EarthTracks

Veteran Suicide Rate

Dwight — Sun, 04 May 2008 15:11:03 +0000

Veteran Suicide Rate

Within the past year I have applied for VA benifits and have started taking better care of my health to include mental health. My experience at the VA has been positive and it has been a good for me. I recieve a letter or notice at least once a month from the VA covering suicide awareness and prevention information. I didn’t realize how big of a problem it is until now.

Over 1000 suicide attempts by Vets each month, 12,000 a year.

About 120 Vets commit suicide every week, 18 a day, over 6000 a year.

This is much higher than the national average. Can we do more to support those who have served our country?

I have suffered for years with depression, and will have to deal with it for the rest of my life. I thought I was alone, now I realize I have too much company.

God Bless Our Troops and Our Veterans

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/11/13/cbsnews_investigates/main3496471.shtml

Dave Hamilton Remembered

Dwight — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 21:15:37 +0000

Urban Coyote

Dwight — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 13:28:39 +0000

Brett Johnson, the Dallas County Urban Wildlife Biologist gave a great presentation on the Urban Coyote for the Friends of Cedar Hill State Park. The meeting was on Saturday the 4th at 7pm. Brett shared several stories, current reseach, and information on the Urban Coyote.

Man vs Wild

Dwight — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 04:09:38 +0000

I thought this was an interesting article. I don’t have cable TV, so I’ve only seen this show, “man vs Wild” a few times and I’ve never seen the other show “Survivorman”. The time I did watch a few of the epsiodes I thought it was entertaining, but had too much stuff that would and could be dangerous to do in a real situation. I’ve been in survival situations, not by choice, and it’s your brain (knowledge), your mindset, and making well thought out decisions that save your life. Taking some of the chances I’ve seen on this show isn’t smart.

Read Story

I don’t consider myself an expert. I sure don’t have world experience. However, while many others have read books, watched videos or tv shows, I’m probably in the woods working, learning, applying my skills and knowledge. I consider myself an experienced woodsman. I know my area (Texas, and surrounding states up to Missouri) and understand the principles of nature and survival. I respect these guys for doing their tv shows, but folks it’s tv…entertainment. True survival probably wouldn’t get the ratings.

One last thing… if it’s man vs wild… wild will always win. Survival isn’t a fight against nature. You survive by playing by the rules of the natural world.

updated Peterson Field Guide

Dwight — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 01:13:27 +0000

I recently recieved an updated version of Animal Tracks by Olaus Murie and Mark Elbroch in the Peterson Field Guides. I was glad to see that Mark Elbroch wasÂ chosen to update Olaus Murie’s work. A new quick reference track key has been added to the front as well as several pictures which are throughout the book. Comments by Mark were placed throughout the books as updates were noted and made. I enjoyed the insect, bird, amphibian and reptile sections with photos. If you only own one tracking book. This should be it.

Hillbilly Wisdom

Dwight — Sun, 08 Jul 2007 22:10:58 +0000

“It is what it is, ain’t nothing more, or less. Deal with it, then move on.” D Wilson

Cedar Hill State Park

Dwight — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 14:06:08 +0000

Septmeber 15th I will be presenting a wildlife tracking workshop at Cedar Hill State Park. Explore the woods of Cedar Hill just south of the DFW metroplex. The workshop will begin at 10am. For more information visit Cedar Hill online.

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/findadest/parks/cedar_hill/

Research Schedule

Dwight — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 20:34:03 +0000

The following dates I will be in Austin, Texas working for the University of Texas. The project dates are field times for a mammal survey. Information is gathered by track and sign, camera traps, trapping, visual identification as well as other methods.

June 22nd-24th
July 27th-29th
Aug 3rd-5th
Aug 10th-12th
Sept 21st-23rd

Essential Skills of a Tracker

Dwight — Thu, 31 May 2007 18:32:43 +0000

Personal Skills

Awareness and Sensory Development
Fieldcraft Skills
- Leave No Tracks camp skills
- Wilderness First Aid
- Wilderness Survival Skills
- Land Navigation Skills
- Communication Skills
Naturalist Knowledge
- Field Hazards
- Eco Systems and Habitats
- General Knowledge of Trees, Plants, Birds, and Indicator Speices
- Knowledge of Mammals
Research Skills
- Live Trapping and Camera Traps
- Use of Line Transects
- Field Data Collection Methods
- Computer Skills

Tracking Skills

Track and Sign Identification
- Track, Scat and Sign Classification
- Track and Sign Interpretation
- Aging Track and Sign
- Journals,Â Drawing, Photography, Casting
- Measurments
Landscape Tracking
- ablility to predict and anticipate track and sign
Trailing
- Step By Step Tracking Method
- Lost Track Drills
- Individual and Team Trailing
Signcutting
- Locating Track and Sign
- Cutting Ahead and Closing the Distance
- Interpretation of Sign Story
- Multiple Team Follow Trailing
- Trailing Wounded Animals

Tracker Kids Campout

Dwight — Tue, 29 May 2007 14:44:31 +0000

My good friend and fellow tracker Scott Matula is hosting the Euless Tracker Club Campout at Cedar Hill State Park. This is a yearly event for these kids. They get to apply skills that they have worked on all year. Mr. Matula will be putting these kids through several events including wildlife tracking, fire by friction, shelter building, survival skills, aidless navigation, trapping, stalking, camouflage, and self defense. This is one of my favorite events of the year. I can’t wait to help out.

Saturday and Sunday June 1st and 2nd.