Kite.henley/sandbox
Stalking
Stalking is the ability to move undetected. Camouflage to make these moves successfully. The ability to stalk or move without making any sudden quick movement or loud noise is essential to avoiding detection.
You must practice stalking if it is to be effective.
Upright Stalking
Take steps about half your normal stride when stalking in the upright position this will help you to maintain your balance. You will also be able to freeze at any moment and hold your position as long as necessary. As you get closer to the quarry place your foot down so the outside edge of the foot touches the ground first then roll to the inside ball of your foot, place your heel down. As you place your foot feel for sticks and twigs that may snap as you place your weight on them, should you feel a stick or branch under your foot, lift your foot and move it. Gradually shift your weight forward to the front foot. Lift the back foot to about knee height and start the process over again.
Keep your hands and arms close to your body and avoid waving them about or hitting vegetation. When moving in a crouch, you gain extra support by placing your hands on your knees.
Crawling
Crawl on your hands and knees when the vegetation is too low to allow you to walk upright without being seen. Move one limb at a time and be sure to set it down softly, feeling for anything that may snap and make noise. Be careful that your toes and heels do not catch on vegetation.
Leopard crawl
To stalk in the prone position, you do a low, modified push-up on your hands and toes, moving yourself forward slightly, and then lowering yourself again slowly. Avoid dragging and scraping along the ground as this makes excessive noise and leaves large trails for trackers to follow.
Progression of stalking
It would be very tedious to leopard crawl for 1 000 metres - so when stalking your quarry we apply all of the different techniques depending on the terrain and how suspicious the quarry is.
- When you are further away, and if there is decent cover, you could walk quite easily and close the gap between yourself and the quarry. Be sure to lift your feet to prevent scuffing noises and kicking stones or stepping on dry sticks.
- As you get closer and if the vegetation is lower then you may need to crawl. This is slower than walking but it is faster than leopard crawling the whole distance.
- Once you are really close or if you have to cross an open area with little cover, then you may need to leopard crawl. But this is very slow and hard on the elbows and knees.
Adapted from: http://www.i4at.org/army/ch21.htm