DATE:    10-15-97

TIME:      Approximately 3:00 P.M.

LOCATION:    Pearl River Louisiana, St. Tammany Parish.

TERRAIN:      Wooded

OBSERVED:     Let me start off by saying my father and I have hunted in the swamp
our whole life. And I have been told by countless people that what I seen
was a big hog.  But no one can tell me what I saw was a hog, I have seen
hogs all my life.

I was bow hunting with some friends of mine. They already had stands up
that they were going to hunt from.  I decided I would just walk, and scout
for the upcoming gun season.  I walked for probably an hour, when I came to a
deep slough, deep enough that it would go over my boots if I crossed it. I
decided to sit on a log right on the bank. I sat for maybe an hour.  I
decided to get up and start making my way out. But as soon as I took about
2 or 3 steps, I heard something take off maybe 40 yards away from me.  At
first I thought it was a hog but when it came out of the thicket IT WAS
DEFINETLY NOT A HOG!!!!  When it came out the brush it crossed the slough,
ran up the other side.  While it was running away it hit a tree about 12
inches in diameter. When I say hit it I mean Hit it hard, to where I could
hear it and too where it was shaking.  Daylight was starting to fade and I
was not to comfortable with just my bow. So I started a fast steady pace
back to the truck.

Everyone says I should have went and looked where it crossed the slough and
looked at its tracks. And now I wish I would have. But at the time that was
the furtherest thing on my mind.

ACTIVITIES OF WITNESS(ES):     Sitting on a log hunting.

DESCRIPTION OF CREATURE:    It was about 5 foot tall, and it ran hunched over.
It was a very big animal, It was black and dark grey.

OTHER NOTES:   none

OTHER SIGHTINGS IN THIS AREA:   Not to my knowledge.