The equipment needed for tracking is minimal. A good beginner's text is "Tracking From The Ground Up" by Sandy Ganz and Susan Boyd. Visual learners may benefit from Sandy Ganz' video: "Tracking Fundamentals". Essential equipment includes only a few stakes, an old leather glove and a long line. Most people track with their dogs in a non-restrictive harness. While it is not required, it is usually easier than tracking with a dog on their collar. Rubber boots and raingear are also a good idea for the comfort of the handler! THE most essential thing that is required (besides the dog) is LAND.

Large lawns such as those found in Industrial Parks are ideal to start on because the grass is cut regularly throughout spring and summer, yet they don't usually get much foot traffic. City parks are usually more "contaminated" with lots of different scents (and as such are better for training for Urban Tracking). Farmers will often allow responsible trackers to use their fields after the hay has been cut, as long as they ask permission.

Basically, you can get into tracking for under $100: $25 for a harness from Wal-Mart, $20 for a long line/leash, about $40 for a book, and a few dollars for stakes. A four wheel drive vehicle is nice for getting into (and out of) the fields... I won't tell you how much you'll spend on gas...