YEAR: 2010

SEASON: Fall

MONTH: October

DATE: 23

STATE: Oregon

COUNTY: Josephine County

LOCATION DETAILS: Please do not include.

NEAREST TOWN: Hugo, OR

NEAREST ROAD: Jack Creek Road

OBSERVED: It was about 7:15am and overcast but had just stopped raining. I was hunting near Hugo, Oregon. I was about a half a mile from where I parked my vehicle walking on an ATV trail. It was still mostly dark and I had my flashlight in my hand but turned off. I was trying to be quiet as possible while walking quickly because I wanted to make good time to a favorite clearing without spooking any deer that may be in the area.

As I was walking, I saw a very large animal walking upright in front of me across the trail at about 10 yards. It didn't appear to be running but expanded the distance of about 15-20 feet in two strides from left to right of the trail. It did so without making any noise that I can remember.

I instantly froze and clicked on the flashlight. What I saw made my hair stand on end. I saw a large muscular dark fur covered animal that looked to be about 7 - 7 1/2 feet tall. I guess it would be around 500 lbs. I have seen a few bears and I know positively that it was not a bear. It was maybe 20 yards away from me and moving quickly down the hillside and into the trees. The entire encounter lasted just a few seconds. I don't believe it looked back at me so I don't know what it's face looked like. I was fixated on it's body.

It never made any threatening movements toward me but I had never been that scared in my life. I quickly turned around and quickly walked back to my vehicle and left.

OTHER WITNESSES: I was hunting solo.

TIME AND CONDITIONS: Around 7:15am

ENVIRONMENT: In a manzanita filled clearning surrounded by forest.

Follow-up investigation report by BFRO Investigator Trace Taber:

I contacted the witness. Our conversations were by email and by phone. I found him to be articulate and able to recall the events of the day without hesitation. As he recalled his encounter, he admitted to having "Goose Bumps" as he told me what happened. After much questioning, I am able to add the following to his encounter in his own words:

"The ambient light was very low and the only way I even saw it was because I was walking slightly uphill on a ridge and I noticed something very large moving against the clouds. When I turned on the flashlight it was wet with dark brown almost black fur. When it walked, it's legs were bent, torso was slightly hunched over and its body seemed to kind of glide and didn't bounce like people do. Its arms were long, to the side of its body and swung like a person. I don't really remember what its hands looked like sorry. I have no idea if it was male or female or how old it was. It was just big and muscular with a big rear end. Its head looked like it was sitting almost directly on it's shoulders. I want to say its head looked pointy but I'm not positive.

There is one more thing that I'd like to add that I forgot to say. I had a camera with me but the encounter was so short lived that even if I had remembered the camera, there is no way I could have taken a picture. I use to think with all the digital cameras out there that Sasquatch couldn't exist because there would be tons of pictures but now I can see why that isn't true."

The witness stated to me he watched the Bigfoot cover 25 or so yards in less that 5 seconds but noted it didn't seem to be in a hurry. He was an avid non-believer prior to this encounter,having spent a great deal of time in the woods and not had any similar experiences. He has now changed his mind and stated he will see the area where he hunts deer in a whole new light from now on.
I believe the witness has retold his encounter as it happened and I am convinced what he saw was indeed a Bigfoot.

This is a sketch drawn by the witness:

About BFRO Investigator Trace Taber:

Trace is an Oregon resident who has Attended several BFRO expeditions in Oregon and Northern California starting in 2006. He has spent 30+ years exploring the wilds of Southern Oregon and Northern California.