YEAR: 1985

SEASON: Fall

MONTH: September

DATE: 26th

STATE: Illinois

COUNTY: Henderson County

LOCATION DETAILS: I've been back over there several times and can't find it. But my friend said she was over there recently and want's to take me back there.

NEAREST TOWN: Gulfport

NEAREST ROAD: US 61

OBSERVED: My friend and I were out arrowhead hunting. It was late September 1985. We were driving looking for a good spot when I spotted a ridge that was a wash out. I told her to pull over and hunt there because it was off the beaten path. I climbed to the top and spied a cornfield. So we proceeded to hunt the field. The corn stalks were small that year and you could see the whole area. In the fence row was what I thought was a black tree that was topped off. But, I kept getting the feeling I was being watched. At closer observation of the object it was like it was grinning at me. This was in the space of a half an hour. I looked around for my friend and she was nowhere to be found. So I beat it back to her car. She was right behind me. She said, "Did you see that?" And I said half jokingly, "what Bigfoot?"
She said, "you seen it too?" I told her I thought it was a tree that was cut off at the top.
But, I had the creepy feling someone was watching me,and kept looking back at it. We drove around and I said we have to go back. We did and my "tree" was gone. I've told different people about it. They think I'm nuts I'm glad I wasn't the only one there. I rarely see her but every time I do she always brings it up.

OTHER WITNESSES: Two

TIME AND CONDITIONS: 2:00pm warm and sunny

ENVIRONMENT: Cornfield, with woods back behind where we saw it.

Follow-up investigation report by BFRO Investigator Stan Courtney:

I spoke with both witnesses by phone.

Since they were separated while hunting arrowheads they saw the animal from different angles. The animal was massive in size, over six feet tall and very hairy. No facial details were visible.

Because the animal did not move during the brief sighting, the witnesses were not able to give any details as to its movement.

About BFRO Investigator Stan Courtney:

Stan Courtney has a special interest in wildlife audio recording. He has attended numerous BFRO Expeditions. See Stan's blog StanCourtney.com for recordings he has collected over the years.

Stan Courtney can be reached at illinois@bfro.net