Years ago, I read in one of my true crime books (dont quote me, but it may have been an Ann Rule book, *trying to remember*) that there may be hundreds of fugitives living in the Central / Western US wilderness...and it got me thinking. Out of all of the career outdoorsmen, trappers, hunters, prospectors, Wild Bill Morelands and DB Coopers throughout history, that have spent countless evenings under the stars, I would imagine that many of them encountered or came into contact with our hairy friend. Of course we've all read the Fred Beck, Albert Ostman and Bauman type "classics", but it sure is intriguing to think of all the other possible scenarios that may have occured throughout the years.

You are right. And, that is very interesting. I imaginge that many of these people have had run-ins with our friend. I was thinking the same thing yesterday. What do you think Eric Robert Rudolph ran into during his years as a fugitive in the Blue Ridge/ Smokey Mountains?
good topic,
klp ;-)

It could also be a Catch-22 situation. Think of the many tales we'll never get to hear because the witnesses are exactly the sort of people who don't start shouting about what they're sharing the woods with. Either there's nobody to tell, or they've got that "don't need to talk" attitude that really tough or solitary people often display.

I heard about the pot growers in the parks having some scrapes with the "Big Fellas". I would bet they have quite a few run ins with them

In the late 1700's early 1800's there was a legendary fronteirsmen named Simon Kenton. If any white man in US history would've run across BF in his exporling years it would've been him. I don't know if there are any journals or anything that are available to research. Bigfoot to people like him may have been so common as to have been not a big deal.

There was a pretty good-sized thread on this subject on one of the forums awhile back...LOTS and LOTS of encounters that will NEVER make the databases...

Yah, I was thinking, people like this guy that you mention, Wild Bill Moreland, the many outdoorsmen and expeditions into uncharted territory of the 1700's / 1800's, what if they had more than happenstance association with BF ? Maybe comprehensive interaction to some degree ? I found a prison address to Eric Rudolph (Atlanta / Abortion bomber / spent 5 years on the lam in the Appalachian wilderness, mentioned above), and I can't help to wonder how he would respond to a letter asking him if he had any interesting experiences while traversing the outdoors ? Of all the people that we mention here, one would assume that these people that have spent time way out in the boonies MUST have come across our friend...hmm...very interesting...



Good point...especially the fugitives, who knows who, where, what they've seen, etc.

Another consideration: How many of these fugitives have been seen and confused with Sasquatch? They must look pretty rough after a few years in the wild.

Looked that guy up when I seen this as I never heard of him. If anyone else does not know the name here is a site about him
http://frontierfolk.org/kenton.htm


Anyway about the main topic I think even today many people will not tell anyone about their encounters. I know that a couple of my family members have had encounters and will not talk about it really to even me let alone strangers. They have told me they seen something and even tell me where they seen them but will not really go into details about things. I think the main reasons are that they was scared and do not want to admit it to anyone that they was. It could also be that they do not really understand what they seen or what ever. They are what most people would call country people or back woods people or what ever. Some of them may go years without even leaving the same county let alone the state. I know my one uncle has never left the state in his life as far as I know. They do not use computers and chances are do not even know how to turn one on.
Anyway all over the US people like this live out side of towns and spend a lot of time around places where the Big things could be seen. Chances are they will not even tell their families about what they seen let alone strangers. I would bet that at least 100 sightings go unreported for every 1 that is reported. And chances are nothing will ever change that as them sort of people are very strong willed about things.

I agree. Both my brother and deceased father never say / said sh*t about much, to anyone, even less of a chance if it was a mindblowing or spiritual experience.

There was also a thread here somewhere about ( going along with the fugitive theme ) what, if anything, serial killers might have seen while dumping bodies in the woods.

People speculated if Ted Bundy, Gary Ridgeway etc... might have had an encounter as they used the woods often to dump their victims. There was one criminal who, after he was captured, told about a not sure encounter he had and that hed had dreams about it afterward. I can't remember who or the exact circumstances of his story, though.

Cary Stayner
Here

Thanks Blackdog!

The Stayner thing was quite a kick in the groin to the sane BF community. Guilt/flakiness by association is something we can do without. It must be noted, though, that very frequently gruesome, baffling crimes associated with much more common and accepted "mystical" beliefs occur.

People so deep in the wilds that they have not seen a roll of Charmin in years should necessarily be the golden children of BF research. Can't gets wet if ya don't stands in the rain. But, those who do so are unlikely to be chomping at the bit to relay their experiences to the world, and if they do, they're less likely to be taken seriously. Lots of people think I'm nuts for going into the woods for a freakin' week.

There are some "credible" people who've spent a helluvalotta time in the backcountry and emerged BF believers. Bob "Action" Jackson, venerable Yellowstone ranger comes to mind. Clayton Mack of Bella Coola BC, probably the king of bear hunters, claims to have seen the animals twice, I believe. Throw in the many regionally-respected hunting guides, wildlife biologists, and so on and you have a pretty salty list of people not likely prone to hysterical misinterpretations.

People who spend a great deal of time in the boonies are not as forthcoming about unusual experiences as, say, someone like Dr. Matt Johnson out on a family hike. Imagine some cleanly-shaven geek pulling up in a Subaru Outback and questioning Charles Bronson's character from Death Hunt. Ain't gonna work.

After reading about Stayner, I'm tempted to avoid the woods, and to 'stay near' home.

Thinking about my post about Eric Rudolph if bigfeet are out there then these people would most likely see them more often.

No kidding! Much more of a threat than the local fauna....

That's the rub, isn't it...I think that the MO/ARK/OKA area is a very active region, personally, but the type of people we have around here are pretty close mouthed.