As advised by her attorneys, she revoked the suit to enhance the case. Teaming with Bigfoot researcher Todd Standing, Ackley is gathering every piece of evidence possible to once and for all prove in the legal system, on-the-record, that Sasquatch is real.

Claudia, a 46 year old Crestline CA resident, hiked with her two daughters in the San Bernadino Mountains on March 27th 2017 when she noticed something large in the oncoming tree-line. Thirty-feet high in a tree sat a giant being: “He looked like a Neanderthal man with hair all over him. He had solid black eyes. He had no expression on his face at all. He did not show his teeth. He just stared at the three of us.” She reported the encounter, but the authorities dismissed her experience, insisting that she just saw a few bears.

Prior to this encounter, Bigfoot was already part of her life. Her interest began in 1997 on a camping trip when something growled outside her tent. Investigating, she saw something large, hairy, and on two-legs scurry away into the woods. Seventeen years later, a 2014 sighting in Washington (on a trip with other Bigfoot enthusiasts) bolstered her intrigue.

After the most recent encounter she felt even stronger about her belief in these creatures, and, along with it, a guilt-driven duty to protect people just like her and her family. People need to know what is out there:

“I just felt ashamed at that point. I just felt, why? I need to do something. This is not right,” Claudia lamented. “We all go out in the woods. We all go hiking, camping, hunting. We know that we might run into a bear, a snake, we know that. We are aware, so we have the choice to go out there. Let’s tell them the whole truth and let’s say there’s Sasquatch out there. There’s the possibility something could happen to you as well. Let the people have the choice to make their own choice, whether they want to encounter one.”

Imagine you were walking along a trail with your family and a 9 foot tall monster appears directly in front of you. You make it out and tell the cops, but they don’t believe you. Instead, they tell you what you saw. You know hundreds of other people frequent the area, but nothing will be done to warn them. What would you do?

Are More Bigfoot Lawsuits Around the Corner?

We are warned about bears, snakes, and mountain lions. We’re even warned if there’s a prison nearby and there’s a small chance an escaped prisoner may be in your area. If there are legitimate sightings of a giant ape-man in the area accompanied by reports of abduction, missing persons, or violent activity, why can’t we at least tell people? As the years go on without true acknowledgement, we could very well see many more of these Bigfoot lawsuits, especially if extreme psychological or physical trauma is inflicted. Should cities and states across the country be responsible for telling visitors about the potential for intense encounters?

Whether or not there were actual Bigfoot in the trees that day, Ackley’s move against the California Department of Fish and Wildlife is incredibly brave. Even if her story isn’t as compelling as others, one question has slowly risen over the years: Why are authorities not warning people about the simple potential of these creatures?

Beyond Ackley’s encounter, there are hundreds of anecdotes over the years that paint these creatures as having the inclination for violence. In many of these stories the creatures inflict extreme psychological distress. Seriously try to imagine being confronted in the middle of nowhere by a 9-foot-tall, 700 pound being that you never thought was actually real. Everything you have ever been told gets thrown out the window in an instant and you’re suddenly at the very bottom of the food chain. Your frame of reference explodes and your body goes into shock. A monster has literally appeared in your world and might actually kill you.

If you escape, the event no doubt inflicts years-worth of psychological trauma. And no one believes you.

If you are killed, then no one would ever consider a “Bigfoot” was involved. Your body may not even ever be found.

Next Steps in the Bigfoot Lawsuits

I’m looking forward to seeing how this Bigfoot lawsuit will play out. Todd Standing is now involved and he is bringing in his own pile of “overwhelming evidence”, including expert testimony from academics like Dr. Jeff Meldrum:

“There’s a date set so we’re going in with PhDs, with wilderness experts beyond myself, with wildlife biologists, with fingerprint experts. We’re going to prove so beyond a reasonable doubt that this species exists,” Standing said about the Bigfoot lawsuit in January, prior to the March dismissal.

“When we prove that and we’re successful, the species will be recognized as an Indigenous wildlife species and then fish and wildlife — in California, in Canada, in the United States, everywhere — will have to start recognizing this species and studying them, doing biological surveys.

The post Groundbreaking Bigfoot Lawsuit Coming Soon appeared first on Bigfoot Base.

First and foremost Les, thank you and I really appreciate you talking with me. Can you tell me a little about what’s SMTV? It’s really exciting and Survivorman Bigfoot episodes are going to be airing on it?

Les Stroud: Ya, you can just call it Survivorman TV. That’s probably more recognizable. It’s basically me taking command of everything I do creatively in terms of filmmaking and putting it online and making it a membership base. Like a paid membership base sort of network for everything I do. And its been great. You have complete and absolute control. No networks notes to worry about or anything like that. Its going to be up there 24/7. You don’t have to wait to see my show. We started a few months ago and its going strong and I’m loving it. And it gave me a place to put some new Bigfoot stuff as well.

Congratulations. It’s kind of like you’re building your own city almost. Cutting off from all the networks. Does it change the kind of content — at least with Bigfoot stuff — you’re able to put out? Are you going to be doing 45-minute episodes, 60-minute stuff or will it be short clips here and there?

LS: It doesn’t change what I do with that as a creator. I still do things the way I want to do them. But it does what I do in the fact that there’s zero influence from the outside and from the networks. So, if I say something that makes them uncomfortable, then who cares? I could put out a 3 minute clip, or an 18 minute clip, a 54 minute clip, while allowing the creativity of the shoot to dictate the length. In television you’re locked in to 22 minutes with commercial breaks and in-and-outs.

You might have to provide a cliff hanger that doesn’t actually exist kinda thing?

LS: Exactly. Yea. I’m sick of those. The non-cliff hanger, cliff hanger. I’ve never done those anyway, but everybody else does. So, now what I can just do is I’m looking at the new Bigfoot show right now and it’s landing somewhere around 41 minutes, but it’s landing there because that’s what the content dictates. I think that’s the coolest part about this. I’m not restricted by the classic 22 or 43-minute commercial break set-up.

That’s so cool. I love to hear that. And it sounds like you can obviously work with whoever you want to work with.

LS: Yea, I always did anyway, but yea it’s absolute control.

I was listening to an interview you had with Jeff Meldrum and Todd Standing, how your producer was kind of barking at you for including Todd in the production, and you’re like, “leave me alone, he’s fine.”

LS: Ya, that’s actually a story that came from when I had a network up in Canada that really wanted me to do a show and I guess because of the Todd Standing controversy they got on my case about it and I was just like, “are you kidding me? Are we actually having this argument? We’re arguing over Bigfoot experts now? Talking about walking away from him, like oh your guy is more credible than my guy? For Bigfoot, really?

That was one of my favorite quotes from your first Survivorman Bigfoot season. You say, “Todd is a Bigfoot expert… but what does that even mean?”

LS: Ya exactly. People get pretty– I don’t know if it’s self-righteous– they get critical about something they know nothing about. It’s a bizarre world.

Photo by Laura Bombier

Where are you headed for these episodes? Do you have a lot in the can already, or are you still taping them as we speak?

LS: Taping them as we speak, and all over the place. I don’t think the story is confined to the Pacific Northwest, and I love going to all the various places. This particular one is in the Pacific Northwest, that I’m coming out with in a couple days, but I’ll go just about anywhere.

Have you thought about going international with Survivorman Bigfoot? All over the planet we have Yowies in Australia, Almastys in Russia, and obviously the Yeti in the Himilayas. Have you thought about expaning worldwide, or are you going to stay in the U.S. for now?

LS: I’d love to expand worldwide, but that’s based more on my love for adventure and travel. But if I’m seriously detailing the phenomenon, which I am, then it’s kind of hard to beat North America, that’s for sure.

You’re obviously a really passionate guy. Adventure and music are two huge passions of yours. Is Bigoot research a passion of yours now?

LS: That’s an interesting question. When I’m in it, it’s very easy to be passionate about it because it becomes very intriguing. It’s full of mystery. It’s full of “who-dunnits”. And I do love that. But, when I’m not in it, do I crave it like say how I would crave doing my music? Maybe not. But also, it’s such a mystical, curious, full of a-million questions type of phenomenon that still creeps into my life pretty much any time I’m out in nature. It’s going to creep into my psyche one way or the other.

I’m a fan of the Missing 411 stuff that you were involved with as well. Great clip in that. Any more when you do go out, whether recreationally, or when you are filming a regular Survivorman episode, how often are you thinking about Bigfoot while you’re out there?

LS: Probably 100% of the time when I’m out there I will have the thought. It will come up in my mind. Whether or not I dwell on it and take it longer than 30 seconds will depend on what I’m doing and how much fun I’m having. Sometimes I might go a little deeper into it. Sometimes it’s a passing thought. I would suggest that no matter what, when I get out into the woods, at the very least there’s always a passing thought about it, for sure.

Safe to say a little more at night time?

LS: Ya absolutely, yep.

Can you tell me a little about how you got involved in the Missing 411 documentary? I’m fascinated by the separate phenomenon that’s going on. Can you tell me how Survivorman Bigfoot and Missing 411 came together?

Well that’s the question isn’t it? Is it separate?

Haha, yea, you’re talking to a Bigfoot guy right now and I’m bringing up Missing 411 and, you know, Dave Paulides has been VERY careful about NOT saying that Sasquatch is actually a culprit.

LS: David’s MO is to throw it out there and let you guys take it. He will never give you his opinion on what he thinks happened in a certain Missing 411 case. But he will certainly in a teasingly way imply… that’s just the magic of David. Because he knows what you’re thinkin’. “Well, I’m not saying what it is”… but OK come on! So, you know, when I have a beer with him that’s another story sort of thing.

David was working with me when I was doing Survivorman Bigfoot, so that would be the initial connection. When his son went on to produce the film based on the books they asked if I would be involved, bring a little bit of the Survivorman name to what they were doing and it also involved some boots on the ground stuff. How to investigate that sort of situation really had to be boots on the ground. So that’s how that all started, the friendship we struck up through there, him working with me on Survivorman Bigfoot.

Is there any piece of evidence that the public hasn’t seen that has influenced you? Is there a video or maybe some audio that isn’t available that you have come across– maybe something from Todd outside of the Survivorman Bigfoot production– that kind of keeps you going on this topic? That kind of keeps the bait fresh, so-to-speak?

LS: Ya, it would be the real-life stories from close friends who tell me of an experience, who want no notoriety, and they’re just sharing their story. I had a guy here this morning actually– it’s those. Because nobody has anything to gain or lose at that point. And they’re not being interviewed for a TV show. They’re not in to the subject matter. And they come along and they, out of the blue, they share with you, “Well as a matter of fact, ya know, I was comin’ home from school one time and la da da…” It’s those things. Because again, these are people who are friends with me regardless of anything. They’re not like new acquaintances who are hanging out with me because I’m Survivorman. These are friends. And so, when they tell me these stories, y’know, it leads me something that I’ve been kind of harping on lately.

It’s a great question that leads to that, because I love this little thought of mine here. And that is that when you have somebody say to you, “I saw a Bigfoot”. Let’s establish that this is somebody that you trust. Someone that you respect. We’re going to go right there. You trust them. You respect them. And they say to you, “Last weekend from 15 feet away I saw a Bigfoot. Now you only have four places you can go with that. Number one is they’re delusional… suffering from a delusion. Number two is mistaken identity. It was a bear. But again, this is someone who’s very experienced in the bush, knows animals, and they’re saying they were 15 feet away from a Bigfoot. Number three is they’re lying. And number four, the final one, is they’re giving you an accurate representation of what they saw.

So that’s a neat little compartmentalized way to react to somebody telling you I saw a Bigfoot. If you see it on YouTube, or you hear it on the radio or whatever. Ok but let me dig just a little bit deeper for a second, a friend of mine said that to me– a young guy that I know– he said oh yea this woman that I know she’s seen them twice and– here’s the catch — after he told me that he really adored this woman, she’s a really nice lady, she told me she saw them twice, he closes it off with– and this is probably going to be familiar to you– he closes it off with “ehh y’know eh I don’t know if they exist.” And when he does that I stop him immediately and go:

“Hang on, hang on a second here. You’re not sure they exist?”

“Yeaaaa, I don’t know, y’now?”

“Ok, so then your friend… well, she’s a liar.”

“Whoa, whoa no, she’s my friend.”

“Oh no. She’s a liar, isn’t she? If you’re saying after the fact that you trust her, and she’s telling you from 15 feet away with her experienced woods eyes that she saw a Bigfoot, and you’re saying you still don’t know if they exist, is you’re saying that she’s a liar. I want you to tell me.” And I’ll do this, I will literally say, “I want you to say Nancy is a liar. You can’t say it? Then what are you saying?” You see where I’m going with this? Too often it’s easy for people to hear something, say it comes from their uncle who they love, who’s like a conservation officer, who’s like really intelligent and he says, “I’m telling you, I stood there and I watched it for a half an hour…” You will still go, “Ehhh I don’t knowwww. I don’t know if they exist.” I’m like, well ok go call up your uncle right now and I want you to tell him that he’s a liar. Because after that we’re left with either they’re delusional, we’ve already ruled out that they’ve made a mistake because of their experienced eyes, so you’re left with– and the delusional thing as far as I’m concerned is a cop-out. That’s not fair. You’re saying everybody’s delusional. Or it’s a mass conspiracy theory to hoax. That’s not fair. You’re left with only two things: they’re lying or they’re telling the truth. And if they’re telling you the truth, guess what that means: Bigfoot is there. You see what I’m saying?

It’s a cultural denial, yea?

LS: Ya, and I think my response that I gave you is the way to bring people down and say we’re sitting here, and one of these things is your good friend: delusional, mistaken, liar, or telling the truth, you tell me.

Photograph by Laura Bombier

Les, when you’re out there, as Survivorman Bigfoot continues beyond a great first season– something that was fantastic that was a huge breath of fresh air for the Bigfoot world– moving forward, what is your ultimate goal here not only with Survivorman TV, but with the Bigfoot aspect of it? Are you collecting evidence little by little to produce for the public, to throw on the table one day to say “Hey, this is all I have. You need to recognize that there’s something going on here.” Or are you going out and just kind of answering a few user questions, or doing visitor requests. What does that look like for you in the future?

LS: If I have a mission involved, it’s not to prove anything. I think that’s a great mistake. And I think that a lot of people get a bit fanciful thinking where they see a Bigfoot and all of a sudden, they’re like, “I think it’s my mission in life to prove to the world that these beautiful creatures exist!” Ehhh, I’m out. I don’t need to go down that metaphysical road either, like you know, they “speak to me.” And you know what, as far as I am concerned it’s an INCREDIBLE — and this is why I use the word — “phenomenon.” And it’s worthy of checking out regardless of anything because it’s existed for hundreds of years in hundreds of cultural examples and it’s all identical. I mean, right there you have to go, hang on a second. When it’s included in aboriginal cultural stories, it’s not lumped in with the Thunderbird or the Raven gods. It’s lumped in with the beaver and the wolf, like it’s best friends.

You talked about that a lot in the first season of Survivorman Bigfoot.

LS: Yep, although its considered to be human and not animal, so to speak. So, If I have a mission, it’s based on the fact that the phenomenon is culturally fascinating. I’ve had enough examples to settle in my mind what’s going on out there. And I guess my mission would be to continue to bring honest credible realtime examples TO the public, so they can also be interested in the phenomenon. I’m not attempting to prove anything.

All this stuff about I want to shoot one to prove it or get ultimate film work. We already have ultimate film work out there. There are lots of hoaxes. But there is credible film footage on YouTube. I mean, what else is going to convince anybody? We have DNA. We have footprints. We have thousands of anecdotal references.

So, I want to approach as like, ok everybody knows me as this guy who is no nonsense. So, I will maintain that when it comes to the phenomenon of Bigfoot. And give the no nonsense approach. Telepathy? That’s interesting. Let’s look into that. DNA studies? Cool. And on and on. That’s what I’d like to do. I’d like to bring credible, no-nonsense, non-cynical, open-minded skepticism to the subject matter.

You have such a huge explorer’s spirit. Survivorman Bigfoot obviously proves that in a new way. You wouldn’t want to be the guy to provide the King-Kong style unveiling of Sasquatch up on stage anytime soon?

LS: Absolutely not! Whoever convinces the world at large, his or her life is over at that point. I got enough on the go with my cat and playing music. I have enough in my personal life.

You should get a fall guy.

LS: Yea, I gotta get a fall guy. Todd Standing can wear that banner. Or Jeff Meldrum or somebody. I don’t wanna be that guy to prove to the world Bigfoot exists. I want to be more like the David Attenborough of Bigfoot. I want to present so much incredible information, even in piece-meal, so the world goes, oh ok! I don’t want the big discovery. I don’t want to be that guy.

I think Todd would be more than happy to take that torch for you.

Todd and a few others would be more than happy to wear that badge. They can wear it. It sounds horribly vain, but I’ve had more than my 15 minutes and I’m still enjoying it. I don’t need that to add on to it. I’d rather have somebody buy my new record.

Speaking-of that. You said you’re going to have a lot of performances on Survivorman TV moving forward, other than just Survivorman Bigfoot material of course. What are you thinking with that kind of production? Is it something like Daryl’s House? Daryl Hall? Are you going to jam with some big musicians anytime soon?

LS: Absolutely, as a matter of fact, when Daryl launched Daryl’s House he actually cited Survivorman! He said, if Survivorman can do it, so can I! No kidding. And I thought, oh hey you need to get me on the show! Maybe one day.

After 40 years of my life I finally just signed my first-ever record deal. And you’re actually kinda getting the scoop on this. I haven’t told this publicly yet, but we’ll be launching it in the new year. I signed a record deal with MRI out of New York, distributed by Sony. We’ll be launching a new album!

And here’s the thing. Nobody wants to hear some 56 year-old guy singing his love songs. What I do is all about celebrating nature. I don’t do just folk. We do epic, progressive rock. It’s like Tool meats Dave Matthews– it’s a whole ‘nother thing. Everything lyrically as well is all about celebrating nature and connecting people to the Earth. I love to perform and I love to write and that’s what I’m focused on. I want to get to that point of doing a Daryl’s house for sure. And I want to go on Daryl’s House!

Ya, looks like a real slick place. That’s awesome. Congratulations on everything. Clearly, it’s a huge passion of yours so it’s really amazing you’ve been able to put all this together. Just to close here, I’m super pumped for all of your Survivorman Bigfoot episodes and everything you’re doing. Maybe in the next year or two, how much content will be coming out on the website for Survivorman Bigfoot, episodes-wise?

Because I have love for the phenomenon and all of the mystique surrounding it, I’ll continue to do more. I couldn’t ballpark how many I will do, but it will be lots more for sure. And the networks are still talking to me about more series as well. I still love it and I think– I didn’t really finish the story. I could finish the story, other than full-on discovery, but I’d love to tell MORE of the story. There’s a lot more in me for that particular film-making. Short answer: as much as I can do, for sure.I just did a fun one outside of Portland Oregon. I’m starting to open the doors a little bit on the various realities that exist out there. I’m taking more of a pragmatic look at DNA catching, trail cams and all of that. It’s getting very interesting.

Survivorman Bigfoot: New Episodes Coming!

Thanks again to Les Stroud and the Survivorman team for a great chat. Good to hear Les is still wearing his practical pants out in the bush when documenting Sasquatch behavior. I can’t wait for his new Survivorman Bigfoot episodes and honestly to check out some of his musical performances (here’s a little clip of him jamming with Journey). He’s a passionate and the perfect middle-of-the-road voice that the world of Bigfoot critically needs.

Click Here to Watch Survivorman Bigfoot on SMTV!

The post Survivorman Opens Up About Bigfoot, Missing 411, and the Nonbelievers appeared first on Bigfoot Base.

WOW! The image easily most synonymous with “Sasquatch” was recorded exactly 50 years ago. Real or not, cheers to you ‘Patty’, Roger Patterson, and Bob Gimlin!

And let’s not forget the horses people! They saw the damn thing too.

Without this footage, Bigfoot would be thought of as something completely different. Think about it, how many times have you seen that iconic, over-the-shoulder glance of frame 352. It is firmly embedded in the pop culture subconscious.

So, if you don’t know the full story, don’t fret. It is long and ridiculous. I have said it before, but the endless cast of characters, strange twists, competing agendas, possible motives, and clusterfuck aftermath deserve an entire TV series.

All you need to know in the 50 years after is that the Patterson-Gimlin footage has never been disproved. There has been an occasional Bob Heronimus poking in to grab the wheel, but, at this point, I am confident that no one will ever completely prove or disprove this footage. It has withstood a half century of intense ridicule.. and in the last two decades, increasingly intense scientific scrutiny. Endless suit reconstructions, frame-by-frame gait analysis, footprint reproductions, and on and on.

From Roger and Bob’s perspective, you could reflect on this event a couple ways:

1) Bob Gimlin and Roger Patterson woke up that morning ready to hoax the world.

Or 2) Bob Gimlin and Roger Patterson woke up that morning, ready to ride into the woods on the most life-changing day of their lives… About to see a flesh & blood Sasquatch.

Of course, you could also add in:

3) Roger Patterson woke up that morning ready to hoax the world and tricked good ol’ gullible Bob into his historic ploy.

Who knows. No one. Roger died a long time ago and Bob has maintained his version for 50 full years.

On a personal level, I remember pure captivation at this footage as a kid. I believe I first witnessed it watching Leonard Nimoy’s Ancient Mysteries program on a VHS tape. I have no idea how I ended up with this tape. Maybe it was my obsession with Swamp Thing, a VERY similar being, that led my parents to gift me this fantastic little documentary. That would make sense.

Ancient Mysteries really played up the creepiness and sobering weight of this footage. From the first steps of giant Patty on I was completely hooked. I vaguely remember visually seeing the ‘subject’ shuffling across frame for the first time, but I absolutely remember a HEAVY thought that bolted into my young mind like a world-crushing lightning bolt:

“Could this be real?”

The post Patterson-Gimlin Film Turns 50! appeared first on Bigfoot Base.

How do you top killing Hitler? You kill Bigfoot, of course.

That’s the premise of an upcoming film, The Man Who Killed Hitler and Then The Bigfoot, starring Sam Elliott. The actor plays Calvin Barr, a WWII veteran who has opted for a carefree life in New England after assassinating the Fuhrer. When the FBI and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police learn that Bigfoot is carrying an infectious plague, they hire Barr to take out the creature.

Writer/director Robert Krzykowski is helming the project, and principal photography began in August 2017.

Will this film take an authentic approach to Bigfoot lore? Probably not, based on the premise. That said, it’s still exciting to know another Bigfoot film is in the works. Even though it’s one of the most well-known cryptids on the planet, Bigfoot rarely makes an appearance in major films. The star power of Sam Elliott, who recently surprised audiences with his heartbreaking performance in The Hero, may attract viewers who would otherwise dismiss this movie. It’s also not unreasonable to hope the filmmakers will treat the subject matter with some degree of seriousness.

The film will mark Krzyowki’s feature directorial debut. Elliott, on the other hand, has had a long and storied career as one of Hollywood’s go-to tough guys. If your protagonist is tasked with killing Bigfoot, you need to cast an actor who’s believable in the role. Not many people can sell the “Bigfoot hunter” character. Sam Elliott is among the elite few.

Films about the paranormal often fail to accurately depict the nature of the phenomena. Fire in the Sky may have some terrifying sequences, but it’s not a realistic depiction of the alien abduction experience. Viewers probably shouldn’t go into this movie expecting a thoughtful take on Bigfoot.

However, the fact that such a movie—with such a renowned star—can still get made speaks to the allure of the Bigfoot phenomena. Audiences immediately know what type of film they’re in for when they buy a ticket to this movie. Bigfoot is still a recognizable pop culture icon, and that must say something interesting about the creature’s existence.

The post Sam Elliot Kills Hitler, Bigfoot Next appeared first on Bigfoot Base.

How would you enjoy an ideal Saturday? Spending time with family? Relaxing in the backyard? Searching for Bigfoot?

If that last option sounds most appealing, you should consider a move to the southwest.

In Round Rock, Texas, the Parks and Recreation department recently held a rather unusual public event: a “Find Bigfoot” tour. A recent video clip has led some to believe that Bigfoot is roaming the southwest. Authentic footage, or elaborate marketing hoax?

The $5 tour took visitors through the local park’s trail system in search of the cryptid. Since we haven’t heard otherwise, it’s probably safe to assume that no one came back with any hard evidence. Most likely, this was all a publicity stunt designed to bring in some extra money for the city. Props, city.

And that’s one of the essential difficulties serious researchers face when trying to find legitimate evidence of Bigfoot’s existence. Because it’s probably the most well-known cryptid in the United States, if not the world, plenty of opportunists are more than willing to pretend they’ve uncovered the smoking gun.

It’s a double-edged sword. On the one hand, such hoaxes damage the legitimacy of professional Bigfoot hunters. On the other hand, they do serve to keep people interested in the phenomena. Even if no one actually finds any genuine sign of Bigfoot, these kinds of tours remind us that reliable people have reported encountering the beings. The more people express a true interest in the subject, the easier it is for researchers to promote their findings.

If these creatures doesn’t truly exist, why do people in certain areas of the country encounter them more frequently than others? Regional folklore can’t explain all the sightings. When enough intelligent people report encountering something strange in a particular area, it’s worth investigating further.

Keep huntin’.

— AJ

The post Texas Town Holds Bigfoot Hunting Tour appeared first on Bigfoot Base.

When it comes to Bigfoot movies, there have been plenty. The Woodsmen, a short film that began a Kickstarter platform recently , has a more ambitious air than your typical ScyFy production. As of this article, they have over $7,000 of a goal that’s $9,249 and with 16 days to go, it’s likely they’ll meet their goal and then some. Hell yea!

The Woodsmen is from Canadian creative team Five Year Plan, and the director is Victor Cooper, who has experience in the horror genre, directing and co-writing the 2014 short film Mercy, which received positive feedback. So it looks like this movie has a lot of potential. Wouldn’t you love to see Bigfoot claim a corner in the horror icon echelon?

For a low-budget film, its effects and quality look promising as well. It’s shot in 8K and the Bigfoot is created by The Butcher Shop, a Canadian special effects company that has had experience in quite a few horror films. It’s always cool to see practical effects in horror films as opposed to someone running from a CG Bigfoot, and the suit itself looks so good you could freeze it and make a convincing hoax.

Even though it’s likely this film is going to meet its Kickstarter goal, we still recommend pitching in a few dollars if you’re into horror films. The budget is $11,500, and despite its short length, that’s not a lot of money to make a film. A bit of extra money can help the creators make the best film about Sasquatch possible, so send them some love.

With any Kickstarter, they also have some cool rewards as well. You have your T-shirts and your name appearing on the credits, but for $150 CAD, which is $119 USD, you can get tickets for the film’s launch party. For $200 CAD ($158 USD), you can even be an extra. Not a bad price if you’re a Bigfoot enthusiast and want to be a part of Bigfoot film history.

We wish Five Year Plan good luck in making a film that make you think twice before taking a walk in the woods.

The post ‘The Woodsmen’ Horror Short in Production appeared first on Bigfoot Base.

What is ‘The Back 80’ About?

“During the summer of 2013, a woman’s world is turned upside down after seeing a creature cross the road in front of her one afternoon. She soon realizes that she is not alone on her own property and struggles to separate the truth from her own obsession. After some digging, she finds others in town who have similar stories to tell. Her quest for answers takes her to the only place these creatures could live…the abandoned, gated woods of the back eighty.”

— via their Facebook page.

So, I’m from the area actually. There’s populated farmland just about everywhere in that specific region. It appears the term ‘back 80’ alludes to the only likely spread of land where these creatures could conceivably live. From a piece in the Northeast Ohio-based News Herald:

“The title refers to an 80-acre area landlocked by other property that is rarely visited except for hunters a couple times a year and for road maintenance crews. This is the location where Suzanne (Ferencak) believes that the Bigfoot, if around, would be staying.”

Suzanne Ferencak is a focus of the project. She reported an eerie encounter near her home in May of 2015, where a large, stringy-haired figure with “superman arms” jumped across township road 211, practically in mid-air. A few weeks later she experienced a screaming howl on her property and believed one of these phantoms even prowled up to her front porch. This terrifying experience kept her inside for two days straight.

You can read the full, very detailed report here.

Suzanne’s story parallels several other reports in the area around the same time period: an important correlation that highly influenced Alan and Jesse to create this film.

Does Loudonville Ohio Have Many Sightings?

Ohio, for whatever reason you choose to subscribe to, is a Bigfoot hotspot. It ranks in the top 5 of overall sightings regularly ever year.

The Back 80 was inspired by a recent string of sightings in and around Loudonville, Ohio. Loudonville is a small town of approximately 3,000 people. Located in both Ashland and Holmes counties, the village is roughly 1.5 hours south of Cleveland and 1.5 hours north of Columbus. Mohican State Park is the main attraction of the area, offering miles of canoeing on the Mohican River and extensive hiking trails. The alleged Sasquatch sightings took place between 2006 and 2015 around the region.

The BFRO lists five Ashland County and five Holmes County Bigfoot encounters.

In Ashland County there have been two registered encounters since 2000.

In Holmes County there have been four registered encounters since 2000. Two of these are designated ‘Class A’ encounters, where the potential for misrepresentation of another animal or person is very low.

Who Created ‘The Back 80?’

A Twisted Tree Productions film, The Back 80 is the first-time directorial outing by two lifelong friends. Alan Megargle and Jesse Morgan were childhood besties and remained close throughout their whole lives. Jesse works full time for the federal government aiding military veterans, himself a Navy and National Guard veteran. Alan is a process engineer for a fortune 500 electronics manufacturer. He’s also a certified night hike instructor: a gig that no doubt intensified his interest in Sasquatch.

Since their fond youth the men shared a deep appreciation for the possible existence of Sasquatch. These cryptid hounds even formed a paranormal/Bigfoot research team called Fathom Frontiers and joined the BFRO as investigators in 2015. They regularly lead Sasquatch-themed campouts in Salt Fork State Park, Cambridge, Ohio.

Even though Alan and Jesse loved investigating the mysterious corners of our dimension, they wanted to blend another passion into the mix: filmmaking.

They helped produce the Seth Breedlove directed documentary Minerva Monster, another tale highlighting the eerie, dark side of Ohio (Breedlove and his Smalltown Monsters crew also filmed Beast of Whitehall and Boggy Creek Monster).

Order The Back 80 now!!

Friendly filmmakers Jesse Morgan (left) and Alan Megargle (right)

The post ‘The Back 80’ Documentary Explores Ohio Bigfoot Sightings appeared first on Bigfoot Base.

The Youtube channel NVTV posted this overenthusiastic trail cam video recently. While not among the most compelling clips ever, they seem confident this entry is, of course, earth shattering. Their title proclaims:

THIS FOR REAL!! ANOTHER BIGFOOT PICKED UP ON TRAIL CAM!! – USA (2016) – HD

(What’s with these god awful click bait titles? WE FOUND IT!!! BIGFOOT LIVES!!! AHHH CLICK HERE CLICK HERE!!!! Ugh. I’d love to see a click volume test comparing all caps to no caps at least. Do people need to be be shouted at on Youtube to watch a Bigfoot video?)

Here’s a slowed down version:

Do trail cams actually record video this smooth? I know we only catch the subject here in mid-stride, but we can see some clear insect buzzing around the frame. I feel like typical trail cam videos snap far fewer frames per second.

All in all, this trail cam Bigfoot most definitely looks like a bearded Ghili-suiter. I am no Dr. Jeffrey Medlrum, locomotion expert, but, personally, the bound feels exaggerated. If this walk-across wasn’t already planned in advance, I would say a camouflaged woodsman noticed the perched camera and decided to have a little fun pretending to be Sasquatch.

The shape of the subject looks a little too rounded and uniform as well. There isn’t much definition; but, then again, these things are apparently very bulky and pear-shaped.

Just for reference, here’s a Ghili suit picture. I included one of the Duck Dynasty beardoids in his hunting attire for proper visualization:

Interesting video though. While it won’t be filed anywhere near the ‘best of’ folder, I like to analyze these for fun every so often.

These Ghili suits are actually pretty freaky too. If someone appeared from the bush in one of those on some random dark night, it would probably scare the crap out of me. Maybe we don’t put enough stock into hunter misidentification? Maybe some of these hunters paint their faces up black and don’t readily reveal themselves to people?

Very possible.

– AJ

The post Trail Cam Bigfoot or Ghili-Suited Beard Man? appeared first on Bigfoot Base.

Cobfoot? Shucksquatch? The wild maize-man?

Nevermind…

If you’re cruising through the Cornhusker State this Friday February the 17th, head over to the C3 Hotel for a delicious weekend helping of Sasquatch. The event is only $10 and features some fantastic speakers, including Fouke/Boggy Creek Monster expert and author Lyle Blackburn.

Who organized this conference?

Harriet McFeely was only 8 years old when the the Shipton Yeti prints were discovered; an event that sparked a lifelong fascination and dedication to the field. Currently, she is an investigator with Sasquatch Investigations of the Rockies (S.I.R.) and seems like a real nice lady:

“It is my hope that having a Nebraska Bigfoot Conference will provide education and increase interest not only in the Sasquatch, but also in all of the mysteries and challenges of our natural world.”

Presenting this inaugural event, Harriet is joined by fellow researchers and Sasquatch enthusiasts Robin Roberts and Ellen Vee. One of, if not the only, all-girl team of active researchers, Harriet knew this was a dynamic squad more than capable of leading Nebraska into the growing world of Bigfoot conferences. Per Harriet:

“We’ve got a power machine going here right now. We’ve got five girls that are doing this Bigfoot conference and we’re all researchers. We go out and we camp out and we have a blast.”

Who is speaking at the Nebraska Bigfoot Conference?

Harriet, Robin, and Ellen put together a nice crew of speakers for this very first event. Lyle Blackburn, Fouke/Boggy Creek expert, author, musician, and cryptid-researcher headlines the conference. Most recently, Lyle starred in the powerful and compelling documentary Boggy Creek Monster.

Also stomping the stage will be the production team of David Ford & Stuart Miller, known for Something in the Woods (2016), Jericho (2016), and Czar (2017); S.I.R. researcher Mike Johnson, Missouri Bigfoot Researcher and Musician Scotty Plowman; and, of course, S.I.R. investigator Robin Roberts with her personal canine bodyguard Roo.

Lyle Blackburn, author, researcher, and musician

Are there many Bigfoot sightings in Nebraska?

Not too many according to the BFRO. There are only 14 registered sightings.

The most recent BFRO-reported sighting took place in Howard County in 2008.

The most recent “Class A” report was filed in August, 2005 detailing a 2002 event in Douglas County. Just before sunrise one day the witness, an elderly woman, let her dogs out into her large spread of backyard that led up to a wooded area. The dogs immediately sprinted outside to the treeline. Curious, the woman walked out into the dark morning to investigate. She arrived about twenty feet from the edge. Beyond the chain-link fence surrounding her property, she observed something frightening.

In-between the fence and trees was a seven-foot-tall, muscular “thing” with deep-set eyes, a prominent brow, fat neck, massive hands, and extremely long “ape-like” arms. It was covered in long brown hair, like a dog.

Eerily, the being jumped from side-to-side. It leaped three times from one tree to another. When it hopped towards the fence, the woman frantically ran inside with her dogs.

Freaky.

Nebraska Sasquatch sightings

The post Coming Soon: The First Annual Nebraska Bigfoot Conference appeared first on Bigfoot Base.

Here’s the fantastic trailer:

Who made this movie?

The film is directed by Seth Breedlove and produced by the Small Town Monsters crew. Just last year they released Beast of Whitehall, a documentary about the 1976 series of Bigfoot sightings in Whitehall, New York. Sightings persist to this day, and Whitehall is even considered the “Bigfoot Capitol of the East Coast” by many.

Joining the Small Town Monsters squad is Fouke Monster expert, author, and musician Lyle Blackburn. Lyle is a foremost authority on all things Boggy Creek Monster. For years he researched the monster and interviewed witnesses.

So what is the Fouke Monster?

The Fouke Monster, or Boggy Creek Monster, is one of the more famous representative ‘wild men’ of southern Bigfoot lore. This seven-foot black phantom caused a serious stir in the small community of Fouke Arkansas in the 1960s. Passive encounters dating back to the late 1800s led the Fouke folk (see what I did there?) to believe the monsters were generally peaceful and just wanted to be left alone, despite the occasional livestock massacre. A 1971 pair of aggressive encounters reported by the Ford and Turner families changed the perception of these beings, and more-or-less sparked the original The Legend of Boggy Creek film by Charles B. Pierce.

The Ford family encounter

On the night of Saturday May 1st, 1971 two seven-foot tall, hairy apes attacked the Ford home, literally. Scratches were found on the house itself.

The monsters then boldly moved towards the windows.

One of the two giants stuck its hairy arm through the window (as dramatized in the The Legend of Boggy Creek) towards one of the young Ford girls inside. She awoke, terrified. As she leapt from bed, she said the creature leered into the room with red eyes. Chased off by shotgun fire, the creatures retreated to the swamp.

The sheriff was called in and investigated the area for the frightened families. Hours after he left, the monsters returned. When the men went outside to shoot away the invaders once more, young Bobby Ford was attacked in the darkness. A shadowy being allegedly grabbed Bobby on the porch and threw him to the ground. He survived the assault and was treated for scratches and mild shock later that night at the hospital. The monsters never returned to the Ford home.

A famous shot from ‘The Legend of Boggy Creek’ (1972)

Are there present day sightings of the Fouke Monster?

Absolutely. The film presents a rising amount of cross-the-road sightings and several creepy encounters through the eighties, nineties, and into the 21st century. The Boggy Creek Monster didn’t just exist in the sixties and seventies. The most compelling chapters of Boggy Creek lore may have been written long after the Ford family encounter.

And other than the consistent stream of sightings leading up to this very day, I am most intrigued by the 1971 14″ long, three-toed trackway found in a local bean field. The only three-toed mammal that looks and acts anything like an ape is the sloth. But, sloths are quadrapeds. Interestingly though, the extinct giant ground-dwelling sloth used bipedal locomotion. Hmmm…. A theory post for another day no doubt.

Where can I find this movie?

Normally I’d urge you to go buy this on Amazon since Bigfoot Base is an Amazon Associates Affiliate (meaning I get a small piece o’ the pie), but if you have ANY interest in this flick, please head to the Small Town Monsters online shop, buy the movie from there, and support your independent filmmakers.

I haven’t devoted an honest sitting to the Small Town Monsters trilogy, but I just sat down for my first viewing of Boggy Creek Monster and I was very impressed. I will put a full review on the table before long.

The post ‘Boggy Creek Monster’ Documentary Available Now appeared first on Bigfoot Base.

Filming is underway in majestic Colorado (photo courtesy of the Rum River Productions Facebook page) *

I appreciate the frequency of Bigfoot horror movies in recent years. I haven’t had the pleasure of dissecting all of them yet, but they seem to be rising in popularity, and thankfully, quality. In the past four years alone we’ve had strong Sasquatch-flavored features like The Lost Coast Tapes (2012), Willow Creek (2013), and Exists (2014). Our newest Bigfoot horror movie breaks free of the found footage sub-genre and features a truly superb foundation of actors, creature effects, and sound. The survival horror thriller Hoax is filming right now in Hinsdale County, Colorado.

What is ‘Hoax’ about?

Set to debut in 2017 at some point, Hoax appears to be a stranded-in-the-wilderness group survival tale. Here is a synopsis from the ‘Hoax’ official website:

“An investigation into a camping trip gone wrong turns into a fight for survival when a team, including a brilliant primate specialist and led by a ruthless television producer, must come to grips with the possible existence of Bigfoot.”

And the tagline: The truth……….. CAN KILL!

AAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Who is making this movie?

A veteran of TV commercial directing and producing, Hoax director Matt Allen transitioned into film with a well-received zombie-western short called Aces & Eights (2008). He wrote and is currently directing Hoax, his first Bigfoot-sized step into full length films. He is producing the film under Rum River Productions, his Colorado-based company that supports local filmmakers.

Before the first frame was even shot, Allen’s screenplay for Hoax reached the finals of over 15 screenplay competition. What does this mean? People seem to love his dialogue and story: two refreshing check marks for a horror, let alone Bigfoot, film.

Actor Brian Thompson (photo courtesy of the Rum River Productions Facebook page)*

Who’s acting in the movie?

Allen assembled an exciting, more-than-competent cast for this creature feature. Trust me folks, this doesn’t happen everyday.

Ok, in the lead role is handsome white dude Ben Browder, a true sci-fi pillar from the shows Farscape and Stargate, among many many others. Listed second in ye olde IMDB lineup is Brian Thompson. You may know this giant man from action gems like Cobra (1986), Terminator (1984), and Mortal Kombat: Annihilation (1997, he played Shao Kahn). Appearing to be the lead female, Cheryl Texiera rounds out the top billed troupe. Notably, she appeared in TV shows Girl Meets World and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.

Who else is involved?

Alright let’s put the boring actors on the shelf for a second. I’m sure they’ll all do JUST FINE (especially Brian Thompson, who plays frustrated psychopaths so well). Alright, check out these two amazing behind-the-scenes players nobody seems to be talking about:

Bill Munns (Return of the Living Dead, 1985), a level 100 Bigfooter in his own right, is on board as the special effects and makeup man. He will essentially be the monster maker. You die-hards may know him for his analysis of the Patterson/Gimlin footage AND for crafting a robotic Gigantopithecus. He even wrote a book about Patt/Gim, fondly titled “When Roger Met Patty.”

Bill Munns grooming his Bigfoot (photo courtesy of the Rum River Productions Facebook page)*

Alright get ready for this. This massively under the radar detail could very well shoulder Hoax to the top of the Bigfoot film ranks. Sound design and ORIGINAL SCORE will be composed by John Carpenter-collaborator Alan Howarth. Yea he did sound design on a few forgettable independent features like Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), Total Recall (1990), and Poltergeist (1982); but he is also co-responsible for helping define the sound of horror for an entire decade with one of the greatest horror directors of all time. His collaborations with John Carpenter erupted into legendary themes for classics like They Live (1988), Big Trouble in Little China (1986), Escape from New York (1981), Christine (1983), Prince of Darkness (1987), and Halloween (1978).

Yes, way.

The force seems strong with this picture. Allen no doubt recognizes talent and it will be exciting to see his direction, especially since it will be his first foray. Solid actors, great effects, beautiful locations, music to die for, and an award-winning screenplay seem to scream success, right? Stranger things have happened, but this look like it’s shaping up well. Stay tuned to BFB for more news about Hoax!

* For images and daily updates for ‘Hoax’ visit the Rum River Productions Facebook page

The post Bigfoot Horror Movie ‘Hoax’ Filming Now appeared first on Bigfoot Base.

I learned a few things today. NBC has a monopoly on all 6,755 hours of the Olympics. Always wear protective glasses when you’re sawing a tree branch directly above your face. And in Oregon every intersection is a crosswalk.

This spot made the national rounds recently, boosted by the popularity of dear old Sasquatch. It’s actually pretty funny. An unsure Bigfoot almost gets hit crossing the road. Grandma shows up to let him know that he’ll be ok because “In Oregon, every intersection is a crosswalk”, shoots him a seductive glance and they walk off into the sunset. With the jazzy beat and surreal quality, I am definitely reminded of Twin Peaks! Very cool.

No doubt, this commercial will help folks up in the OR to keep their eyes open at more intersections. You know, there need to be more PSAs about the mundane machinations of daily life. I don’t know about you, but I have a list of societal blunders that really annoy me. Widely broadcast spots like this would do wonders for these faux pas’s:

1. People grouping together walking slowly down the sidewalk
2. Drivers shooting from lane to lane with no turn signal on the highway
3. People scoffing at the mere thought Bigfoot could exist

That third one really bugs me.

But anyway, way off point. Here’s the commercial:

— AJ

The post Sasquatch Stars in Oregon Public Service Announcement appeared first on Bigfoot Base.

Three Rivers Convention Center, Kennewick WA. Site of the International Bigfoot Conference

Who’s putting on the International Bigfoot Conference?

Author/researcher duo Russell Acord & Ed Brown began brainstorming a Bigfoot-centered conference in October 2015. The team quickly realized that there was a huge opening for this kind of event, especially in the Pacific Northwest- Sasquatch’s original backyard. They set out to book a list of the field’s most respected analysts and legitimate researchers. Mixing these popular names with successful independent researchers, Russell and Ed knew they had something special, something with a purpose. “We had to create a conference with a purpose, and that purpose was to provide an opportunity for up and coming researchers to share the stage with some of the biggest names in the world of Bigfoot research.”

Who’s going to be there?

The International Bigfoot Conference will feature an impressive “who’s who” of Bigfoot names. Every one of these speakers is truly exceptional:

Dr. Jeff Meldrum: Professor of Anatomy and Anthropology and Professor of the Department of Anthroplogy at Idaho State University, Dr. Meldrum is the most renowned authority of Bigfoot footprints. In the past decade especially, Dr. Meldrum has pushed legitimate scientific evaluation of these cryptids to new levels.

John Bindernagel, PhD: John is a Canadian professional wildlife biologist and author who has studied and gathered evidence for Sasquatch since 1963. He earned a PhD in Zoology from the University of Wisconsin, Madison in 1970. John taught biology and wildlife courses across the globe, including Africa, Asia, and Central America. Throughout his career John has led a level-headed analysis of the wildlife ‘footprint’ of these cryptids, suggesting on his website’s author page that “tracks constitute a more reliable and persistent record of the presence of a mammal species in an area than a fleeting glimpse of the animal itself.”

Loren Coleman: Known across the globe as THE cryptozoologist, Loren has penned dozens of books and hundreds of papers about cryptids. He completed doctoral-level studies of anthropology at Brandeis University and sociology at the University of New Hampshire. Loren taught at New England Universities over the course of 24 years. A true icon for the field of cryptozoology, Loren is also the curator of the fledgling International Cryptozoology Museum in Portland MA.

Derek Randles: A 29 year veteran of scientifically sound Sasquatch research, Derek is co-founder of the world renowned, Washington-based Olympic Project. The association performs comprehensive habitat study and empirical evidence analysis for these elusive Sasquatch creatures. Derek encountered a Sasquatch in 1985, spurring over two decades of passionate, yet practical research.

Ron Morehead: Renowned author and researcher, Ron is most well known for collecting arguably the most compelling audio evidence of Sasquatch: the Sierra Sounds. He wrote ‘Voices in the Wilderness’ about his experiences with Sasquatch and compiled personally recorded audio for a series of records called ‘The Bigfoot Recordings.’ A cornerstone of the Bigfoot world, Ron provides unique insight from his research and encounters for conferences and special events across the globe.

The event will also feature very special guests Cliff Barackman, of Finding Bigfoot fame, and the man himself: Bob Gimlin!

(Left to Right) Jeff Meldrum, John Bindernagel, Loren Coleman, Derek Randles, Ron Morehead

Additional deets

• $45 per adult for total access to the three day event (amazing price if you ask me; honestly just LOOK at that rundown of speakers)
• $25 for children 12 and under
• Vendor space available
• Hotel information HERE
• Door prizes up for grabs, including win-a-four-wheeler!
• Begins Friday 9/2 at 2pm
• Location:

Three Rivers Convention Center
7016 W Grandridge Blvd, Kennewick, WA 99336

For more information, visit the International Bigfoot Conference main page or the event’s Facebook page. Cheers!!

— AJ

The post The International Bigfoot Conference: Why You Need to Go appeared first on Bigfoot Base.

12″ long narrow footprint – Photograph by Dr. Emmett Reary

After listening to hundreds of encounters, one thing seems certain: sprawling wilderness in any state could be inhabited by Sasquatch. Enough wild land not regularly visited by humans could house these creatures. The Ozark Mountains in the Southern United States are certainly no different. Dr. Emmett Reary; a Salem, Missouri chiropractor; knows these 50,000 square miles of dense forest feature a rich percentage of Ozark Bigfoot. He has collected over 100 compelling stories just in his little piece of the Ozarks alone. Reary even saw an elusive “Blue Man of the Mountains” with his own eyes.

* The following is an adaptation of the article “Bigfoot in Bunker? The Search is On” by Andrew Sheeley, published on ‘Salem News Online’

The Blue Man Apple Smasher

Reary always knew about the massive phantoms of the mountains. He grew up in Dent County always believing that Ozark Bigfoot of some variety lurked beyond the farmland. A different type of creature, though, brought Reary to the pulsing intersection of myth and reality. In the 1970s the Department of Conservation officially proclaimed that there were no Mountain Lions in Missouri. Particularly offended by this “official” ruling, the proud young academic vowed to prove them wrong. Reary wrote an article in the paper, requesting sightings of big cats in the area. Instead of cougars, he was sent report after report of “Bigfoot” in the area.

Already a bit charmed by the legend of the Ozark Bigfoot, Reary began his own expeditions for evidence. It wasn’t long before he got results. Reary theorized that these creatures– if they were anything like other forest denizens– would easily detect obvious human, bipedal movement and flee: especially considering their higher intelligence.

The Ozark Mountain Range: Missouri, Arkansas, and Oklahoma

Reary rode horses into the deep woods of his Missouri Ozarks. Masking the human presence with a horse proved extremely successful for Roger Patterson and Bob Gimlin, to say the least. Reary had similar success. One afternoon he rode around a creek bed and found a large, black creature hunched down next to the water. He could actually see the “bluish tint” of its jet black hair in the sunlight. He watched the creature handle a hedge apple for several minutes, ultimately crushing the tough fruit above its face to slurp the juices. The beast soon stomped away into a nearby sinkhole, where a weary Reary dared not follow. He believed more hid in the depression, as he could smell an overwhelming, foul odor. From that day Reary’s entire world turned a significant corner.

The Bigfoot Doctor is in

Reary became the unofficial Bigfoot expert of his Missouri Ozarks. Fascinated by his tales, regional hunters and landowners sought him out to relay their own experiences with the “Blue Men.” Reary assures all that he is a skeptic from beginning to end when evaluating these stories, but sometimes you simply can’t deny the convincing details. He depends on facts, but admits that “once you start looking into things like this, you cannot believe the amount of evidence you start to come across.” Over 100 compelling stories landed on Reary’s plate throughout the last few decades. Some of the recent ones prove that the Blue Men of the mountains no doubt remain in the area.

Bill’s Land

Bill, a property owner near the Mark Twain National Forest, contacted Reary after experiencing bizarre, escalating behavior from something in the woods. The eerie ongoings began immediately after he moved onto a once vacant, mass of farmland and forest. Bill rode his all-terrain-vehicle (ATV) around the grounds one day to tour the scope of his recent purchase. He entered a forested region and discovered a deer corpse forcefully shoved into the fork of a tree fifteen feet from the ground. Bill immediately bolted home to retrieve his wife and camera. When he returned shortly thereafter, the deer carcass was gone. Subsequent nights brought strange sounds from the woods and rocks thrown at the house. The ATV trails across the expansive property were inexplicably blocked off with massive logs that took a tractor to move. The chilling activity escalated into physical encounters. A worker observed a seven foot tall creature in the fields while weed eating and two terrified grandchildren said they were chased by a ‘Bigfoot’ while riding the ATVs through the forested area.

According to Reary, these experiences often echo each other. Throughout the years, he has determined that aggressive Ozark Bigfoot activity often stems from humans moving into once-uninhabited areas. Alarmed by the change these creatures react from a distance, and slowly move closer and become bolder. And if their habitat is squeezed tight enough, they may even try moving on to neighboring land.

“Bigfoot vs Man on ATV” by Blewzen ©2014

Rick’s Land

A rural Salem MO man named Rick contacted Reary to report several strange happenings around his home and farmland. Persistent knocks upon the side of the house kept him frightened throughout the night. The eerie activity continued, leading up to the discovery of several deeply cemented 4x4s broken in half with apparent blunt force. A long metal pipe twisted and bent was found next to the smashed wood pieces. One morning shortly thereafter, massive handprints were found all over the man’s garage door.

Handprint (without scale) – Photograph by Dr. Emmett Reary

Reary investigated Rick’s farm. He discovered that a logging operation was moving through a heavily forested region next to the farm. He also spoke to neighbors to see if they experienced anything odd. Amazingly, several admitted witnessing a tall, black shape moving through the fields. A terrible odor alerted them to the presence of this invader. All evidence suggests these creatures moved to neighboring land when logging efforts ripped through their own.

Reary’s Diagnosis: Nothin’ to Worry About

Despite perceived aggressive behavior, Reary concludes that most of the encounters and strange happenings in the Ozarks should not be viewed as threatening. He has never interviewed anyone who experienced a truly dangerous or malevolent Ozark Bigfoot encounter. Like many of us, Reary believes “there’s something out there which is just as curious about us as we are of them.” Educated and practical, Reary craves the rare drips of scientific evidence. But for now, the occasional handprint and floating deer corpse will quench his Blue Man thirst.

Sources:

Sheeley, Andrew. “Bigfoot in Bunker? The Search Is on.” Thesalemnewsonline.com. The Salem News Online, 14 June 2016. Web.

©2016 The Salem News Online All Rights Reserved

The post Doctor Records over 100 Ozark Bigfoot Stories appeared first on Bigfoot Base.

With limited hard-evidence and the tendency to attract hoaxers like hungry mosquitoes, foundations of the Bigfoot field often feel flimsy. Regardless, some things are undeniable: thousands of people have discovered giant tracks far in the wilderness; thousands have encountered a large, hairy, ape-man; and thousands know in their hearts that they did not see a bear or a man in a costume. Could this many people be wrong? A very exciting, new Bigfoot docudrama hopes to strengthen the public’s belief in Sasquatch, while, of-course, scaring the shit out of them. Lone wolf filmmaker Christopher Garetano will place the sturdiest encounters and most legitimate evidence into the open, finally pulling back the curtain on our beloved beasts.

Who is making this Bigfoot docudrama?

The docudrama titled Bigfoot is the passion project of filmmaker Christopher Garetano. Widely known for 2014’s Montauk Chronicles – a deep dive into the darkness and controversy surrounding a U.S. airforce base in Long Island, New York – Christopher also directed the short films Inside (2004) & Cottonmouth (2009), and the documentary Horror Business (2005) about low budget, horror-genre film makers. Motivated by lifelong passion and a perfectionist spirit, Christopher wants to create the greatest Bigfoot movie of all time.

‘Bigfoot’ creator Christopher Garetano at work
© Christopher Garetano

What inspired Christopher to create this film?

Christopher is no stranger to the arcane and mysterious. He grew up fascinated with Bigfoot sightings and the idea of something lurking in the same forests he often played in. Ever the imagination booster, the idea of Bigfoot propelled creativity and wonderment throughout his younger years. Like many modern day cryptid enthusiasts, he was particularly struck by Leonard Nimoy’s hypnotic presentation of Sasquatch on the TV show In Search Of… Drive-in flicks like the campy The Creature from Black Lake and docudrama The Legend of Boggy Creek cemented his interest. In fact, it appears Christopher’s Bigfoot docudrama will follow a similar structure to Boggy Creek: a blend of history, interviews, and dramatized encounters.

It’s just titled Bigfoot… Why so simple?

Rather than adopt a familiar Bigfoot movie name like the “blank monster” of the “blank place”, Christopher is sticking to the basic core. Either that or he’s paying serious homage to the cult classic Bigfoot of 1970. No, I’m joking. But Christopher feels that this is the most comprehensive way to label his film:

“It is appropriately titled “Bigfoot” because I realize there’s no singular movie in existence that seriously and properly covers the rich history as well as the modern science that surrounds the mystery of the Sasquatch.”

Will the film take a scientific look at Bigfoot?

Youthful daydreams of a giant, hairy beast stalking the outskirts of town no doubt flooded a lot of our young brains. Well, maybe just for the cool kids. But when you finally arrive at that intersection of reality do you really sink your teeth into the topic. Like many crypto-hounds, Christopher is inspired by the work of notable academics and their serious involvement in the field. Foot morphology and primate locomotion expert Dr. Jeffrey Meldrum headlines the list of professionals who believe that this species could truly exist. Christopher wants to present the first film that seriously details modern academic involvement in the subject.

Concept art drawing for ‘Bigfoot’
©2015 Christoper Garetano

So, what is Bigfoot really about?

No joke folks, Christopher wants to start at the beginning of life on earth. Taking an evolutionary approach, he hopes to detail ice age survival and the species’ rise parallel to man. He will follow that line all the way to modern civilization. Native American involvement is critical to the history of these creatures. Tribes like the Iroquois shaped the dark wild man of the woods as they told tales and experiences around the fire. Stories kept the legend alive, and, in my opinion, kept Native’s safe.

This Bigfoot docudrama will also feature horror sequences dramatizing legendary encounters. Throughout the film, Christopher will recreate the most infamous and dramatic Bigfoot run-ins: the 1924 Ape Canyon incident, Teddy Roosevelt’s frightening “Bauman” story, and, most notably, the Patterson/Gimlin encounter in 1967.

This sounds amazing. As they say, Christoper is going all in with this picture. Judging from everything I have read about him, I wouldn’t expect anything less than The Godfather of Bigfoot films. Don’t expect a teen-slasher, found-footage film or a surface-level reality TV show either. Christopher aims to make a picture that will not only bubble our adrenaline, but stir us on levels that haven’t been touched since we were cave dwellers.

To help this amazing project along, please check out Christopher’s Indiegogo page for donation information. Currently he is 25% complete with the film, but any amount would strengthen his vision: creature effects, period costumes, pyrotechnics, and a Tony Todd voiceover (awesome!). Check out the teaser above!! — AJ

The post Comprehensive Bigfoot Docudrama Could be Best Cryptid Movie Ever appeared first on Bigfoot Base.