Geographical Index > United States > Ohio > Harrison County > Report # 34664
(Class B)
Submitted by witness Matt Huffman on Monday, March 19, 2012.
Fishermen describe nightime encounter at Clendening Lake near Buckeye Trail
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YEAR: 2012
SEASON: Spring MONTH: March DATE: 03/19/2012 STATE: Ohio COUNTY: Harrison County LOCATION DETAILS: [See graphic below with Long/Lat Coordinates] NEAREST TOWN: Cadiz, Ohio NEAREST ROAD: Harrison county road 1 OBSERVED: I was at the back waters of Clendening lake near Cadiz, Ohio with my friend Cj and we heard a man-like scream.
I know what coyotes, hoot owls, cows, raccoons, opossum, fox and most local animals sound like. We heard this scream about 3-4 times from multiple ranges. The first was within 100 yards and the next two were fairly distant. Cj answered the scream and the nearest location returned the call. After about five minutes of silence we returned to fishing. About five minutes later we heard a loud splash that resembled a dense object landing in the water. I've heard ducks landing and beaver tails slapping on the water and these did not resemble that. It happened about four more times, so we decided to pack up and leave. On our way out we stopped where the path to the fishing area met the road. My truck was 15 feet in front of me and a rock hit the water five feet from my truck which was parked next to the opposite side of the creek we were fishing. I yelled "Who's out there?" After about three minutes of listening we got to my truck and left. OTHER WITNESSES: One witness besides myself. We were both fishing within five feet of one another. OTHER STORIES: There have been other reports in the other areas in the county. TIME AND CONDITIONS: 7-930pm ENVIRONMENT: Small pine area surrounded by hardwoods near a creek that feeds into a big lake.
Follow-up investigation report by BFRO Investigator James Thompson:
I contacted the witness and arranged to meet and drive to the location of the 2012 incident. The witness is currently a Law Enforcement Officer.
Judging by the past history of the area and the witnesses excellent recollection of that nights events, it seems very likely that they did in fact encounter a Sasquatch during the night.
The evening of the encounter, the witness and a friend had gone to the 'backwaters' of Clendening Lake to fish for catfish. It was around 1 1/2 hrs. after sundown. They built a fire and started fishing. Out of the north in the direction of the Buckeye Trail came a loud scream. Both of them are avid outdoorsman but weren't sure what it could be. The friend thought it could be an owl when moments later, a second scream came from roughly 100 yards to the south which was directly behind them. Unsure of what was going on and thinking the owl had flown over behind them, the witness' friend let out a scream mimicking the sound that they heard resulting in a distant response from the western direction farther down Clendening Lake. After the third scream, they began to hear movement and footsteps in the brush behind them. Then rocks started landing in front of them in the water. They kicked out their fire so they wouldn't be silhouetted by the light as more rocks were being thrown.
The witness yelled out that it wasn't funny and someone could get hurt but the rocks kept coming closer so they decided it was time to go. They made it the 40 yards back to their truck when a larger rock landed in Brushy Fork Creek, right behind the truck. They tossed their gear in the back of the truck and got the heck out of there.
This area has a history of Bigfoot activity. There are currently two other reports in the BFRO internal database from this same area that have not yet been investigated. There are other reports that had been told to me which the witnesses have yet to report to the BFRO.
The local residents refer to Bigfoot as the 'Jimhinker'. Documented reports in local newspapers from the late 1800's to early 1900's told of an screaming animal that was never seen. It killed smaller livestock, stampeded a herd of cattle into the dense brush and scared many hunters out of the woods. They even organized a hunt to track 'the beast of Nottingham Township' down.
My ancestors were from that area and my grandparents and parents told us as kids to stay out of the woods at night or the Jimhinker would get you.
The Jimhinker lives on today as the name of the counties Historical Society's newsletter.
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Note from Matt Moneymaker:
Bigfoot researchers in Ohio should make themselves familiar with the path of the Buckeye Trail. There's a correlation between bigfoot reports and the trail.
Of course, there are many reports in Ohio miles away from the Buckeye Trail, but there's enough very close by (like this report) to suggest that some Ohio bigfoots are utilizing the trail some times.
If bigfoots use the trail at night and they spend daylight hours resting in thick brushy zones beside the trail, they can cross much of the state without being seen in less than a week.
About BFRO Investigator James Thompson:
Jim served as a Marine Corps helicopter engine mechanic / air crewman for 24 years. He recently retired as a County Veterans Service Officer. He is a lifetime hunter and outdoorsman. Jim has attended expeditions in Ohio during 2019, 21 & 22.
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