YEAR: 2012

SEASON: Winter

MONTH: December

STATE: Arkansas

COUNTY: Lawrence County

LOCATION DETAILS: It was on what we consider the south line of Rainy Break. Near Hill Slough on the WMA

[Investigator (MM) Notes: GPS 35.948710, -91.218420
Local hunters would know the area with this description:
0.2 miles west of the end of Coffey Access Road]

NEAREST TOWN: Lynn

NEAREST ROAD: Coffee Access

OBSERVED: I wish I would have sent this to you guys years ago. I could have put you on an actual Bigfoot.

I saw one 30 yards away from me. It was approximately 9 foot tall and 4ish for the width of the shoulders. I can absolutely to this day describe the facial features and hair and anything else you want to know.

It was the winter of 2012 during Arkansas Duck season. It was my father and best friend at the time duck hunting in Shirey Bay / Rainy Break WMA in North East Arkansas.

It was a a slow morning and hunters around the area were being silly “sky busting” birds. Which us locals can’t stand. Well I got mad and shot a bird really high with my 10 gauge. The bird sailed quite a ways and me being my young self said I’m gonna go find that bird. So off I took after it.

After wading through thigh deep waters for about 200 yards I came up to what looked like a owl or something beat me to my bird. There were feathers floating all on the water and I was like dang. About that time I heard what sounded like big over cup acorns hitting the water. Usually it’s just a couple that fall out of a tree because of a squirrel running on the branch but this started to have a rhythm. So I started to look hard while tucked up in some thick buck brush.

That’s when I seen something very large walking toward me from about 150 yards away. He was swaying in and out of trees. I was like what the heck is that, and being the young kid I was I froze. He approached closer and closer. He got within 30 yards of me and I could make him out as clear as I’m typing this message.

We locked eyes and his dark eyes read curious and didn’t know what I was yet. He had a scared demeanor about him. Which being a country boy and around animals all my life I know they can be unpredictable when they are scared. Which sent a lot of adrenaline and fear running through my veins.

He looked about for around 30 seconds which seemed like forever to me. And then kind of raised his shoulders and let out a huff thing of sorts. Almost like a really low deep sigh of air.

I was a statue. I was paralyzed by what I was seeing. I know I had a 10 gauge and it would not have stood a snow balls chance in hell of surviving it from that distance. I kept telling my self he takes a step toward you Rowdy you kill him. But he kind of turned and kept looking over his shoulder and left. An effortless walked through that water and was gone in no time. I was in awe how fast he was gone yet he wasn’t rushing.

I felt like I walked on water getting back to my Dad. I came up and he was like what’s wrong? I just kept saying we got to go we got to go. He was like ok dude. So we packed up and left. The story doesn’t end there with this incident.

So after I’d say about a week I had not been back hunting which is not like me. And I was just brushing it off the best I could. My Dad finally said tell me what the heck you seen. I was like nothing and he was like oh yes you did. So I told him that story. He is a believer and he has seen one himself. Lots of people I know have seen one around our area but don’t talk about it.

My dad told me I ain’t crazy because my cousin casted a foot print a day before I seen him in that same area. My cousin worked for the AGFC. And he turned in the cast and the game and fish told him if he liked his job he would get rid of it and not talk about it. It’s definitely real.

OTHER WITNESSES: No

OTHER STORIES: Absolutely. My Dad growing up around this area has seen him. One story he was with a group of his buddies before my time.

TIME AND CONDITIONS: 10 AM Central time. Day light.

ENVIRONMENT: Flooded Timber and River Bottom Ground

Follow-up investigation report by BFRO Investigator Matthew Moneymaker:

I spoke with Rowdy by phone. He is very credible and willing to talk to journalists.

He is a construction manager currently building a school in the area. He is married with three kids. His family background and social group are all avid hunters and fishermen. He is has spent many days and nights in the woods and on the water.

The incident happened in winter when this area is flooded. He waded through knee deep water a distance to look for the bird he had shot.

Rowdy heard the creature stepping through the water before he saw it coming through the trees. It did not see Rowdy until it was about 30 yards away. Rowdy had stepped into brush that was chest high. The creature would have seen a vaguely human-like shape from chest up in full camo and black face paint at 30 yards.

It clearly noticed Rowdy and leaned back when it stopped and saw him. It watched him for about 30 seconds before letting out a deep huff and walking away.

Rowdy also mentioned two other places along the Black River within a few miles of where he saw possible eyeshine from a bigfoot on subsequent occasions.

He says he could work with a sketch artist to make an accurate depiction of the creature. He also offered to lead some BFRO investigators to this area.

About BFRO Investigator Matthew Moneymaker:

Matthew Moneymaker is originally from the Los Feliz District of Los Angeles, California.

- Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA).

- Juris Doctorate (Law degree) from University of Akron School of Law

- Founder of the Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization,1995.

- Writer and co-producer of the Discovery Channel documentary "Sasquatch: Legend Meets Science", 2001.

- Co-producer of the TV Series "Mysterious Encounters" for the Outdoor Life Network (OLN Channel), 2002.

- Producer of the "2003 International Bigfoot Symposium" (Willow Creek Symposium) DVD set, 2004.

- Co-host of "Finding Bigfoot" on Animal Planet Channel, 2010 - 2017.

- Current Director of the BFRO

- Available for private bigfoot expeditions and conferences. To inquire please email ContactUS@BFRO.net

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