A listener writes “Good morning Wes, I recently found your podcast several years ago and love all the stories and experiences people have submitted to you. I would like to share an experience back in 2020 while hunting in the Hockmock swamp. A little background on me, I work as an EMT and prior service air force and have been constantly in the woods, hunting, fishing or just exploring.
It was early October archery season cold and heavily raining morning. I was excited to get the season underway and have heard from other local hunters there has been a lot of activity in this particular area. I arrived to the spot right before daybreak and walking the rain starts getting worst and worst and my rain gear started to fail. I decided to take a quick water break under a large tree with a lot of cover from the elements and drink some water real quick before moving on.
As I’m getting my pack on, I heard a limp snap from directly in front of my position, and the woods went quiet, no birds or bugs making noise. I slowly move toward the sound of the snap in a low squat covering me was some smaller bushes and trees, my footfall covered by the rain. several steps, I stopped in my tracks, by a loud deep, guttural grunt. I was frozen, not knowing what in the world made that noise, I scanned the area and saw nothing. what felt like hours<I’m sure it was only a few seconds> time seemed to stand still. The silence was defining. After a few more moments went by I heard a whisper in my ear that said “he’s right over there”, then silence was broken by another very loud deep, guttural grunt, this time I could feel it vibrate through my body and fell back onto my behind and the overwhelming fear kicked in.
I know whatever this is, I want no part of it, and quickly try to get back to the main trial while constantly looking back to make sure whatever made those grunts wasn’t right behind me. I heard what sounded like large and heavy bipedal steps behind me but when I turned around nothing. This happened several times before I finally get back to the main trail and have my bow aimed at the wood line just incase this whatever is going to pop out. Nothing came out. Before I start the about half mile-ish walk back to my car.
I figured now that I’m on an open trail I’m good now, the rain has stopped, but this was short lived. I start walking and hear to my right, steps mirroring mine exact same pace and cadence. I look over and see nothing but hear one extra step. This happened two or three times. On the third or forth time of this happening, when I looked over to my right. This massive humanoid figure covered in mahogany colored hair. I could see the muscles of the thighs all the way to the shoulders. I stopped looking at this creature when I hit his jawline. I wish I could have looked it in the eye, but I was absolutely terrified and fearing for my life. I lowered my bow, knowing even If I let my arrow fly it would just make this thing mad and I would 100% not be writing this today.
This thing could have easily closed the 30-yard gap between us in no time flat and I wouldn’t even know what hit me. The only way I can compare it prime Ronnie Colman but covered in hair. This thing made me feel like the size of an infant, (I’m 6 ft 5in and 265 pounds). I stood in disbelief, at what I just saw. This creature now out of sight in the wood line, the thought comes do I run? Do I keep letting this massive creature mirror me? Do I try to stay and see if it will leave? I decided to walk and check my right side periodically, still hearing heavy foot fall matching my pace and cadence. Time felt still and like slow-motion getting back to the car. I finally see the car, probably 100 yards or so, I could feel a weight off my shoulders, that sense of being watched was gone and I could hear birds chirping.
I sat in my ca and realize I had my handgun in my hip. This whole time I had something more to defend myself and completely forgot or didn’t realize I had it on my person. Still probably would have made this creature angry. I get to my car and the battery is dead (brand new battery). Weird detail and probably not related but who knows. I called my dad to see if he could give me a jump start. While waiting for him I smoked an entire pack of cigarettes in my car waiting for him and trying to process what just happened. Finally, he arrived and jumped my car. I went to market basket after and just sat in the parking lot for 4 hours, just starting at my dashboard. I didn’t know it was that long at the time. I got home and showered and went right to bed. The night was filled with nightmares and a bout of sleep paralysis.
I have had reoccurring nightmare since about this incident that have been getting better over the years. I have never been hunting since I saw whatever this was, and have barely gone hiking in the woods with my dog. This story has only been told to my now wife and nobody else knows what happened that day.”