Sasquatch Chronicles Blog

A listener writes “Hey Wes, I’ve been a big fan of the show for years and really appreciate what you do. I’ve had a few strange experiences both in eastern Tennessee, where I’m originally from, and in northwest Montana and I wanted to share one with you to see if you’ve ever heard anything similar.

I’m especially curious whether you’ve come across any encounters involving a Wilson’s snipe. I didn’t even know about this bird until I started researching a sound I’d heard. They make a “winnowing” noise, and it’s the closest match I’ve found to something I experienced in the Flathead National Forest.

One night, I was camping there with my wife, a close friend, and our dog. It’s a drive-in site we’d visited several times before. The evening started out normal, except for one odd encounter. A man dressed in full tactical gear walked through the woods just outside our camp. He was with another man and two women in plain clothes, but he stood out he was carrying a Benelli M4 at low ready and seemed very alert. I waved and asked if they were staying the night. He replied, “No, I wouldn’t camp here.” At the time, we brushed it off as just a strange interaction.

After they left, we moved toward the center of the site, cooked dinner, and had a fire. Everything felt normal. Around 10 p.m., during blue hour, we heard the “winnow” sound five times in succession first from what felt like our 12 o’clock, then 3, then 6, then 9, and finally directly above us. It was strange, but we assumed it was just some odd bird call.

Later, when we were running low on firewood, I remembered some logs near the entrance where we’d originally pulled in about 40 yards from the fire. I walked over with just my phone light. Up until then I’d felt fine, but suddenly I had this intense feeling of being watched. As I bent down to grab the wood, I was overwhelmed by a sense of dread like I was about to die. I instinctively yelled “Hey!” to my left and swung the light in that direction. I saw branches move at about my height.

At the same time, my friend had walked about 40–50 yards in the opposite direction to relieve himself. Right after I yelled, he shouted my name and asked, “Is that you?” Then we both heard three heavy footsteps or stomps in the woods to my right and in front of him. They were so loud and forceful you could feel them in your chest. I’ve never been able to compare that sound to anything I’ve heard before.

We packed up quickly and left.

We’ve gone back to that area several times over the years. Whenever the atmosphere starts to feel strange, that same “winnowing” sound seems to precede it. I’ve never heard anyone else describe that noise in the context of encounters, which makes me wonder do you think it’s unrelated, or could it be some form of mimicry?

If you happen to read this, thank you. Your show has helped me through some difficult times, and I truly appreciate it. If you have any thoughts or information, I’d love to hear them.”