NORTH WISCONSIN
WOLF COUNTRY
Wildlife Tracking Workshop and Certification
Sun/Mon: August 10-11
Wed/Thurs: August 13-14
Sat/Sun: August 16-17
LEARN THE TRACK & SIGN
OF ALL TYPES OF WILDLIFE
You’re invited to participate in one of two Wildlife Track and Sign workshops being conducted in Wisconsin’s Wolf Country in the Eagle River and Three Lakes area. These two-day field experiences are fun, participative workshops with an emphasis on learning to identify all wild animal track and sign by looking at real tracks we find across the landscape and discussing exactly how to identify them.
LIMITED TO ONLY 11 PARTICIPANTS
Limited to only eleven participants, we’re bringing in one of the top tracking instructors and evaluators in the United States, Matt Nelson, a highly experienced Track and Sign Specialist and a gentle, wonderful teacher and mentor.
This two-full-day field experience in the beautiful Eagle River Area of Northern Wisconsin will immerse you in the art and skill of reading the hidden stories of animals by examining the clues they leave across the landscape. You’ll discover how to see and interpret animal behavior that was previously “invisible” to you.
NO EXPERIENCE NEEDED
The training emphasizes the development of reliable field skills to recognize tracks and identify the animal’s behavior. No prior tracking is required to participate but preparation and prior experience is extremely helpful for those for whom obtaining a certificate is important. The underlying impetus, however, lies in the rich educational benefit for all participants.
LEARN HOW TO INTERPRET ANIMAL SIGN “INVISIBE” TO OTHERS
When is the last time you’ve had the experience of seeing animal tracks and wondered what animal was there? Was it a dog or a mountain lion? A bobcat or a fox? Where was it going? What was it doing…. and… where is it now? If you would like to have the skill to be able to see and interpret wild animal sign that is invisible to “normal people”, we invite you to participate in this one-of-a-kind immersive field training.
TUITION FOR THE FULL 2 DAYS AND A FREE “PREP DAY” THE DAY BEFORE THE TRAINING: $395
EARLY BIRD SPECIAL
Register by May 1, 2025 for $375.
THREE STEPS TO REGISTER:
STEP ONE: First, make sure there is a spot available by emailing me, Terry Hunefeld, at thunefeld at Gmail dot com (or use the contact me form at the bottom of this page). Include your (1) name, (2) phone number (3) the date of the event you wish to attend and (4) if you would like to stay in the lodge (see below), specify the type of lodging you wish & the exact dates you wish to stay (see “Reserve Your Spot” under Lodging Details below). I will respond – usually within an hour or two, but certainly within 18 hours.
STEP TWO: When you receive my reply clearing you to register, go ahead and register by paying the applicable tuition (and all applicable lodging fees) via Venmo or PayPal.
Pay by Venmo: William-Hunefeld Last 4 phone digits: 3453. Pay by PayPal: thunefeld at Gmail dot com. Please code the payment as a “friend” or add 5% to cover the fee that will be deducted on my side, or add an additional 5% if you don’t utilize the “friend” option.
STEP THREE: After paying by Venmo or PayPal, please let me know by email and stand by for confirmation that you are registered, paid and enrolled – usually within a few hours if I am in cell range. I will then follow up with more information as the event draws nearer.
QUESTIONS? Email me at thunefeld (at) gmail (dot) com or use the “Contact Terry” form below. To learn more about me and why I host these events, see the YOUR HOST section below.
SCHOLARSHIPS If you’re involved (work or school) in any aspect wildlife conservation and cannot afford the full amount of tuition, TCNA offers a Financial Access Scholarship Program
Our Classroom: The Outdoors
The entire weekend consists of field training. Our classroom is the outdoors. Our teachers are the animals themselves. Our instructor finds animal track and sign, then a dialogue ensues between the instructor and participants to provide the opportunity for everyone involved to internalize field marks and interpret wildlife behavior. The learning retention is unparalleled.
The training emphasizes the development of reliable field skills. No prior training is required to participate. The less you know, the more you will learn.
ACCOMODATIONS & CAMPING
During these trainings, the real fun and camaraderie occurs when trackers are together to share stories and experiences. Stay with other trackers at the lodge (see below) or here are other options. Lodge bedrooms, bunks and camping is LIMITED (first come, first served).
When I travel to other areas of North American to participate in these trainings, I often share a VRBO or AirBnB with my tracker friends because we have a blast. That’s why for programs I host I rent a chalet or lodge in the woods with space for camping. We always have a ton of fun because we are like-minded people interested in wildlife conservation.
Should you wish to stay elsewhere, that’s perfectly okay. There are plenty of campgrounds south and east of Eagle River. We recommend camping as close to Three Lakes as possible. For example, Laurel Lake Campground and Three Lakes Campground are nearby and have good reviews with photos on Google Maps. There are many hotel accommodation options in Eagle River.
THE LODGE
Limited room; totally optional. I rented a brand new (built 2024) 4 bedroom, 3 bath lodge in the woods between Eagle River and Three Lakes with limited room for camping on the grounds of the lodge.
LODGING DETAILS: I reserved and paid for a beautiful, newly built lodge with 3 bathrooms on 2 acres of land surrounded by pines near Loon Lake between Three Lakes and Eagle River with room for a total of 3 campers (tent, hammock, RV, camper, pickup cab, etc). Campers will have full use of the house (including bathrooms and kitchen) and be able to share in group meals. The lodge has 3 bedrooms, each with a queen bed. There is also a “Bunk Room” with 2 queen beds (the lower bunks) and two double beds (the upper bunks).
OPTIONAL EVENING MEALS: Terry’s wife, Ann Dunham, will be preparing hors d’oeuvres and meals each evening and will make daily trips to the grocery and can purchase ice for those with ice chests if requested. If you wish to participate in the delicious group dinners, the charge is $12 per evening meal including home-made hors d’oeuvres … or feel free to prepare your own evening meals (and bring your own cooler).
REFRIGERATOR: There is only one refrigerator – reserved for Ann’s preparations of group meals. There is plenty of room in and around the lodge for coolers – if you plan to drive to Eagle River, please bring a cooler!
BUNKROOM: Two Queen bunks (bottom bunks) are $45 per night. Two double beds (over the queen beds with ladders) are $35 per night. Minimum stay 2 nights in the bunkroom. Checkout is 9am following your last night to allow us time to wash the linens.
PRIVATE BEDROOMS: $135 per night for one person, $165 per night for two people. Minimum stay 3 nights. Checkout is 9am following your last night to allow us time to wash the linens.
LIMITED CAMPING: Outdoor camping is available for 3 campers (tents or campers) for $30 per night with full use of bathrooms, kitchen and living areas. (Be sure to bring a cooler if you require refrigeration).
RESERVE YOUR SPOT: Pay for accommodations when reserving. Please note that The Lodge has limited bedrooms, bunk beds and camping (first come, first served). Be sure to state exactly the nights you wish to reserve, using the day and the date. Checkout time for bedrooms and bunk beds is 9am the following your last night (so we have time to provide clean linens for the next guest).
BATHROOMS: All bathrooms will be open to all participants, whether camping, bunking or in private bedrooms.
YOUR HOST: TERRY HUNEFELD
Contact me by using the "contact us" section below or email me at thunefeld (dot) com (at) gmail (dot) com.
Find me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/thunefeld
and on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/terryhunefeld/
and on iNaturalist
https://www.inaturalist.org/people/thunefeld
At the left I hug my New England tracking buddy Bob Etzweiler. I’m the one holding the ice cream cone after tracking all morning with Bob in Vermont & Massachusetts.
I hold both Professional and Specialist Track & Sign Certificates from Tracker Certification North America (TCNA). My wife, Ann, and I live in a tiny desert village – Borrego Springs, California – surrounded by a thousand square miles of Sonoran Desert wilderness known as the Anza Borrego Desert State Park. I am a board member of the San Diego Tracking Team, certified Naturalist for California State Parks, an outings leader for the Anza Borrego Desert State Park, the Anza Borrego Foundation, and the Anza Borrego Desert Natural History Association. As an avid advocate for the TCNA Cybertracker learning process, I participate annually in 10-16 Track & Sign certifications around North America.
Contact Terry
Learn more about Tracker Certification North America and the Cybertracker Process
Refund & Cancel Policy
Finding replacements for cancellations is difficult and a lot of admin work. If there is any possibility that you may need to cancel, we highly recommend trip insurance, available for as little as $25 (see below). Our cancel policy is:
⦁ 60+ days before = 100% less $75 cancel fee if you or we can find a replacement. We will maintain a waiting list.
⦁ 59-30 days before = 50% refund if we can find a replacement. 100% refund less $75 charge if YOU find a replacement.
⦁ Less than 30 days before = 25% refund if we can find a replacement. 100% refund less $75 charge if YOU find a replacement.
⦁ Less than 10 days before = no refunds.
Refunds are given only if you or we (we will maintain a waiting list) find someone to take your place. In the unlikely event of program cancelation, 100% of deposits will be refunded. Deposits for lodging are not refundable.
Trip Insurance
Please consider trip insurance to avoid the sting of losing your deposit in the event you must cancel. Finding trip insurance is simple on the internet – there are many – a good site recommended by Forbes offers you multiple options: Travelinsurance.com. A search in September 2024 resulted in $500 of coverage for as little as $23.04.