Open Letter to Bigfoot Hunters

WantToBelieve

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,

For a long time I’ve been watching your efforts to find proof positive that the creature we call Bigfoot actually exists. I’ve read books that you’ve written about your exploits, I’ve watched videos on YouTube that you’ve taken around the world, I’ve watched your TV shows, I’ve anxiously awaited DNA test results from various labs around the world.

jeff meldrumAnd yet, nothing. A glimmer here, a glimmer there, we all know that’s not enough to convince the scientific community at large. Even with all the solid Bigfoot track plasters vetted by Dr. Jeff Meldrum and Mr. Jimmy Chilcott – the world at large doesn’t believe this animal exists.

I believe Bigfoot exists, as well as his “cousins” around the world (Yeti, Mande Barung, etc.)  But I believe based on the compelling eyewitness accounts we see, hear, and read year after year. That many people can’t be wrong, in my opinion. Sure, not every account is legitimate, but far and away these witnesses seem awfully credible. Some of them are outstanding members of their communities, for instance, police officers and other officials.

I also believe the Native Americans were right about their existence all along. These people are not stupid. I believe them.

So what is it going to take to get some extraordinary evidence to convince the scientific community at large?  If you don’t mind, I’d like to make some suggestions.

CrazyCycleBreaking the Crazy Cycle

My suggestions are based on a theory I live by, that is, if you’re doing the same thing over and over and over again and getting the same results, results that you don’t want, then you’re stuck in a crazy cycle. Let’s think out of the box for a moment.

You Make Too Much Noise

Calls, knocking, whistling, singing, yelling, disco lights, on and on the list goes. The premise is that if you do something interesting, the Bigfoots will come to watch.

They may come to see if you mean them any harm, but so far none of these shenanigans have brought us any good, solid results. The Bigfoots may yell back at you once or twice, but then they stop and you still don’t have any hard evidence.

FindTheNinjaSome of the most compelling sightings I’ve heard and read about were by people quietly traveling through woods or roadways (cars today are fairly quiet) when they come upon Bigfoot. It’s more a surprise encounter than anything forced or manipulated.

Look, I’m not criticizing anyone here – it was worth a try. But I’d like to see you try a stealthy Ninja approach and see if that doesn’t bring better results.

GreenEyedKitty03You Don’t Think Like an Ape

I think this is worth mentioning. Men and women can hardly tell what each other is thinking at any given moment and we’re the same species! In some cases we’re related! Also, have you ever been owned by a cat?

So why should we suppose we’re going to really understand how Bigfoot and his cousins think?  They’re animals that we know very little about.

This factor is important in several ways: picking places to place camera traps and places to put out “bait” such as yummy food.

There has actually been some scientific work done in the camera trap placement arena that you may be interested in.

Dr. Oliver Wearn from the Zoological Society of London and Imperial College in London shared a story with readers regarding how he and his fellow science students were taught to place camera traps. In a nutshell, he said that if they placed cameras in areas that they thought were prime locations, they got few to no results.

RandomWhen they randomly selected areas to place their cameras, some of which went in areas with little promise according to them, they got more and better results.

So that got me thinking because time and again, I hear people on TV say this is “prime Bigfoot territory”, almost assuring themselves they’ll get the evidence “here”.  My recommendation is put the cameras in crazy, random places and see what you get.

Again, I’m not criticizing anyone. The previous method was logical and reasonable. Now it’s time to try something else.

The same principle applies to placing your baits. Select areas randomly.

You Don’t Spend Enough Time

So far, the shows I’ve seen seem to spend all of a few (2-3) nights in one place looking for Bigfoot. Statistically, you’re at a disadvantage. Your odds of seeing anything are very low.

river_monstersssBy way of example, let’s look at the TV show River Monsters on Animal Planet. The host Jeremy Wade and his crew spend weeks looking for his elusive prey and if you’ve watched it, you’ll know he almost ALWAYS gets what he’s looking for. I think I’ve only seen one show where he came home empty. (But he went back and got it later.)

So the people who sponsor the Bigfoot programs have to do a reality check and put more money into these expeditions otherwise people are going to get bored, and we’re going to lose the audience and enthusiasm for our big footed friend.

“Amateur” teams (i.e., non-funded) that go looking for Bigfoot might want to break up the exploration of a particular area and do it in rotation by smaller groups. Then everyone can share their findings at the end of, say, a few weeks. This way, you’d have more coverage of a particular area, upping your chances of finding some kind of tangible evidence.

BigfootForestOutside the Box

Thinking critically and trying new methods are the hallmarks of humanity. That’s how we survived and thrived throughout history until this present day. So there’s no harm in trying something new concerning the hunt for Bigfoot and his kin. I know somewhere, somehow, you will succeed.

Good luck and stay safe!

Sincerely,

SA McNally

24/30

9 comments

  1. I have to agree with the stealth approach in tracking a big foot. Waiting and hoping someone comes up with creditable data!

  2. Howdy! Kudos to your enthusiasm … and the main point that I’d like to point-out is definitely the noise factor. I’ve only been doin’ this since 2009, and even though I’m a seasoned outdoorsman, I’m still a bit green on my field research skills (or lack thereof). The only time that I’ve ever heard this animal was when it was walkin’ through a flooded forest, and when it broke some branches. Other than that, I couldn’t begin to tell you what this animal sounds like when it vocalizes! So when I read about other enthusiasts or amateur field researchers who are out there bangin’ on trees, howlin’ or … as you put it, usin’ “disco lights” I’m really at a loss! I see this as bein’ more of the “crazy factor” than anything else.

    Let me try and explain; if you’re in a huntin’ situation … and wanna attract game, you’d probably wanna use a game call. And if you are a seasoned hunter … you’ve witnessed game animals use particular calls while out in the field. My definition of game callin’ would be to imitate an animal communicatin’ with others of its species in specific situations. For example, any hunter needs to know the difference between a social call or a distress call. And since I’ve never witnessed this mystery animal make a call … why would I try to make a sound that may scare or threaten it?

    I am huntin’ this animal; not with a gun, but with a camera. Don’t get me wrong, I’m always armed while I’m out there in them woods; but I personally would never kill somethin’ unless there was a good reason for it … like my safety! The first thing I did after our encounter was begin to thoroughly scout the area of our encounter. I wanted to look for signs that this animal might possibly still be out there. I do this very quietly and methodically, as if I were in a huntin’ situation. And by approachin’ it this way … I’ve had some minor success, even though I haven’t had another encounter.

    So, while I’m still a bit green as far as bein’ an amateur field researcher, I’m smart enough to hunt for this animal and not drive it away by makin’ noise, bangin’ on trees or scarin’ it off. “Disco lights” are trippin’ … so I definitely won’t be tryin’ that! Glad I found your blog …

    • Angelo, thank you for your comment! It’s great to hear things from a hunter’s perspective.

      I mentioned the disco lights only because on one episode of Finding Bigfoot, Bobo wanted to use a Disco Lights thing that beamed lights around the woods. It was crazy but fun. Still, I honestly don’t think it helped their investigation that night.

      Please let us know if you find any good evidence on your adventures!

      … Susan (CryptoVille)

  3. SA. If you statistically want to improve the chances I agree in part. Why not take a page out of Jim Sherman and Derek Randles recent ways. Simply find an area where Bigfoots have been repeatedly spotted on or near private property and research locally. It works. Check out the new Randles footage. I’ve had modest success myself. Hair, Scat, tree snaps, rock tosses and a brief sighting. So. I’m all for hiking and biking. But I think the next big evidence comes from the folks who have had the subjects come repeatedly to their area and are armed with the right equipment or paired with the right researcher. Sincerely, M

    • Thanks for your comments, M, that’s a fine idea. But let’s remember that the hair and scat are only useful if they have viable DNA attached that can be tested in a lab. My focus is on proving to the scientific community at large, that these creatures exist.

      The fresher the hair and scat, the better. Please try to get it to a DNA testing lab and see what the results say.

      Good luck!

      Susan (CryptoVille)

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