I have often been asked about casting footprints, here is a basic how to for anyone who has never cast animal (or Sasquatch) footprints:
Footprint casting:
Casting footprints is not as easy as one might think, or fast. Preparation can make casting a smoother process.
Here is a list of things I recommend, but you are not limited by this.
1: plastic bucket.
2: latex gloves
3: at least one 5 gallon water container.
4: plaster of paris
5: container to keep unused plaster in and dispense from
6: scoop for plaster
7: knife, I use a buck knife, works very well
8: trash bags
9: hand towel
10: cardboard box
11: newspaper or bubble wrap
12: tape measure
13: camera
Casting footprints is time consuming and messy, and before you start casting, you'll want to thoroughly photo document all the footprints.
After photo documenting tracks, choose the one's you wish to cast. It will take normally one 5 pound box of plaster "per footprint" (Sasquatch). Plaster can be obtained from most hardware stores (Lowes, Home Depot, etc.).
Before starting with Sasquatch footprints, practice on animal and human footprints; begin with your dog or cat's footprints.
Practicing will enable you to perfect your skills at casting before casting the important ones and help prevent mistakes that could cost you that important print.
When you are ready, take your plastic bucket, and pour in the contents of one 5 pound box of plaster. Wear latex gloves as it works best to mix the plaster with your hands, removing all dry lumps as possible.
The plaster dries your hands, the gloves help prevent this. Clean up is much easier also.
You will want the plaster the consistency of pancake mix after adding water. Add water slowly as not to make the plaster too runny. Thick is good, but liquid enough to be able to pour it. After practicing this awhile you will get the hang of what thickness works best.
When you get the thickness you want your ready to pour. Be careful not to wait too long while mixing as the plaster begins to set up (harden) as soon as water is added to it.
Pour slowly and lightly use your hand to push the plaster to fill in all parts of the footprint.
Repeat this with all footprints you want to cast. You may have to clean your bucket depending on how many tracks you are casting, you will be able to tell as you go along.
After the plaster is poured, you may have up to two hours to wait for it to be dry enough to remove from the ground. Once in a while after the surface of the plaster feels dry and hard, tap it gently. It will feel hard enough eventually, this is where the knife comes in.
You will have to dig around the cast; do not try to just pull it from the ground because it will break apart.
Dig around it entirely and as far under it as you can, then lift it gently out when it’s loose enough. The plaster will still take up to a week to dry enough to handle it and clean it.
You can brush some of the larger pieces of soil off the cast, but its best to give it time to dry; you have plenty of time later to clean it properly.
Wrap it in newspaper and gently place it in a cardboard box for transport. When cleaning casts, a dental pick with a rubber tip helps the small cracks and a toothbrush with soft bristles. Don’t try to clean it fast or all at once take your time and you will end up with very nice footprint castings.