YEAR: 2013

SEASON: Fall

MONTH: October

DATE: 29

STATE: Illinois

COUNTY: Union County

LOCATION DETAILS: I can not explain directions but could show by map the names of the roads are not on the signs

NEAREST TOWN: Alto Pass

OBSERVED: I am an avid outdoorsman and bow hunter in southern Illinois. I have hunted all over the U.S. seeing many animals and all kinds of terrain, but this day was not like any other I have ever had. I was heading to some public land that adjoins to the river to river trail. I drove between two orchard fields to get there I have hunted this spot many times I have seen numerous mountain lions, bobcats coyotes etc. in this location. I unloaded my gear and set off to a part of the public land rarely visited by people. If not for me I doubt anyone would ever go back to the spot. It was right around 1130 am I had been walking approximately 30-45 mins into the woods. I came to around 900 yards from my spot, it was pretty open the leaves had fallen off the trees and I could see a good distance. I started walking and I heard a snap of a branch other then mine. I believed it to be a deer so I stopped behind a big white oak tree in which I was behind and leaned against it. I went to peer around it and I couldn't believe my eyes, it's like nothing I have ever seen before. I was approximately 78 yards away according to my range finder I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me as to what I had seen it was gray with a slight bit of tan and brown mixed into its coat. It looked to be around 4 n a half to 5 feet tall. It did stand on two legs. But I believe it smelled me when the wind picked up and blew towards it an it dropped very, very low to the ground. lower then a bear could go and I ducked back behind the tree. When I looked back from behind the tree it was gone. I believe it was a baby Bigfoot as I have heard rumor and stories of this public land from countless people and friends of being chased up trees, rocks thrown at them, and their stands being ripped to shreds.

ALSO NOTICED: I had one more encounter at this location 2 weeks later. I have not been back since the last sighting it was not a baby.

OTHER WITNESSES: 0

OTHER STORIES: Yes people seeing or being chased up trees by two legged creature with black or cinnamon colored fur

TIME AND CONDITIONS: Very bright light, few clouds the trees had just lost a lot of there leaves and had very good visibility that day even with the little bit of under growth

ENVIRONMENT: Very thick brush leading into hills of hardwoods with the back part of a lake around 1 mile away

Follow-up investigation report by BFRO Investigator Stan Courtney:

I spoke with the witness by phone.

In summary:

• What appears to have been a juvenile animal was observed by a bow hunter
• The animal was 78 yards away
• The animal was four and a half to five foot tall and standing upright.
• The animal was gray with a slight bit of tan and brown mixed into its coat.

The witness's second sighting can be read here:

BFRO Report # 59073

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

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