AGING: Process for determining the time lapse since sign was made. This would include taking into consideration the effects of natural elements (rain, sun, dew, etc.) on the ground and vegetation impacted by footfall.
 

BACKING: Walking backwards usually with the intent to confuse the sign by trying to indicate a different direction of travel.
 

BROKEN TWIGS: Small broken particles occurring from footfall on twigs or branches.
 

BARRIERS: A term used to describe man made or natural objects such as fences, roads, ditches, creeks, hills, and banks.
 

BRUISING: Damage to vegetation from footfall usually depicted by a darker coloration than the natural color of the plant itself.
 

BRUSHING OUT: The attempt to obliterate sign using branches, grass, or clothing articles to “brush” the area containing sign.
 

CAMOUFLAGE: Disguising or concealing sign. Using leaves or other natural vegetation to cover sign. Attempts to confuse direction of travel and/or number of persons in the area.
 

CLOSING THE GATE or BOX: Methodology in cutting sign. The effort to continue cutting sign from one point and completing a 360 degree cut back to that point.
 

COMPRESSED AREAS: Area of ground surface which shows compression or flattening from footfall. Many times compression includes loose debris pressed into the soil.
 

CONTINUITY OF SIGN: Finding contiguous sign at regular intervals and of similar identity.
 

COUNTER TRACKING: Using different methods to disguise or confuse sign making it difficult to follow or interpret.
 

CRYING: The resulting leaking of fluids from the injured area of a plant that has been damaged by footfall. It is usually manifested by a dark green color in the damaged area.
 

DISTURBANCE: The displacement of naturally occurring items or debris on the ground.
 

DISLODGED ITEMS: Sticks, rocks, and other items that have been moved by footfall; usually from incidental tripping, kicking, or scuffing.
 

FALSE TRAILS: Sign that is not related to the primary sign. False trails could include animal sign or sign from other unrelated human passage.
 

FLAGGING: Vegetation pushed or forced forward from footfall or passage is called “flagging”. Sometimes the vegetation will be intertwined. Direction of travel can be determined by the direction of the flagging.
 

FLANKERS: Tracking team members on the right and left of the point person. Their responsibility is to watch for sign leaving or coming into the “prime sign area”. They also assist the point person who is responsible for locating and following the “prime sign”.
 

GRASS TRAIL: The flattening and bending of grass which indicates passage of humans or animals. Another term that is associated with “flagging” and “shine”.
 

HEEL MARKS: The indentation of the ground made from the impact of the heel of the footwear.
 

HEALING: The natural process which occurs when vegetation repairs itself after being damaged. Recognizing the stages of healing is an important factor in aging sign.
 

INVENTING SIGN: Fabrication of sign happens when students misinterpret the evidence of sign found or try to make unrelated sign fit. Fatigue is a large causal factor in inventing sign.
 

KICK: The forceful impact of footwear to the ground usually causing significant disturbance including the scattering of debris forward of and around the impact area.
 

LIGHT ANGLE: The angle from the light source to the ground. Proper use of light angle is very important in seeing sign more readily.
 

LINE OF SIGN: Line of sign consists of the contiguous sign found step by step all attributed to the same person.
 

LITTERING: Scattered debris, refuse, and other foreign material attributed to human presence or passage.
 

PLS: Place last seen. The last place the person of interest was seen.
 

PERIMETER CUT: Methodology in cutting for sign. Making cuts for sign to confine or eliminate areas where sign is worked.
 

POINT PERSON: On a three person team the “point person” is the middle team member whose primary responsibility is locating and following the prime sign while the other members (“flankers”) watch for sign leaving from or coming into the “prime sign area”.
 

PRIME SIGN: The isolated and unique track of the person of interest.
 

PRIME SIGN AREA: The area subsequent to the last footfall to where the next footfall should be. The tracking stick will aid in finding the “prime sign area”.
 

SCUFF MARK: A mark or disturbance attributed to footwear scrapping the ground.
 

SHINE: The light reflection from compressed surfaces on the ground. The surfaces can be soil, grass, or moss. The light reflection will be very different from the undisturbed area surrounding the compressed areas.
 

SIGN: All evidence of human passage.
 

SIGN CUTTING: Methodology of using multiple tracking teams to move sign in a rapid but controlled manner. The use of additional team(s) to use appropriate cutting area (ground cover, barriers, etc.) to advance sign.
 

SIGNITURE TRACK: Footprint characteristics such as marks, dimensions, and tread patterns that are unique only to the person being followed.
 

STRIDE: The measurement from the heel (or toe) of one footprint to the heel (or toe) of the subsequent footprint. Distance between footfalls plus the length of the foot.
 

STRIDE INTERVAL: The measurement from the toe of one footprint to the heel of the subsequent footprint. Distance between footfalls.
 

TOE DIGS: The resulting impression to the ground surface from the toe of the foot as the foot moves forward from the heel to the ball of the foot to the toe as a stride is taken.
 

TRACKING TEAM: Ideally, three persons compose a “tracking team” consisting of a “point person” and two “flankers”.
 

TRACK TRAP: An open ground area that usually will allow for sign to be seen much more readily because of the lack of ground cover. This open ground can be manmade or occur naturally. Loose soil or sand is even more advantages as a “track trap”.
 

TRACKER BURNOUT: A condition reached when a tracker becomes fatigued and loses concentration. The tracker can also become temporarily visually impaired because of eyestrain.
 

TRANSFER: Soil, debris, vegetation, etc. that adheres to the bottom of the foot and is deposited on subsequent tracks.
 

VEGETATION DAMAGE: The observable breakage, smashing, compressing, bruising, splitting, or other damage done to vegetation by walking on or brushing such vegetation.