Tulsa World: Researchers to hunt Bigfoot

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Researchers to hunt Bigfoot
They will scour the Kiamichi Mountains this weekend.

This cast, made about a year ago in Chelsea, is of a footprint that is about 15 inches long by 5 inches wide. Courtesy

By SUSAN HYLTON World Staff Writer
Published: 5/22/2009 2:24 AM
Last Modified: 5/22/2009 6:44 AM

HONOBIA — Some 25 to 30 researchers will be braving the southeastern Oklahoma woods this weekend in search of the reclusive Bigfoot.

The Kiamichi Mountains provide the apelike creature a habitat that's rich with deer, berries, honeysuckle and plenty of woodsy cover, believers say.

"You could hide an army in there and never know it," said D.W. Lee of Stilwell, global director of the Mid-America Bigfoot Research Center.

In October in Honobia, the researchers saw "eye shine" from a creature standing about 8 feet tall, he said.

"They would get close enough that the campfire would shine in their eyes and it would show green," Lee said.

Like ghost hunters, the Bigfoot researchers will be equipped with night-vision goggles and scopes, along with an array of audio and video equipment. They will record hours of footage from the trail for viewing after their trip.

Lee said the creatures typically throw rocks at them when they're sitting around a campfire.

"If they wanted to hit you, they would," he said. "It's like they just want to see how you'll react. Other times you may get in areas where you're not welcome. If you're close to the little ones — the young Bigfoot — they're going to make sure you leave."

The only time Lee said he became fearful in the woods was during a trip to the Chelsea area in northeastern Oklahoma.

"I saw three groups of Bigfoot going across a field in front of me," he said.

About a year ago in the Chelsea area, the researchers poured a cast of a footprint, 15 inches long and 5 inches wide, that they believe was made by a Bigfoot.

They've photographed other footprints along logging roads in the Kiamichi Mountains of southeastern Oklahoma.

Mountain-area natives and Sasquatch-track followers are familiar with what they say are the creature's distinctive screams and whoops.

Lee said Bigfoot is intelligent and can mimic the sounds of other animals.

"We do hear a lot of owl calls, but you can tell it's not an owl because it's like an 800-pound owl hooting at you," he said.

About five years ago, Lee's group received a report from a man hunting deer in a tree stand in the Kiamichi Mountains. It seems that his pager went off, and after he turned it off, he heard something in the woods mimicking its beep-beep sounds.

"When he turned around, he saw Bigfoot standing there," Lee said. "His words were that it was a 'big something' that he just didn't want no part of."

Perhaps Jane Goodall gives skeptics some pause.

In a 2002 interview with National Public Radio, the primatologist said she believes that the creature could exist. She said she based that assessment on descriptions given to her by American Indians, who reported two sightings and described sounds they'd heard.

Some people have dismissed Bigfoot sightings in Oklahoma as actually black bear sightings. But unlike bears, Lee said, a Bigfoot walks upright exclusively and — at 7 to 8 feet tall — is much taller than a black bear.

"We're not just a bunch of country hicks," said Lee, a network administrator.

Hundreds of people attend the Honobia Bigfoot Festival and Conference each year. This year it will be held Oct. 2-3 and sponsored by the Talihina Chamber of Commerce.

Susan Hylton 581-8381
susan.hylton@tulsaworld.com By SUSAN HYLTON World Staff Writer

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Some reader comments for this story were copied from "Researchers to scour SE Oklahoma for Bigfoot," which was published on 5/21/2009.

	Report Comment lobeckman, Tulsa (5/21/2009 10:47:54 PM) Elvis is still real! He lives! These researchers have figured out a great way to get out of the house and into the woods. They will have a great time out there, in some cabin, cooking big pieces of meat, drinking adult beverages and having a chance to get away from it all. When they come home exhausted, chigger and tick infested, they'll be so happy!
	Report Comment clashnvain, Tulsa (5/21/2009 10:49:24 PM) Give me a physical break.
	Report Comment Bullhead, Nicut (5/21/2009 10:50:02 PM) [Like ghost hunters, the Bigfoot researchers will be equipped with night vision goggles and scopes, along with an array of audio and video equipment. They will record hours of footage from the trail for viewing after their trip.] ---------------------------------- Probably got a nice grant for this trip and equipment. Okay, whatever, DW. I guess until it happens to me, I will never believe it. I remember when there were several sightings around Peavine/England Hollow in the later 60s. No one ever proved it but sure did make a lot of people nervous.
	Report Comment Bullhead, Nicut (5/21/2009 10:51:28 PM) You know, lobeckman, they still won't allow anyone to go to the top floor of Elvis' house in Memphis.
	Report Comment Amiyy4u, (5/21/2009 11:06:50 PM) People are going hungry in this recession but these morons are still throwing away thousands of dollars (probably in grant money) to search for an animal that probably doesn't exist. Even if Bigfoot does exist, who cares?? it's not like it's an aggressive critter. Glad to know the recession isn't phasing these idiots!
	Report Comment Tulsonian, (5/21/2009 11:10:08 PM) Where I grew up in Tahlequah, we had a Bigfoot legend. It was called the Millsap Monster. It lived out by the Airport in Milsap gulch around the Milsap farm. I remember one night my older brother came home with the back bumper torn off my Dad's car. He said he was parked out by the Airport with his girl friend and just happen to look up and see the Monster in the rear view mirror standing behind the car. He said that the monster grabbed the bumper as they were trying to escape. The next day I rode out there with my Dad and Brother, and there was the bumper lying in the middle of the road. The legend goes that Old Man Milsap and His wife both reclusive were never able to have children so they adopted the Monster as their own and provided it with food and shelter. I personally never saw the monster, but plenty of people claimed to have seen it.
	Report Comment Amiyy4u, (5/21/2009 11:11:53 PM) is it possible that your brother backed into something and tore the bumper off?
	Report Comment Tulsonian, (5/21/2009 11:14:33 PM) I always thought he was up to no good that fateful night, but you have to tell Dad something.
	Report Comment my view, Sand Springs (5/21/2009 11:21:49 PM) I've heard stories about a Bigfoot in southeast Oklahoma for years. Have hunted and fish the area quite often and never seen a thing. I guess my campfire was never large enough. Everyone to the own I guess, I just think it is a waste of time.
	Report Comment Amiyy4u, (5/21/2009 11:23:06 PM) "This_Sucks", You crack me up!
	Report Comment AnnieinOwasso, (5/21/2009 11:45:59 PM) What are they smokin' out in them there woods?- Where owls hooting are not really owls and green eyes are glowing in the night...
	Report Comment missy..........m., no thanks (5/22/2009 12:00:21 AM) Dont know about BigFoot.We do however let in some bigmouth bass once in a while into our ponds but daddy catches them with a hook and momma fries them in a pan and why baby eats them like a man.Thats what goes on in my neck of the woods.Then baby grows into Bubba and then he might wear a size 13 shoe and we might can call him big foot.
	Report Comment James Young, Tulsa, Austin, Temecula (5/22/2009 12:09:54 AM) Elvis is living on a ranch near Kerrville, TX with JFK and Marilyn
	Report Comment momma2, (5/22/2009 12:14:35 AM) Well most country hicks don't bother with bigfoot they have better things to do with their lives and besides he just might be my son-in-law. What is a network administrator anyway?
	Report Comment just passing through, (5/22/2009 12:41:40 AM) I think these guys are using their own money and not any type of grant. They are likely into monstly for the fun of it, but can you imagine what a real photo, or a real bigfoot, would be worth?
	Report Comment TFD FO SHO, (5/22/2009 1:03:42 AM) Will they store the body in a freezer, and guarantee there will be an analysis forthcoming? If there is a real bigfoot out there, I doubt it wants to be caught, and if it is as intelligent as they think, this is a bit of a waste. No?
	Report Comment oldrustytulsa, Tulsa (5/22/2009 4:56:40 AM) This really is to good to be true, the majority of these Bigfoot hunters are educated, and have regular jobs, Besides they did Vote for Obama after all. the ticks and chiggers need someone to feast on, and this will give the pot growers in the area a chance to test out their alarm systems, Usually a few DEA agents are in the group.This gathering will give a boost to the economy of the area, and they need it.
	Report Comment buster, TULSA OK (5/22/2009 5:40:14 AM) I want to go on a snipe hunt. Caught four the last time I went. Very tasty.
	Report Comment oldnorthroad, (5/22/2009 6:09:52 AM) Rusty, you know when it is easy to tell someone is obsessed with Obama to a point that it is sad? It is a simple answer... the person even talks about him in posts after bigfoot articles.
	Report Comment dean, Tulsa (5/22/2009 6:30:34 AM) Headline should be changed to "Lobotomy victims to hunt Bigfoot."
	Report Comment 2curious, Tulsa, OK 74104 (5/22/2009 6:39:43 AM) Dean - LMAO Really, folks. This is embarrassing...
	Report Comment Ron Ballew, Lawton (5/22/2009 7:00:29 AM) They better be armed. Southeastern Oklahoma is called "outlaw country" for a good reason. If you don't see Bigfoot you may come across some illegal stills or marajuana fields and you can get killed there. Game Rangers disappear in Southeastern Oklahoma and are never seen again. Three hunters were killed there and the killers never found. A forest fire tower was cut down by vandels there. Outsiders are not welcome in Southeastern Oklahoma.
	Report Comment DF, Tulsa (5/22/2009 7:05:40 AM) Hmmm... was somebody drinking when they reported this?
	Report Comment Ron Ballew, Lawton (5/22/2009 7:08:02 AM) Bigfoot is a protected species and it is illegal to kill anything that does not have a specified hunting season. And you need a hunting license and a tag for deer and turkey and other species.
	Report Comment Arbythree, Tulsa (5/22/2009 7:08:28 AM) This ought to keep the State from becoming over populated.

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