Like others said above, just being out there, being quiet and patient, with big ears, big eyes and a little mouth pays big dividends. I just spent two weeks in very close jungle doing army stuff, which was two weeks of never talking above a whisper and always moving slowly and quietly. I’ve seen cassowaries before in built up areas where they’re used to people but never a wild one. Well there was plenty of sign of them out there and my two scouts and I got the jump on one (at bowhunting range) while leading an entire platoon through the jungle. That’s about 30 guys, all carrying rifles, machine guns, HE weapons and carrying packs of around 20-30kg. Goes to show how far a little field discipline, quiet deliberate movement, can go.
The point I’m struggling to make is that being out there, quiet and observant, regardless of what you’re actually out there for, affords you the greatest opportunity for learning. At least in my experience.
That being said, having an experienced mentor, even someone who is only more experienced in a particular environment, to go out with would be of immense value as well.
Jim
PS
The height of field discipline was shown by one of my guys. After laying still on our stomachs for about 8 hours in pouring rain, the rain let up, sun came out and a snake came slithering out of the undergrowth and snaked it’s way across this fella’s back. He didn’t move a muscle, make a noise or anything. And this was a day after one of my guys was casevac’d for a serious snakebite!
