BFRO Report:
YEAR: 2007
SEASON: Spring
MONTH: April
DATE: 15-21
STATE: Iowa
COUNTY: Lee County
LOCATION DETAILS: I was hunting private property near Shimeck state forest Croton Unit.
NEAREST TOWN: Argyle
NEAREST ROAD: IA Highway 27
OBSERVED: I do not know what I saw. But I do know it was something that should not have been there and it will remain with me the rest of my life. I was turkey hunting 1 morning approximately 4 years ago. I have never told my story due to I feel people will not believe me. It rained all night long that night and thus it allowed me to walk into the forest in complete silence (No leaves crackling etc.) I set up on a hill side over looking a small creek and valley. It was nearly pitch black due to the overcast sky but soon the rain stopped and the forest became brighter. Soon after I realized I was sitting within 15 feet of several birds that were roosted in a tree next to me. I didn’t know they were there until they started shaking the rain off. My gun was already propped on my knee and pointed at my decoy. As things became brighter I could make out most of the valley floor and I continued to watch the birds roosted next to me. Soon after 1 of the birds gobbled I began hearing something off in the distance almost immediately after. I only remember this because it was a very strange paced sound. The rhythm of it seemed odd. Nothing I could think of would make a sound like this. I could see down the valley to my right for a fairly long distance however, to my left a separate hillside came out and I could not see up the valley in that direction. The noise continued with almost near perfect rhythm for several minutes with only occasional breaks. It continued to get louder. I soon realized the sound I was hearing was coming from up the valley in the direction I could not see. The turkeys in their roost next to me stopped gobbling and remained silent. A few moments later the forest was becoming fairly bright and I could see most everything around me. All of the birds roosted in the tree flew down and hit the forest floor running. They didn’t even seem to notice the decoy. I remained perfectly still watching the birds run through the forest down to my right through the valley. They acted as though something spooked them. At first I thought maybe it was me that spooked them but then it occurred to me the sound had stopped about the same time the birds took off. As soon as the birds were out of sight the noise began again. I remained still leaning against a large ash tree. Maybe 1 minute after I lost sight of the birds the sound was becoming much louder and apparent of what it might be. My first instinct was that another hunter was walking through the forest. However, to this day I will never forget what I saw in the coming moments. The sound with an almost steady rhythm reminded me of what it would sound like if I were walking on dry leaves in the forest. There was not a drop of wind on this morning and I believe the valley might have been echoing the sound. A few moments later I caught sight of it. Maybe 50 yards to my left coming into view on the bottom edge of the valley. At first I thought it was a hunter in a ghillie suit. But upon closer examination I realized this was no human wearing a camo outfit. It continued to walk up right on two feet down the valley towards my right. When the creature got to the bottom of the hill out cropping I was sitting on it stopped dead in its tracks and remained perfectly still momentarily. I think it was as this point I truly realized what I was seeing. When it stopped and stood still it became nearly invisible in the forest. It seemed an eternity passed while I sat against this tree uncontrollably shaking. I was scared out of my wits even with a 10GA shotgun propped on my knee pointed in the direction of the creature. What happened next scared me so bad I would have bet my life on it that was going to have a heart attack. The creature turned its head and looked directly at me. I stared directly into the eyes of this creature for an unknown amount of time. It made no sound, it did not move, only stared at me. I was in full camouflage including a face mask so maybe it was not sure what I was?? Shaking so bad at this point the only thing I could think of was to defend myself. I clicked the safety off on my shotgun. When I did this the creature went into an almost crouching position only it seemed more like it was in a position that would allow it to move quickly. The stare down went on for what seemed forever. I readied my shotgun not afraid to move anymore since it was apparent I had been seen. When I positioned my left hand under the forearm of my shotgun the creature sprang up nearly causing me to pull the trigger. It continued its walk though the forest with its head turned watching me. I continued pointing my gun at it. I never pulled the trigger. I was so afraid I didn’t know what to do. Eventually I lost sight of it. I jumped up as soon as it was gone and I ran back to my truck without stopping to rest once. To this day I will never forget what I saw or the feeling of absolute terror that overcame me. I do not want to be famous nor do I want my story posted all over the internet. I just thought I should tell somebody my story.
BFRO.net
BrokenMind27
Wow !!
ryan e
I didnt think anyone used a 10 gauge anymore. Good story, regardless.
David S
How big was it? What color was it hair?
Diane L
Great story, makes ya think they really can sense everything around them, for it to stop, then wait, then stare directly at you!
Michael G
I’ve read some stories about that region of Iowa. What I read was closer to Keokuk area. This area is right along the Mississippi. I am sure this has been discussed at length, but do Sasquatch use Rivers to help navigate migration routes? It would make sense since these areas are usually hilly, lush, and loaded with wild life.
Roger G
Wow..truly amazing! What I find so amazing is that he was in a full camo suit and yet the turkeys didnt notice him but the BF did while walking through the valley floor. Full camo AND sitting motionless is about as stealth as ANY hunter could hope for and to still be detected, eyes locked, IN THE DARK, is very disconcerting. It sounds like the only reason this story made it out of the forest is because he DIDNT pull the trigger. If he had he might of ended up on the back of a milk carton.
I really dont think we humans have a chance in hell during a chance encounter with one of these things IF the BF wants you. 10 GA is a beast of a gun and he was shaking at what he was seeing….very disconcerting.
Erik S
Turkey hunting means you don’t care about your scent in my experience. Turkey will use their eyes unlike deer which will scent you 200 yards away. He likely wasn’t concerned with scent control when turkey hunting which basically gives any animal that uses scent a neon arrow to your position so it doesn’t seem far fetched it picked him out. He wouldn’t look like a tree, he’d look like a dude in camo sitting on the ground which is easy to see if your nose is telling you where to look. If you’re in the woods you get tuned into what should and shouldn’t be there. When we’re driving we pick out tree stands 75 yards away up in trees at 45 mph because your eyes are tuned to what belongs and what doesn’t. I suspect if there is a big fella in the woods he’d be about as in-tune with what belongs and doesn’t as you could possibly be. My two cents.
Bill M
A lot of turkey hunters use 10s myself included . You’ll find a lot if them in the duck blind to,
willowswhispers
The scariest part of this story is when it stops, turns and has direct eye contact with the turkey hunter. Life changing moment!! This my friends is why they are so elusive…they are knowers of thier surroundings.
Just think of all the UNTOLD stories out there. Knowing what I know today, sure wish my father was alive to ask questions. He spent half his life in the forest And part of it with me by his side. Oh things we wish we would of done!
Charles R
The author does a great job of putting you in the moment. Guess I will have to go to the bfro for the researchers take. Pencil drawing it really good also but was not included in the original bfro report. The bigfoot stopped and examined various leaves along the way and became darn near invisible each time which baffles the witness. Bigfoot over 6 foot tall, broad shoulders but not deep chest which suggest to me may have been a teenager type or early adult. Arms longer than human, it was filthy and smelled awful. The hunter was behind a brush pile and only head could be seen, but the bigfoot found him anyway maybe because it spotted the turkey decoys right away.
Rick F
Maybe BF felt like he was being watched from that hunters position just like people feel like their being watched from a particular area. The difference being, BF can see something out of place in the woods than we can.
Kenneth M
Since they can disappear so easily – kind of creeps you out thinking they could be anywhere when your hunting and never know. When one goes rogue on you your done. I still have a 10 gauge, but rarely use it – shells are too expensive, but you do find turkey hunters that prefer them because of the amount of shot and power at long range.
Casey M
hmmm…I don’t necessarily agree with you using BFRO reports after making them the butt of so many jokes.