YEAR: 1984/1985

SEASON: Fall

STATE: Georgia

COUNTY: Polk County

LOCATION DETAILS: I have marked gps coordinates for the area.

NEAREST TOWN: Cedartown

NEAREST ROAD: Highway 278 west (the area is between Cedartown, GA and Piedmont, AL. Just north of Potash road.

OBSERVED: I am reporting and writing this on behalf of my step father-in-law (f-i-l). This incident occurred with he and my brother-in-law (b-i-l)in 1984 or 1985 (he is not sure of the year since so much time has passed).

He and my b-i-l were deer hunting in the fall on some old growth hardwood/pine forrest near where my f-i-l was raised. They had drove into the area, parked, then separated to go to their respective hunting areas (he up hill about 100 yards from the vehicle and my b-i-l about 100 yards down away fromt the vehicle in a bottom area).

As they met back at their vehicle, my b-i-l related that he had come across a deer carcass that was torn apart (limbs appeared "ripped" from the trunk and the trunk torn open). He had never seen anything like it. They hiked back to the area and to the carcass and had to push physically push through some thick growth to the site of the carcass.

My f-i-l related that the kill was fresh, no more than 24 hours old at the oldest as there was no decay, had not been scattered by scanvengers, and it was too fresh to have maggots hatching. While looking, he related that he began to have a strong feeling of being watched and began to smell something that was a combination of a wet dog and rotting garbage. As it was getting dark, they headed back to their truck. He said the truck was about 100 yards away and as they walked, he noticed the sound of something walking parallet to themabout 10-15 yards into the undergrowth. As they reached the truck (they had both unloaed their guns earlier), something in the underbush less than 10 yard away he estimated, "screamed" at them. He related that he had heard peacocks, deer, bobcat, etc while growing up and while hunting. and this was like nothing either of them had ever heard. Both of them are avid deer and turkey hunters with primitive weapons and firearms and have spent a great deal of time in the woods.

The sound was so strange and unnerving that he said the hair on his arms and neck stood up. They both fumbled with their guns trying to reload and to get in the truck as it was almost full dark by then. They immediately left the area as fast as possible.

My b-i-l passed away in 1999 and to my knowledge, I never remember or know of him telling anyone else about this.

My f-i-l took me back out to the area on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2007. This was the first time he had been back since the incident occurred. He related that he could close his eyes and still hear that scream and he could feel his hairs standing up. We walked the area but it has been clear cut for timber and is now leased to a hunting club (Inland Paper is the land owner) and a gate has been put up so that you have to walk to the area where the incident occurred. The area is in the nw part of the county very close to the Alabama state line. There is no one living close to this area still, there is running water, a large deer population going by the tracks we saw and scat, as well as good cover provided by timber piles and second growth forest returning.

My f-i-l had never told this story to anyone else until he heard me telling some other family members abou going on the GA 2006 expedition. He then told me later while we were alone with no other family members present.

ALSO NOTICED: The area is within 20 miles of the Talladega National Forrest and within 50 miles of at least 2 reports for Alabama. The Pinhoti Trail is close by also.

OTHER WITNESSES: 2 witnesses that were deer hunting.

OTHER STORIES: There is one incident reported for Polk county on the GCBRO website as well as two for Floyd county (which is the next county north from this location) but neither have details that would aid in determining the location of those incidents.

TIME AND CONDITIONS: Lste afternoon in the fall of the year. Day was clear and cool as he recalls.

ENVIRONMENT: The area is second growth pine now. At the time of the incident, it was older mixed hardwood and pine with a wet weather creek very close by as well as dense underbrush and growth. There used to be significant ore mining in the area and now there are deep ore pits filled with water scattered throughout. The paper land appears to cover several hundred acres in this area but is posted as it is leased to a hunting club(s).

Follow-up investigation report by BFRO Investigator Morris Collins:

As I am a Georgia investigator, I obtained his permission to write this report up and publish it as long as I do not use his name (for fear of ridicule). I have known him for over 25 years and he is of the highest moral caliber as far as integrity and a devout Christian. I have no doubt, based on his description of what occurred, his feelings, and a visit to the area, that he and my b-i-l had walked up to a fresh BF deer kill.

About BFRO Investigator Morris Collins:

Morris holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree from Auburn University and additional coursework toward an MBA in International Business. He is an avid backpacker and SCUBA diver. Morris attended Georgia 2006, 2008, 2009 & 2011; North Carolina 2006 and SC 2007 expeditions. He is a member of the SE BFRO Tracking Team and has completed a first course in visual tracking.