The MWTP and Original Wisdom cohosted our third year of trailing programs, from November 2-12. While Dr. Kersey Lawrence was unable to join us this year, she tapped Preston Taylor to support us all in learning and growing our tracking skills with the elk and deer of northern Wisconsin. Preston led us through two workshops and two evaluations, based out of Forest Lodge in Cable, WI. This historic site is ideally situated, with deer on-site and elk roaming the Town of Namakagon transfer station and Chequamegon National Forest public lands just 10 minutes' drive from the lodge.

Many thanks go to the thirteen participants in the workshops and evaluations this year, as well as to Allison Zaccardi for researching and preparing food for this year's meal plan option. While many participants this year are regular MWTP Tracking Club participants in the Twin Cities, we extended a warm welcome to new folks from Wisconsin, northern Minnesota, and Vermont. 

Our explorations identified several groups of elk moving about the landscape, as well as numerous deer. During our time on the land, Preston offered plenty of excellent advice to support every tracker. Perhaps his most memorable tip: “F[orget] the tracks! It’s all about the animal.” 

Congratulations to the seven folks who received trailing certificates during the evaluations:

Level I: Kim Chisholm, Erica Schroyer

Level II: Chris Chisholm, Bill Kass

Level III: Sophie Mazowita, Kirsten Welge, Ben Wymer