YEAR: 1997

SEASON: Fall

MONTH: November

DATE: 29

STATE: Wisconsin

COUNTY: Price County

LOCATION DETAILS: western portion of Price County. Lugerville is located on Hwy F which is accessible from either Hwy's 13 or 70. The hunting cabin is on a fire lane off of Hwy F, northwest of Lugervile. This area borders Chequamegon National Forest and the cabin is within walking distance of the Flambeau river. The topography is a mixture of ridges, ravines, swamp, fields and mature forests.

NEAREST TOWN: Lugerville

NEAREST ROAD: Hwy F

OBSERVED: It was 2:30 in the afternoon when I saw a dark figure walking along a ridge. It had a long stride with arms swinging high during its walk. I thought it was a shadow of a man walking but the sun was not out. I previously saw two hunters who were wearing 100% blaze orange - this thing was all dark. I thought it was a landowner coming down to talk to me but after disappearing behind some bushes I never saw it again. The distance between us was approximately 100 yards. I became a little uneasy when I heard loud sounds like branches braking in the forest and decided to leave the area.

ALSO NOTICED: Loud noises like branches breaking in the forest - then everything became uneasily quite.

Further pondering on what I saw - The most unusual thing was the swinging of the arms with hands reaching almost head level and the hands were open almost as if it was marching. It never looked at me but kept its' head looking in the direction it was going. It was not walking on the top of the ridge but on the farthest side which only allowed a view from its waist on up. I believe it was larger than a man since the distance being ~ 100 yards would have made a man seem small and features, like swinging arms, would not have been easily seen. Also, before I left I heard loud sounds like branches breaking as if something purposely stepped on them. At first I thought it was a dear but since nothing came over the hill I became nervous feeling like something unusual was going to happen. I climbed out of my tree stand and left - looking around and not seeing anything unusual.

OTHER WITNESSES: Hunting for deer.

OTHER STORIES: No previous sightings.

TIME AND CONDITIONS: 2:30 in the afternoon.

ENVIRONMENT: I was in a tree stand hunting for deer in an open area surrounded by forest, swamp, and a river.