DATE: 04-27-01

TIME: 0745 HRS

LOCATION: RURAL STATE PROPERTY IN ORANGE COUNTY,INDIANA
 

TERRAIN: Wooded
 

OBSERVED: ON 4-27-01 AT AROUND 0745 HRS. I WAS WALKING ON A FIRE TRAIL ON STATE PROPERTY TRYING TO LOCATE A TURKEY.  UPON SETTING UP IN A LARGE PINE THICKET I GAVE SEVERAL TURKEY CALLS AND HEARD A VERY LOUD SCREAM AND SOME LARGE FOOTSTEPS WITHIN 50 YARDS OF MY LOCATION.  I WAS IN FULL CAMOFLAGE FROM HEAD TO TOE AND HELD MY GROUND. THE FOLIAGE WAS VERY THICK BUT I OBSERVED SOME SMALL MAPLE TREES MOVING AROUND THE OUTSIDE PERIMETER OF THE PINE THICKET.  I COULD NOT BELIEVE MY EYES WHEN I OBSERVED A LARGE HAIRY CREATURE THAT APPEARED TO BE 8 FEET TALL .  THE CREATURE APPEARED TO BE CHECKING THE WIND TO LOCATE THE LOCATION OF THE TURKEY CALLS.  I RAISED MY SHOTGUN JUST FOR PROTECTION DUE TO THE CREATURE COMING TO WITHIN 30 PACES OF MY LOCATION.  I DEPRESSED THE SAFETY ON MY SHOTGUN AS THE CREATURE FACED ME AND APPEARED TO BE STALKING MY SCENT.  IN AN INSTANT THE CREATURE CHARGED AND I FIRED ONE ROUND AT HIS FACE AREA AND THE CREATURE TURNED AND BOLTED DOWN A STEEP RAVINE AND OUT OF SIGHT. I COULD HEAR THE CREATURE STUMBLING AROUND IN THE BOTTOM OF THE RAVINE FOR ANOTHER 15 MINUTES.  AT THIS POINT THE WOODS BECAME VERY QUIET, AND I WALKED TO THE LOCATION OF THE SHOT.  I OBSERVED SPECKLING OF BLOOD SCATTERED THROUGHOUT THE AREA WHERE THE CREATURE EXITED THE RAVINE.  I ALSO OBSERVED A PINE TREE 8 INCHES IN DIAMETER THAT WAS BROKEN AT THE BASE.  I LEFT THE AREA AND NEVER RETURNED.

ACTIVITIES OF WITNESSES:    Hunting for turkey

DESCRIPTION OF CREATURE:  8 foot tall, large, hairy creature

OTHER NOTES:   I HAVE HEARD OF OTHER HUNTERS IN THE AREA HEARING THE LOUD SCREAMS IN THE SAME LOCATION.  I DONT KNOW FOR SURE BUT I BELIEVE THIS WAS A BIGFOOT.  I ALSO HOPE THAT I DIDNT KILL THE CREATURE BUT IT WAS ONLY FOR PROTECTION.
 

OTHER SIGHTINGS IN THIS AREA: