heard the Mini-14 referred to as having "excellent accuracy")

This book is a definite pass. After a quick skim, I sent it straight back to Amazon to get Jack Kearney's "Tracking, a blueprint for learning how."

One of the best book I had about African trucking, and security issues out in the bush, etc.
Told by a real African tracking/hunting professional, having great war experinces.

Do not hesitate to get this book, it is really excellent.
Regards Victor Riman

Study material about this very specific field of military training is very rare and this book i guess is the best among them.
Written by real professional. Based on historical examples and selfexpirience.
After reading this book you willn't become a tracker but in join with US Army recon plt FM it will give you not only understanding of the tracking military art but also will provide with some useful basic practical skills