Bigfoot- Anybody Seen one?

[Daryl17]

Just spotted the thread about the Patterson film, and looking over at it they're seems to be some people claiming to not only believe in bigfoot but claim to have seen one, not im not sure if this is sarcasm, but what the hell....anyone seen a real life sasquatch?

[jimtron]

I've seen an actual photograph of an actual person in an actual Bigfoot costume. Does that count?

[kitakaze]

Whatever happened to 'I'm a skeptic who believes he saw bigfoot'Testudo (http://forums.randi.org/member.php?u=273)?I don't know about the Loch Ness Monster or some of the other cryptozoological animals, but Bigfoot is real, real I say! I saw the damn thing with my own eyes!

Bigfoot roams the vast, largely uninhabited areas of the Pacific NW and Western Canada. Due to the huge size of the area in question, the extremely low human population, the dense foliage, and the semi-intelligent, shy desposition of the creature, it goes largely unseen.

Physical evidence is very hard to find because of the pitifully low ratio of people actively looking for evidence and the search area in question. And if they bury the dead you can forget about it, physical evidence will probably never be found. We might be lucky one day and find some hair samples, or maybe some bones due to shear luck in a dinosaur archeological dig, but I am not getting my hopes up.

Having said that, I still believe the vast majority of Bigfoot sightings are hoaxes or misidentifications (and no mine was not a misidentification. It was 20-30 yards away from me. I was sober and lucid, and it wasn't a bear, a tree, a bush, or anything else), especially in other parts of the world. The Bigfoot population is small and isolated.

Fire away folks.

[carcharodon]

Just spotted the thread about the Patterson film, and looking over at it they're seems to be some people claiming to not only believe in bigfoot but claim to have seen one, not im not sure if this is sarcasm, but what the hell....anyone seen a real life sasquatch?

I don't live in a likely area to have actually seen one. I wonder many people here do????

[kitakaze]

For any who weren't already aware Huntster believes he came upon a sasquatch trackway and I while camping with friends on Vancouver Island several years ago found two sets of tracks and had a close range audio encounter with what at the time I attributed to sasquatch(es- at the time I thought there was an adult and juvenile) but now I discount the event as inconclusive and likely mistaken identity given the spurious nature of BF evidence. However, I still fel pretty confident I could rule out hoaxing because of the remoteness of the area. But hey, you never know...;)

[Huntster]

....anyone seen a real life sasquatch?I've seen an actual photograph of an actual person in an actual Bigfoot costume. Does that count?

That was a real tough read there in the OP, so I'll try to give you some help.

No, it doesn't count..........

[Huntster]

kitakaze is correct. I found a trackway of footprints which I'm sure were sasquatch prints in the southern Sierra Nevada mountains in 1972.

[kitakaze]

kitakaze is correct. I found a trackway of footprints which I'm sure were sasquatch prints in the southern Sierra Nevada mountains in 1972.For myself in regards to my own experience, I would have to admit no small sympathy for those who sincerely claim an encounter of some form or another. Likewise, I also must admit having had a deep and abiding interest in the question of sasquatch at the time of the event and even after much reflection on the experience have yet to find a satisfactory explanation for it.

However, this in no way convinces me that such an explanation is not available and in the end feel better off simply disregarding it entirely.

Now, I have never claimed to be much of a skeptic and in my relative youth I'm acutely aware that my critical thinking skills have a long way to come. Indeed, I came to this board with the intention of bettering that (and maybe a little tussling with some poo-pooers) but in remaining open to whereever the debate would lead I'm ultimately compelled in adopting a skeptical point of view (this after being esconced in about as much bigfootery as possible without sacrificing some measure of sanity).

Maybe this is a glaring example of the shortcomings of my critical thinking skills but being familiar with Huntster's experience in that case also I feel hoaxing quite unlikely given the circumstances which therefore I guess brings us back to the thought of misidentification. Embarrassingly, I'd have to ask you Huntster if you might not find some alternate theories for your experience outside of sasquatch. I won't even bother insinuating the possibility of bear tracks.

How about large wayfaring nudist?:D

[carcharodon]

How about large wayfaring nudist?:D

Huh? A nudist carrying a large wafer?:D

[jimtron]

That was a real tough read there in the OP, so I'll try to give you some help.

No, it doesn't count..........

I'm sorry, I meant to say a real life photograph of a real life person in a real life Bigfoot suit.

[Huntster]

...Embarrassingly, I'd have to ask you Huntster if you might not find some alternate theories for your experience outside of sasquatch. I won't even bother insinuating the possibility of bear tracks.

How about large wayfaring nudist?:D

Sure. A heavy person with a foot approximately 15" long and a very long stride could have been walking about barefoot at least 20 miles from the nearest road in the southern Sierra Nevada range, and instead of walking along the trail, he/she crossed it by walking/sliding down a rockslide, through the bushes on a faint game trail, and through mud and water.

It's also possible that a huge bear (with rear footprints larger than I've ever seen in Alaska, including Kodiak Island, and without any sign of clawmarks) was walking bipedally (there was no evidence whatsoever of a front pawprint).

It's also possible that a human walked those 20 miles up that particular, lonely trail, carrying bigfoot "sandals" in order to fool any hikers that might possibly happen by, and that we never saw that person before, during, or after the trackway find.

I suppose it's also possible that the trackway was left by a biological being other than a sasquatch (though I can't imagine what that might be), or an extraterrestrial being.

Or, the prints might have been left by a (no! no! don't write it! it cannont be!) sasquatch.

After considering the possiblilties, I've concluded that it was likely a sasquatch.

[LAL]

I don't live in a likely area to have actually seen one. I wonder many people here do????

I did, but I wasn't lucky enough to see one. I should have gotten out more.

[hodgy]

Sure. A heavy person with a foot approximately 15" long and a very long stride could have been walking about barefoot at least 20 miles from the nearest road in the southern Sierra Nevada range, and instead of walking along the trail, he/she crossed it by walking/sliding down a rockslide, through the bushes on a faint game trail, and through mud and water.

It's also possible that a huge bear (with rear footprints larger than I've ever seen in Alaska, including Kodiak Island, and without any sign of clawmarks) was walking bipedally (there was no evidence whatsoever of a front pawprint).

It's also possible that a human walked those 20 miles up that particular, lonely trail, carrying bigfoot "sandals" in order to fool any hikers that might possibly happen by, and that we never saw that person before, during, or after the trackway find.

I suppose it's also possible that the trackway was left by a biological being other than a sasquatch (though I can't imagine what that might be), or an extraterrestrial being.

Or, the prints might have been left by a (no! no! don't write it! it cannont be!) sasquatch.

After considering the possiblilties, I've concluded that it was likely a sasquatch.


Its also possible that your statement does not report reality. Since we were not there, we cannot validate that, however, absence of corroborative evidence tends to suggest that BF does not exist / is a bloke in a suit.

[Polaris]

I see two every time I put on my socks in the morning.

[Kevin Levites]

Just spotted the thread about the Patterson film, and looking over at it they're seems to be some people claiming to not only believe in bigfoot but claim to have seen one, not im not sure if this is sarcasm, but what the hell....anyone seen a real life sasquatch?

I've brought this up in other forums (Skeptic Magazine), and I'll bring it up here.

Anyone interested in the Jersey Devil, Bigfoot, Skunk Ape, Yeti, and so on should check out the books by Tom Brown Jr. ('The Tracker', 'Tom Brown's Field Guide to Wilderness Survival', 'Grandfather', 'The Quest', and so on).

This guy was, apparantly, trained in the arcane arts of psychological and guerilla warfare by an Apache scout named Stalking Wolf.

Many of the sightings of the Jersey Devil in the sixties can be blamed on him and his friend Rick--some Native Americans have a tradition of counting coup, which sometimes involves the theft of an intimate item and, basically, terrifying the living **** out of your enemy without killing him.

There are many secret societies that have existed in history. The Skull and Crossbones of Yale University has members like George Bush (Jr. and Sr.), the Black Dragon Tong of China, and the various ninja organizations of Fuedal Japan qualify.

I find it interesting that many sightings of strange creatures occur near tribal lands.

It wouldn't surprise me if there were some Native American traditions have survived.

All the best,

---Kevin

[Diogenes]

I've brought this up in other forums (Skeptic Magazine), and I'll bring it up here.

Anyone interested in the Jersey Devil, Bigfoot, Skunk Ape, Yeti, and so on should check out the books by Tom Brown Jr. ('The Tracker', 'Tom Brown's Field Guide to Wilderness Survival', 'Grandfather', 'The Quest', and so on).

This guy was, apparantly, trained in the arcane arts of psychological and guerilla warfare by an Apache scout named Stalking Wolf.

Many of the sightings of the Jersey Devil in the sixties can be blamed on him and his friend Rick--some Native Americans have a tradition of counting coup, which sometimes involves the theft of an intimate item and, basically, terrifying the living **** out of your enemy without killing him.

There are many secret societies that have existed in history. The Skull and Crossbones of Yale University has members like George Bush (Jr. and Sr.), the Black Dragon Tong of China, and the various ninja organizations of Fuedal Japan qualify.

I find it interesting that many sightings of strange creatures occur near tribal lands.

It wouldn't surprise me if there were some Native American traditions have survived.

All the best,

---Kevin

Good observation Kevin ...


I wouldn't be surprised if an important part of those " Native American traditions ... if they exist of course ..;) ... didn't include keeping quiet ( at least beyond the inner circle ) about any such ' coup counting ' that took place ...

[RSLancastr]

Me? No. But a man I work with grew up in the Pacific Northwest, and says that, when he was young, he saw something which he couldn't identify, but which he can't think of anything else it could be but a bigfoot/sasquatch/whatever. He was climbing a tree when he smelled something "like a wet dog on fire." He looked around and there was something tall and furry facing him. He fell out of the tree and ran home. He says he knows it wasn't a bear, even though he couldn't see it clearly through the branches.

Just another anecdote.

[Huntster]

Originally Posted by Huntster
Sure. A heavy person with a foot approximately 15" long and a very long stride could have been walking about barefoot at least 20 miles from the nearest road in the southern Sierra Nevada range, and instead of walking along the trail, he/she crossed it by walking/sliding down a rockslide, through the bushes on a faint game trail, and through mud and water.

It's also possible that a huge bear (with rear footprints larger than I've ever seen in Alaska, including Kodiak Island, and without any sign of clawmarks) was walking bipedally (there was no evidence whatsoever of a front pawprint).

It's also possible that a human walked those 20 miles up that particular, lonely trail, carrying bigfoot "sandals" in order to fool any hikers that might possibly happen by, and that we never saw that person before, during, or after the trackway find.

I suppose it's also possible that the trackway was left by a biological being other than a sasquatch (though I can't imagine what that might be), or an extraterrestrial being.

Or, the prints might have been left by a (no! no! don't write it! it cannont be!) sasquatch.

After considering the possiblilties, I've concluded that it was likely a sasquatch.

Its also possible that your statement does not report reality. Since we were not there, we cannot validate that...


From your perspective, that is true. I was writing from my perspective.

.....however, absence of corroborative evidence tends to suggest that BF does not exist / is a bloke in a suit.

In my case, yes. The absence of corroborative evidence suggests that my claim is unsubstantiated.

However, other sasquatch evidence does have corroborating evidence, and it is also rejected by some on this forum as not even being evidence.

The bottom line is that some folks are satisfied with the evidence available, some want more, and some will never be satisfied without proof.

[Huntster]

Originally Posted by Kevin Levites
I've brought this up in other forums (Skeptic Magazine), and I'll bring it up here.

Anyone interested in the Jersey Devil, Bigfoot, Skunk Ape, Yeti, and so on should check out the books by Tom Brown Jr. ('The Tracker', 'Tom Brown's Field Guide to Wilderness Survival', 'Grandfather', 'The Quest', and so on).

This guy was, apparantly, trained in the arcane arts of psychological and guerilla warfare by an Apache scout named Stalking Wolf.

Many of the sightings of the Jersey Devil in the sixties can be blamed on him and his friend Rick--some Native Americans have a tradition of counting coup, which sometimes involves the theft of an intimate item and, basically, terrifying the living **** out of your enemy without killing him.

There are many secret societies that have existed in history. The Skull and Crossbones of Yale University has members like George Bush (Jr. and Sr.), the Black Dragon Tong of China, and the various ninja organizations of Fuedal Japan qualify.

I find it interesting that many sightings of strange creatures occur near tribal lands.

It wouldn't surprise me if there were some Native American traditions have survived.

All the best,

---Kevin
Good observation Kevin ...

I wouldn't be surprised if an important part of those " Native American traditions ... if they exist of course ..;) ... didn't include keeping quiet ( at least beyond the inner circle ) about any such ' coup counting ' that took place ...

Is this a Native American Conspiracy Theory?

Would such an accusation be racist, or would it just be stupid?

[kitakaze]

This guy was, apparantly, trained in the arcane arts of psychological and guerilla warfare by an Apache scout named Stalking Wolf.

Many of the sightings of the Jersey Devil in the sixties can be blamed on him and his friend Rick--This is an anecdote, yes?some Native Americans have a tradition of counting coup, which sometimes involves the theft of an intimate item and, basically, terrifying the living **** out of your enemy without killing him.Are we to infer from this anecdote the existence of a secret First Nation organization of psycho guerillas conspiring to mess with our heads via staged bigfoot encounters and panty thefts?There are many secret societies that have existed in history. The Skull and Crossbones of Yale University has members like George Bush (Jr. and Sr.), the Black Dragon Tong of China, and the various ninja organizations of Fuedal Japan qualify. Aha, but do those guys make you fill your drawers then steal them, too?I find it interesting that many sightings of strange creatures occur near tribal lands.And don't forget during the full moon. Something to do with the arcane arts I think.It wouldn't surprise me if there were some Native American traditions have survived. One would certainly hope so.

Seriously though, general finger pointing aside I don't think anyone doubts there's no shortage of tricksy devils getting there kicks trying to convince people they saw *insert creepy thing here*.

[Daryl17]

Me? No. But a man I work with grew up in the Pacific Northwest, and says that, when he was young, he saw something which he couldn't identify, but which he can't think of anything else it could be but a bigfoot/sasquatch/whatever. He was climbing a tree when he smelled something "like a wet dog on fire." He looked around and there was something tall and furry facing him. He fell out of the tree and ran home. He says he knows it wasn't a bear, even though he couldn't see it clearly through the branches.

Just another anecdote.
Nice story, its interesting to note that alot of people who claim to have seen Bigfoot have said they smelt an awful smell, Gimlin claimed just that, that he smelt what he described as a 'wet dog'.

[Kevin Levites]

This is an anecdote, yes?Are we to infer from this anecdote the existence of a secret First Nation organization of psycho guerillas conspiring to mess with our heads via staged bigfoot encounters and panty thefts?Aha, but do those guys make you fill your drawers then steal them, too?And don't forget during the full moon. Something to do with the arcane arts I think.One would certainly hope so.

Seriously though, general finger pointing aside I don't think anyone doubts there's no shortage of tricksy devils getting there kicks trying to convince people they saw *insert creepy thing here*.


Thank you for replying to my post. Tom Brown Jr., in his own writings, claims to have been the Jersey Devil. He often makes mention of secret societies. I wasn't claiming anything so much as throwing an idea into the pot so that we might talk about it.

All the best,

--Kevin

[Kevin Levites]

Is this a Native American Conspiracy Theory?

Would such an accusation be racist, or would it just be stupid?


I deny the suggestion that I'm a racist. Brown, in his own writings, mentions secret societies and that he was the Jersey Devil on many occasions when he was practicing the things that Stalking Wolf taught him.

Thanks for replying to my post.

All the best,

---Kevin

[Huntster]

Originally Posted by Huntster
Is this a Native American Conspiracy Theory?

Would such an accusation be racist, or would it just be stupid?
I deny the suggestion that I'm a racist.

No! Don't!

Don't do it!............

Thanks for replying to my post.

You're welcome.

Thanks for the honest and friendly post.

All the best,

And the same to you, my friend.

[kitakaze]

Thank you for replying to my post. Tom Brown Jr., in his own writings, claims to have been the Jersey Devil. He often makes mention of secret societies. I wasn't claiming anything so much as throwing an idea into the pot so that we might talk about it.

All the best,

--KevinYou're welcome. It was a funny idea. Tom Brown Jr. makes me think of Ray Wallace if only for his bigfoot claims. I'm sure just like some of the organized crop circle makers of the past I can easily imagine some crazies getting together to make bigfoot hoaxes such as (any takers?).

All the best to you, too. Happy New Year.:)

[Tirdun]

I don't post on bigfoot threads (I have nothing of substance to add and they follow a very predictable pattern) but I have a hard time imagining that a group of hoaxers would have produced some of the alleged sightings by finding and hoaxing unsuspecting people.

Where I live, if you were to jump out of the woods in a furry costume at a group of hoax-ees there is a very good chance you'd end up the new owner of a lot of buckshot.

[LAL]

I don't post on bigfoot threads (I have nothing of substance to add and they follow a very predictable pattern) but I have a hard time imagining that a group of hoaxers would have produced some of the alleged sightings by finding and hoaxing unsuspecting people.

Where I live, if you were to jump out of the woods in a furry costume at a group of hoax-ees there is a very good chance you'd end up the new owner of a lot of buckshot.

That's true in quite a few areas. There was a story about someone in a suit actually being killed. Anyone know more about that?

Some of the evidence, especially the miles-long trackways, just aren't hoaxable by any conceivable means. I think sceptics put way too much weight on the few hoaxes there have been. But then they have little to support their side. I suppose they have to use what they have.

[Diogenes]

There was a story about someone in a suit actually being killed. Anyone know more about that?

Right here at JREF ..

http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?p=1493304#post1493304

Of course " Bigfoot Hoaxer Shot " stories, are just supposed to add some credibility to sighting reports, because no one would be dumb enough to dress up like a bigfoot...

Some of the evidence, especially the miles-long trackways, just aren't hoaxable by any conceivable means.
Conceivable by whom ?

Of course, why would it have to be a hoax ?

Oh.. You mean those Bigfootologists couldn't possibly be mistaken about the source of tracks in the snow ?

One thing we do know; if there are no Bigfoots, the tracks were not made by a Bigfoot...

[desertyeti]

In Ivan Sanderson's and Chris Murphy's books, there are photos of a bounding quadruped in the snow (easily recognizable by the symetrical and identical form of each successive imprint, demonstrating that a pair of mirror-image feet were not involved, as well as being placed one in front of the other) showing body as well as foot impressions that are confidently labeled as being from large, hirsuite, apemen. Doesn't exactly instill confidence in the tracking skills of other BF-ers.

[luchog]

Nice story, its interesting to note that alot of people who claim to have seen Bigfoot have said they smelt an awful smell, Gimlin claimed just that, that he smelt what he described as a 'wet dog'.
I wonder if any of these people have ever smelled a bear in rut. Pretty unpleasant.

I've live in the PNW all my life, and had an enounter in my late teens, more or less auditory, along with several others. A couple of them were of the opinion that it could have been a sasquatch; but the consensus among the rest of us was that it had been a bear, considering the prevelance of bears in the area, and the resemblance to other bear noises. Not to mention being at the height of the rutting season.

[Spektator]

I was driving down a country road late on a foggy night when I saw something about seven feet high shambling along the opposite edge of the road, coming in my direction. It was a kind of dark brown, and it had a weird, tiny head for its height.

Then something clicked and I saw that it was a guy with a kid riding on his shoulders. They had a long dark raincoat draped over the kid's shoulders and hanging down open, framing the guy's face. But for a second there--well, you know.