YEAR: 2009

SEASON: Winter

MONTH: December

DATE: 14

STATE: Florida

COUNTY: Clay County

LOCATION DETAILS: This occured in the archery only area of camp Blanding in C Block About 300 yds from the gate on Sapp rd.

NEAREST TOWN: Camp Blanding Military res.

NEAREST ROAD: Route 100

OBSERVED: While archeery hunting in the Camp Blanding WMA Block C I heard a loud growling grunting sound as I was walking on Sapp road toward my truck . I was about 300 yds from county route 100 when I heard the noise. It was unlike any animal sound I have ever heard. I have been a hunter and outdoorsman since my youth so for about 40 yearsI have been hunting from Pa. to florida and never experienced any thing like this . I have heard Bobcats and hogs but this was very different than thooses type of vocalizations

ALSO NOTICED: There was no visual sighting but I heard several grunting growls the were very loud and unlike anything I have ever heard. I have been a hunter and outdoorsman all of my life and have spent countless hours hunting all along the east coast from Pa. to Fl. and have never heard this typ of animal vocalization before.

OTHER WITNESSES: Just myself

OTHER STORIES: Only the sightings reported on this websight

TIME AND CONDITIONS: Approximately 11:00 Am Bright sunny day about 45 Deg.F

ENVIRONMENT: this was in a mixed pine and hardwood area with alot of deer moss on the ground and spanish moss hanging from the live oaks

Follow-up investigation report by BFRO Investigator David Wright:

This witness was interviewed by phone on the evening of Feb. 4, 2010 for about 50 minutes.

After a morning of hunting from a tree stand in an archery-only section of the Camp Blanding Wildlife Management Area, the witness was exiting the woods closer to 09:30-10:00 a.m. and was about 300 yards from the road when he heard what he called “…the strangest noise I have ever heard; completely off-the-charts kind of sounds” based on about 40 years as a hunter and outdoorsman in Pennsylvania and Florida. He stated that he has heard all manner of large mammalian wildlife, including wolves, coyotes, bears, bobcats, etc. and this was nothing close to any sound he has ever experienced in the wild. He stated that the noises were VERY loud and penetrating, lasting for about two minutes. It made 4-5 vocalizations, then stopped for a time, then repeated this several times. He stated that the noises were a series of guttural growls, grunting sounds, and howls and were very ape-like; “not aggressive, but more like an animal calling to another animal, in the genre of an identification call.” He also stated that the sounds did not appear to be out of fright or alarm.

Having a biology background, the witness did some on-line research following this incident, and then decided to report it on BFRO.net. He stated that this experience literally made the hair on his neck stand on end and sent shudders through him.

This was a very level headed, compelling witness and gave every indication that he had experienced an extraordinary incident. Based on other reports, both sightings and vocalizations in the same quadrant of this county (see Clay County Reports), it is the opinion of this investigator that this witness likely encountered vocalizations that match many previous descriptions of those of a Sasquatch creature.

About BFRO Investigator David Wright:

• Certified Florida Master Naturalist (U. of Florida)
  
• Visual Tracker, Level 1
• Teaches Biology, A.P. Biology, Ecology, and Environmental Science at a rural high school SE of Jacksonville
• See local TV interview with D. Wright
• Participated in the 2007 Private Florida Expedition [Click the video link on that page.], the 2007 South Carolina Expedition, the 2008 South Florida Expedition and assisted with the organization of the 2008 North Florida Expedition. Assisted with the organization of the 2009 Central Florida Expedition.