Saturday, October 09, 2010

Just in Time for Halloween!!!

This report comes from Lon Strickler about a recent sighting of The Spottsville Monster in Henderson, Kentucky

Friday, October 08, 2010

Recent Sighting of the Spottsville Monster?


I received word this morning that there was a recent sighting of an unknown creature near the area of the so-called 'Spottsville Monster' sightings in Henderson County, Kentucky. There wasn't a lot of detail other than the entity stood about 6 1/2 ft., with dark brown fur and a canine-like head. The witness stated that the creature was approximately 50 yards away in a woodland clearing during the mid-morning. From what I can gather, there were a few witnesses that were part of a group, but I'm not positive of that. I have made further inquiries and will post an update if other reports are made

Read more about the Spottsville Monster and other sightings in Kentucky at:  http://www.kentuckybigfoot.com

Thursday, October 07, 2010

Silent Auction---Bigfoot Family

I have just received another bid of $155.00...do I hear $160?

http://bigfootlives.blogspot.com/2010/10/silent-auction-bigfoot-family.html
This beautiful hand-carved Bigfoot family is just waiting to be adopted!

These are an extremely rare, one of a kind item, commissioned in 2006 by Craig Woolheater for the Bigfoot in Texas? museum exhibit in San Antonio at the Institute of Texan Cultures by noted artist Russell Baird of Montana.

Wednesday, October 06, 2010

Sojourn in Autumn

A few weeks ago my good friend Thom Cantrall informed me that he was heading into the woods for a relaxing weekend of squatching.  He offered to send me a recap of his adventures, and I gladly accepted.

Thom has a gift for creative writing and I knew that his report would be an entertaining read.  Enjoy.



Sojurn in Autumn
By
Thom Cantrall

            The sun had not yet reached the bottom of the sharp-sided canyon, but the road had deteriorated past the point I really felt I should be driving my Le Sabre any further.  It was later than I had hoped to be arriving but my plans for an early departure had to be altered when I realized that the vineyard where I planned to procure my boxes of grapes would not be easily negotiated before it was light enough to see my way around easily.
            Another slight hitch in my carefully laid plans occurred when, on arriving at the vineyard, I found that they had not picked the crop yet as I had assumed they would.  Since the picking crew was working in the apple orchard adjacent to the several thousand acres of grapes I contacted one of the foremen to let them know that I’d planned to get some grapes from the end of the rows where they cannot be accessed by the machines used to mechanically pick the fruit.  Armed with permission… well, I assume it was permission, my Spanish not being all that good… I filled my two boxes brought along for this purpose with ripe concord grapes and went on my way.
            I know that I have probably should not have been so highly exorcised over the state of the two ruts that passed for a road the last two miles or so I traversed to reach the place I had chosen as my base camp for this outing, but I have developed a fixation for certain parts on my car.  I have, over the years found that I really care for things like mufflers, tail pipes, transmissions and oil pans.  This decided, when I found a very nice little cut area in a biome of mature fir and pine trees with a border of various brushes adjacent to a lively little stream.  It had all the necessary features for my basis of operations for the next couple of days.  In days past, I would have hiked in a mile or two before setting up, but the infirmities of old age have confined me to those areas approachable without a determined hike.
I had chosen this time, 25 Sept, because the archery deer and elk seasons were over and I thought I’d probably be pretty much by myself for whatever time I decided to stay here.  I did not account for the fact that the fall turkey season was still underway and this area is quite alive with the Rio Grande species of wild turkey.  During my stay I probably saw thirty five or more of these birds but heard of no one actually taking one.  My quest required my isolation but, alas, this was not to be.  During my time there, I saw four or five pickups, each with two or three persons inside.  In addition, there was one cavalcade of four horses exiting the region on the morning I arrived. 
            Since I could not expect to have any great success, I went about the task of creating a worthwhile camp.  I wanted an area where I was not going to be an interloper, but a part of the background.  I have been learning at the knee, as it were, of my Indian Mentor.  Following my teachings here, I searched out an area to establish my Indian Altar and issue my prayer given me for this purpose.  My Altar was simple.  I utilized a stump that was crowned by crest of Malus… wild apple… from which I suspended the eagle feathers consecrated for and dedicated to the purpose at hand.  I hung the Golden Eagle feather from Oklahoma above the Bald Eagle feather from Alaska where the winds from the four directions could turn them and twist them just so.  Below these symbols of the ancient past, I placed my token of the twenty first century.  I had a scent lure stick that burned like an incense stick and was placed under a small box-like affair that prevented any stray wind from accelerating the burning rate of the stick or, worse, causing that stick to fall and ignite a fire in the dry grass of the area. 
            I planned to use the scent lure simply as an announcement to the area that food was available here.  I had chosen a berry scented scent stick and I had some boxes of grapes to offer should anyone come to my lure.  Each stick burned for approximately six hours and in the canyon bottom like I was, the wind was never steady in any one direction, but tended to swirl constantly, carrying the aroma of ripe berries to all areas of my environment.  This part of my chores done, I sat down to wait and enjoy my labors, such as they were.  It was not long until the first of my visitors arrived… on a four wheeler… and he insisted on stopping to talk for a bit.  He was curious as to what I was doing camped as I was and I don’t even think he saw my Altar.  I’m not sure he accepted my reply that I was there to meet a particular Sasquatch, but being Yakama Indian, he was familiar with them in the area and suggested that I was in a great spot to have a chance of seeing one.  I tried to explain that is was not just “one” hoped to see, but a particular “one”… one with a distinctive red stripe on his right side.  He left me with best wishes for fortune in my endeavor… if he did appear a bit skeptical of my thesis… When the next hour brought me another pickup with two people within I decided to chronicle the conditions in the area of my chosen camp.   I knew I was not going to be awarded the conversation I was seeking with Red Stripe, but I could set the groundwork for some basic research.  To begin, I thought it might be nice to know, now, I was getting the distinct feeling that bringing a couple of boxes of grapes to them at this time was somewhat akin to worrying about having spilled a cup of water on oneself just before falling out of the boat.   

There was food everywhere.                                                                                            

I walked over to the small river that I had chosen as the base of my operations and was greeted with the sight of salmon everywhere.  Both Coho and Chinook were in the river spawning.  There were redds everywhere there was ample gravel and ample room.  Actually, most were in the process of being built.  It is amazing to watch Chinook salmon that weighed over forty pounds in this small stream clearing away enough gravel so they could lay a couple hundred thousand eggs to perpetuate their species.  It is amazing to watch the transformation that takes place as beautiful, shiny silver bullets lose their streamlining to assume the appearance of creatures more appropriate to fighting off rivals and claim jumpers and who can now lift and move large stones that happen to stand in the way of a successful bed for their eggs.  This river system was home to two major species of salmon… the Chinook or King and the Coho or Silver… Sockeye Salmon also run the main river system, but do not get into this particular tributary as they require a lake to allow them to choose a mate.  Therefore, those species travel further up the Snake River, even all the way into Idaho in search of the places where they themselves were born.
            As I made my way back up from the water to near my camp, I found many more sources of food available.  In addition to the Malus or apples trees, one of which was serving me as an Altar Tree, there were such foods as Rose Hips… for there were Nootka Roses growing in profusion.  Rose hips are extremely high in several necessary vitamins and nutrients but most high in Vitamin C.  This is an excellent source of this essential element even for we mere men.  I would venture to say I could have picked four bushels of these delicacies within one hundred yards of my camp.
            Another major food source was rotted logs and stumps.  These are the nurseries for grubs, worms, termites and some ant colonies.  It is difficult to find an old stump or rotting log in this area that has not received the attentions of a large hairy mammal.  In many cases that hairy mammal is merely a Black Bear, but in some cases, it is out large friends that had brought me out here to commune.
            There was a variety of other berries growing in the area such as black berry and huckleberries.  Both are an important food source for all the animals that dwell in this inter-mountain biome.  There are a couple of species I found that I do not think are edible to them.  One is the Snowberry which is so named for the large white berries that grow in profusion on the low bushes.  The fact that I have never seen even birds working on these berries, even in the worst winters tells me that they are, at least, not desirable, if not toxic.  Another that fits this pattern is the Black Hawthorne… and please notice the wicked spines on that bush.  These berries were just at eye level and the tree was another four feet tall.
            In addition to all I had chronicled, there was a profusion of seed bearing plants in the immediate area.  From the myriad grasses to the tall stalked Common Mullein, no one would lack for seeds if this was their desire.  It was somewhat premature to have ripe seedheads on the Mullein, but another month would see them well on their way and see my hosts well feed for most of the early winter at least.
            In addition to these mentioned assets, the area is alive with deer.  My camp was on a piece of ground that had been bulldozed clean this late summer and there were the tracks of at least twenty two mule deer in the bare dirt there that had been made the night prior to my arrival.  As I watched the hillside opposite my watchpost, I witnessed a bull elk emerge from the timber and bed down on an open slope where he could see for a long distance as he awaited the coming darkness.
            To say there was a plethora of food would have to rate as something of an understatement.  Well, more likely an understatement of epic proportions… from the fish of the water, the products of the trees and shrubs to the streamside I found that I could live there very well.  Add to that the flesh of the larger animals that are certainly available to him, and I think I’d have to say he is well kept there.
            Having reached this conclusion and knowing I was not going to have the opportunity that I wished with as many people as were moving in the area, I decided to come in early on my Sunday.  I packed up my Altar and doused my scent lure.  I put away my food and left his food for him near the stream’s edge in a protected place.  I loaded my car and made all my preparations for egress when I heard a whistle.  It was a whistle I knew and I turned instantly to see … Just in time to see his head as he ducked out of sight.  I asked if he could come back long enough to introduce himself and the very clear answer I received was, “No, not today, it is too dangerous.”  And he was right.  No sooner had this happened that another vehicle could be heard grinding its way up the two ruts that passed for a road in this marvelously enchanted river bottom known as the South Fork…

The Creature

The Creature by Jan Klement

This story came out many years ago, and I had read it long before Autumn William's book Enoch came out.  There seem to be many similarities and they are both fascinating stories.

There has been much speculation as to who the real Jan Klement is/was and I was wondering if anyone had any theories they would like to share.

The book is no longer available to purchase, unless you check ebay..but there is an online link where you can read the entire book.  Click here to read

Compare the story of Enoch to this story...have a day!

Tuesday, October 05, 2010

Some comical video to chuckle at!







Silent Auction-Bigfoot Family

This beautiful hand-carved Bigfoot family is just waiting to be adopted!

These are an extremely rare, one of a kind item, commissioned in 2006 by Craig Woolheater for the Bigfoot in Texas? museum exhibit in San Antonio at the Institute of Texan Cultures by noted artist Russell Baird of Montana.





The father and mother of the family of 3 stand at approximately 24 inches high.  The baby is approximately 12 inches.

Each piece is signed and dated by the artist.

Bidding will start at $150. Auction will end this Friday 10/8/10 at 5 pm EST
Send all bids to: sharonlee@thebigfootfieldreporter.com

Honobia-Part II

We then broke for lunch and I drove back to the trailer to cook some turkey burgers.  Dr. Meldrum was set to speak after lunch so I hurried back to catch his presentation.  I have to tell you, between the presentations of Dr. Meldrum and Kathy Strain, I feel like I learn so much every time I hear them speak!  It's like I am enrolled in Anthropology 101!
 
The last guest speaker for the day was the gifted cartoonist Robert Swain.  He shared his artwork and comedy with us and I have to admit...he nails it!  Robert is gifted with the sense of knowing exactly what Bigfoot researchers look like to the average observer.  Robert is a very kind and sweet man.

A large group of us headed to the Honobia store for a Friday night catfish dinner.  The store cooks one meal at a time so we had a lot of time to laugh and joke around before heading back to the conference for story telling!

The sun was setting behind the Kiamichi's and a roaring fire set a glow upon the faces of  the anxious listeners.  There had to be about 75 people gathered 'round before the sun set and at last count there were over 300 people in the pavilion and around the campground.  One by one people stood up and told stories about Bigfoot sightings and experiences.  The temperature steadily dropped and by 9 pm, we were too cold to continue.  We all said our good-nights and headed off to slumber after an exhausting, exhilarating day.
Story telling

Mark and Melissa

Clogged Artery Heaven



The festival continued on Saturday morning with the buzz of the anticipated crowd.  The vendors were setting up their goods and food trucks were cranking up their fryers.  The goats from the petting zoo bleating out their good morning greetings.  This day was different than the day before as it was the weekend and the attendance was triple the amount from the day before.
Kathy and Dr Meldrum gave us part 2 of their presentations.  They changed them up a bit so that the people who were in attendance on Friday received a bit more information.  The books and artwork were selling like crazy!  The people came from miles around and were eager to look, listen and learn about Bigfoot research.
Today was the day we allowed ourselves to go "fair food crazy"!  Indian tacos.  Tater tornadoes. Chicken on a stick.  Tums.

As the day was winding down, the Bigfoot Idol winner was announced in the entertainment pavilion and the Bigfoot Conference raffle winners were chosen.  Robert Swain was the lucky winner of the Sasquatch garden statue and he was beyond thrilled because he had been telling us how desperately his son wanted one! 
Robert Swain

Sandy Blackburn won a Bigfoot Camo handbag.  Other prizes that were donated and raffled off were Hot stone massages, jewelry, hand-made quilts and a hog hunt!

So many smiling faces and so much laughter surrounded the conference and festival. 

The Bigfoot Investigative Group -TBIG should be proud of their first conference!  It was a great success and they are already in the planning stages for next year's conference!

Honobia Bigfoot Festival and Conference Follow-Up

There are still places within the United States where time stands still.  Honobia, Oklahoma is one of them.

I arrived at DFW on Thursday afternoon and we proceeded to run a few errands while making our way north.  Before we knew it, darkness had fallen and city lights became few and far between.  About 15 miles from Honobia the GPS said we were there. Our cell phones had lost their signal miles before that.  Talk about feeling alone!

After a couple of wrong turns, we finally ended at our destination, Granny's Place, and settled in for the night.

The festivities were scheduled to begin at 9 am, so we headed out to Christ 40 Acres which was about 7 miles from our lodging.  There was a chill in the mountain air, the Kiamichi's creating a breathtaking post card-worthy backdrop.  I had an awesome breakfast burrito from a vendor, grabbed a cup of coffee and headed to the conference hall.

Kathy Strain, Dr. Jeff Meldrum and Robert Swain had already set up their tables.  Troy Hudson and Arla Williams were running around taking care of last minute preparations.  A small crowd had begun to trickle in and Troy delayed the opening ceremonies for a few minutes to accommodate last minute stragglers.
Troy Hudson TBIG

Kathy Strain-
Kathy was the first speaker of the day after Troy's opening remarks, and her presentation was entertaining and apropos of the culture of Honobia.  Oklahoma still has a predominant Native American presence which was apparent by the attendees and members of The Bigfoot Investigative Group.  I find it interesting that  you would expect these Bigfoot Conferences to get boring or repetitive after awhile, but I have learned about and observed many different cultural differences from Oregon, California,.Texas, Oklahoma and Ohio.

Each location serving up another style of hospitality, and a different approach to sharing information on Sasquatch/Bigfoot research.

Pete Buffalohead



Following Kathy's presentation was Ponca tribe councilman, Pete Buffalohead.  Pete told stories that had been passed down for many generations about the Bigfoot and how prevalent and accepted they are to the Native American Indians.