Tracking Strategies - Marshall Amplification Field Marshall 100 Owner's Manual

Ow ner's Manual

Tracking Strategies

The Marshall receivers and transmitters are the finest available
to telemetry users. While good equipment helps, good
technique is equally important when your animal is really lost.
Most of the time you'll find it absolutely no problem, but there
are those times when you'll want every advantage possible.
Here are some techniques that can help:
Before starting
Always check your transmitters for a strong antenna connection
and for any kind of corrosion on the battery contacts. Check
your transmitter's battery or use a new one. The battery is the
most likely component in your sy stem to fail. Also, test your
receiver batteries and have spares ready. Turn on the
transmitters and attach to the animals. Select the channel of
each transmitter and adjust the tuning for the optimal (loudest)
sound.
The Initial Bearing
When you first lose the animal, use your receiver immediately
to acquire the signal. You may not be able to run back to the
vehicle; the receiver should be with you and ready. Try to
determine the animal's direction through your last visual contact
and by considering its past behavior. A strong signal indicates
you have line-of-sight conditions. A sudden weakening of the
signal indicates the animal has just gone over a hill.
Whatever you do, don't lose the signal. While driving use an
omni-directional antenna on your vehicle roof. Stop frequently
to take new bearings, depending on how far away the animal is
and on your confidence in your estimating its direction and
speed. Your goal is to keep within range of the animal until you
have an indication it has halted, through the activity sensor on
the transmitter or the lack of change in the signal.
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