Bigfoot Bounty: Reward Offered for Mysterious Monsters

By Benjamin Radford - LiveScience's Bad Science Columnist

Bigfoot and lake monsters, beware: There’s a price on your heads.

Binocular manufacturer Bushnell, along with "Field & Stream" magazine, have teamed up to offer $1 million to anyone who can "provide an unaltered photograph/video, verified and substantiated by a panel of scientific experts [including a zoologist and biologist], the evidence required to prove a Sasquatch/Bigfoot/Yeti exists."

The contest started a few days ago and ends Dec. 15, but before heading out to claim your million, note that the rules' fine print states that they are not liable for any injury incurred during a Bigfoot attack. A good quality Bigfoot image would make history; most photos are of such consistently poor quality that within the Bigfoot research community there's even a name for a typical blurry "Bigfoot" image: blobsquatch.

This is, of course, a marketing promotion and not a genuine search for Bigfoot. There's no way to authenticate a Bigfoot photograph by itself; the image is simply a two-dimensional pattern of pixels. To truly prove a Bigfoot exists, you'd need corroborating hard evidence like a body, teeth, or bones.

Bigfoot isn't the only monster whose proof of existence commands cash. Larry Nielson, a boat owner from Lake City, Minnesota, is offering a reward for their local lake monster. Pepie, the mysterious beast said to lurk in Lake Pepin, was supposedly seen on April 28, 1871, and only rarely since then. According to Nielson, you don't actually have to capture the beast: "The Lake City Tourism Bureau has announced a $50,000 reward for undisputable evidence that proves the existence of the real live creature living in Lake Pepin. The proof should include photographics (sic) and/or samples of skin or fins that can studied for a DNA analysis."

Savvy marketers have been using monsters in promotions for over a century. In 1873, the great American showman P.T. Barnum offered a $50,000 reward for Champ, the monster supposedly living in Vermont's Lake Champlain. He planned to exhibit the creature in New York, but even that fortune wasn't enough to snare the creature, and in 1887, Barnum offered $20,000 for the monster, dead or alive. He still had no takers. More recently, Bigfoot has been used to promote everything from pizza to monster trucks to beef jerky. And virtually every town near a lake with a reputed monster has profited economically from increased tourism.

People have been searching for these mysterious creatures for years. Why is conclusive proof still elusive? There are only two alternative explanations: the monsters' non-existence or the searchers' incompetence. It's possible that the animals simply don't exist, and the "evidence" is either hoaxed or the result of honest mistakes. Or, if these monsters do exist, the searchers apparently aren't good enough at their task and can't find the huge animals despite decades of effort and employing high-tech equipment.

Perhaps putting a price on Bigfoot's head will finally solve the mystery. But if history is any guide, it will just turn up more blobsquatches.

Five things you need to know today

1 New Zealand scientists claim to have developed a "flatulence inoculation" aimed at cutting down on the massive amount of methane produced by its sheep and cows.

2 Doctors who carried out surgery on a Japanese man to remove a "tumor" discovered he did not have cancer - but the "growth" that had been causing him pain was in fact a 25-year-old surgical towel.

3 Binocular manufacturer Bushnell, along with "Field & Stream" magazine, have teamed up to offer $1 million to anyone who can prove a Sasquatch/Bigfoot/Yeti exists.

4 A desk and chair on which Charles Dickens wrote "Great Expectations" was sold for just more than 433,000 pounds to a former Irish journalist at an auction.

5 The U.S. Geological Survey says a 3.6-magnitude earthquake rumbled across southern Illinois early Thursday.

Photograph Sasquatch, Win $1,000,000

Overland Park, KS) -- Need a cool one-million and want to have fun at the same time? All you need to do is find and photograph Sasquatch, Yeti, Bigfoot, or whatever you want to call him.
Or it.
The Bushnell outdoor products company and "Field & Stream" magazine are teaming up to offer a one-million-dollar prize to anyone who submits a real, original photograph of the big guy said to roam the Northwestern wilderness.
Pictures that are photoshopped, retouched, altered or changed in any way won't be considered.
The sponsors also warn that photos of guys, gals or statues dressed up in Bigfoot costumes also won't make the cut.
If you don't live in Yeti territory, the sponsors have a contest for you, too.
The magazine and the outdoor outfitter will give away Bushnell gear for the best deer photos, best non-deer pix, as well as best funny photos taken outdoors.
You can log on to www.fstrailcamcontest.com for complete rules and details.

Pops & Drops: Home Depot, Anheuser-Busch...

Following are the day’s biggest winners and losers. Find out why shares of Home Depot and Anheuser-Busch popped while Smithfield Foods and Vail Resorts dropped.

POPS (stocks that jumped higher)

Home Depot (HD) popped 3%. The home improvement retailer sees double-digit EPS growth in the future but did not specify a timeframe. – I like it and own this stock, says Karen Finerman.

Anheuser-Busch (BUD) popped 2%. Bud shareholders said $65/share would be a fair price, should InBev continue its takeover effort. – It’s a good story, says Jeff Macke.

Nvidia (NVDA) popped 3%. Goldman Sachs upgraded the graphics chip maker to "Buy" from "Neutral." – It’s worth watching, says Guy Adami.

Monsanto (MON) popped 5%. The seed company's CEO set a goal to develop strands of corn and soybeans that double yields by 2030. – Morgan Stanley raised estimates, adds Pete Najarian.

Growing your own food. Soaring prices for food both at restaurants and supermarkets have many shoppers turning to the backyard, according to The Wall Street Journal. One survey showed that spending on vegetable plants and seeds jumped 21% in 2007 compared with a year earlier.

Collective Brands (PSS) popped 14%. The owner of Payless and Stride Rite posted better than expected earnings.

Level 3 Communications (LVLT) popped 13%. Verizon's takeover of Alltell spiked smaller telecom shares. – I see further room on the upside, says Guy Adami.

Amazon.com (AMZN) popped 4%. In addition to strong runs in both tech and retail, JetBlue announced Thursday that its passengers can now access Amazon's store on their in-flight WiFi. – I’m not sure what to say, says Karen Finerman, JetBlue cut capacity.

Tercica (TRCA) popped 100%. French drugmaker Ipsen agreed to buy the remaining portion of this diabetes drug company it didn't already own. – Up 100% in one day; that goes to show the power of biotech, says Guy Adami.

Sasquatch. "Field & Stream" and binocular-maker Bushnell are offering a $1 million dollar prize to anyone who can provide photographic evidence that a Sasquatch / Big Foot exists. However, the contests' fine print states that the magazine isn't liable for any injury incurred during a Bigfoot attack.

DROPS (stocks that slid lower)

Smithfield Foods (SFD) dropped 6%. Higher costs for pork-feed sent profits on a 94% tumble at this meat processing company. – It’s a tough business in a tough time, says Jeff Macke.

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals (REGN) dropped 20%. The biotech received two downgrades after a failed trial of its ovarian cancer drug. – Biotechs live and die by the FDA, explains Pete Najarian.

Jackson Hewitt Tax Service (JTX) dropped 6%. The tax preparer withdrew all previous guidance and forecasts. – That’s never good news, says Jeff Macke.

Vail Resorts (MTN) dropped 5%. Although the vacation destination reported an 11% increase in net profits, the gain fell short of analysts’ estimates. – I’m not surprised, says Pete Najarian. Fewer people can afford to vacation.

Sasquatch pays well (or a photo of him would)

Jerry O'Bryant - Saturday, June 7, 2008

If you think you know where Sasquatch lives, there may be a million bucks in it for you -- if you can get a picture of the big beast.

Bushnell Outdoor products and Field & Stream magazine are combining to offer that cool million in the $1,000,000 Sasquatch Photo Challenge that continues through Dec. 15.

"We're not saying we believe in Sasquatch," says Nate Matthews, online editor for Field & Stream. "But if anyone's ever going to capture an image of one, we're guessing it'll be a hunter with a trail camera and we'd like to settle this once and for all."

The contest is also offering Bushnell gear for the best trail cam shots in the following categories: deer photos, non-deer photos, and funny photos. Three winners every month will receive a Bushnell Excursion binocular, and three grand prizes at the end of the year will receive a Bushnell Trail Scout Pro with Game Call Technology trail camera.

"And for you jokers, there will be an additional Bushnell Trail Scout Pro camera for your best attempt to cheat Bushnell out of their $1,000,000 prize," says Matthews. "So go grab your gorilla suit and head for the nearest woodlot. Just don't get mistaken for a bear."

The sweepstakes is open to anyone 18 years or older within the United States who can provide conclusive photographic evidence that Sasquatch (Bigfoot or yeti) exists. The photo or video must be taken with a trail camera and submitted to a panel of experts for verification. The photo/video must be an original, in black and white or color. Photos that have been retouched, altered or changed in any way will be disqualified.

For complete sweepstakes information, rules and eligibility requirements, visit www.fstrailcamcontest.com.

Find Sasquatch and Win $1,000,000 and Other Great Gear From Bushnell, Field & Stream

OVERLAND PARK, Kan., June 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Bushnell Outdoor Products and Field & Stream magazine want you to find Sasquatch this year and they are
providing a good reason to search -- one million reasons to be exact -- with the "$1,000,000 Sasquatch Photo Challenge" that runs from June 3 through
December 15, 2008.

"We're not saying we believe in Sasquatch," says Nate Matthews, online editor for Field & Stream. "But if anyone's ever going to capture an image of
one, we're guessing it'll be a hunter with a trail camera and we'd like to settle this once and for all."

Don't live in prime Sasquatch hunting territory? No problem! Field & Stream and Bushnell are also giving away great Bushnell gear for the best
trail cam shots in the following categories: Deer photos, non-deer photos, and funny photos. Three winners every month will receive a Bushnell Excursion
binocular, and three grand prize winners at the end of the year will receive a Bushnell Trail Scout Pro with Game Call Technology trail camera.

"For all you jokers out there, we're giving away an additional Bushnell Trail Scout Pro camera for your best attempt to cheat Bushnell out of their
$1,000,000 prize," says Matthews. "So go grab your gorilla suit and head to the nearest woodlot. Just don't get mistaken for a bear."

Digital trail cameras have changed the way sportsman and wildlife researchers track animals in the outdoors. The Bushnell line of Trail Scout
trail cameras provide 24-hour monitoring and the ability to record high resolution color photos or videos during the day or black and while night
vision images without a flash. The cameras rely on a passive infrared sensor that will detect activity out to 90 feet. Images are stored on compact SD
cards.

The sweepstakes is open to any eligible adult 18 years or older within the United States who can provide conclusive photographic evidence that Sasquatch
(Bigfoot or Yeti) exists. The photo or video must be taken with a trail camera and submitted to a panel of experts for verification. The photo/video must be
an original, in black & white or color, taken during the day or night. Photos that have been retouched, altered or changed in any way will be disqualified.

For the "$1,000,000 Sasquatch Photo Challenge," Bushnell will have a panel of experts review all submitted photos. The sweepstakes rules define Sasquatch
as any bi-pedal, non-human that cannot be classified under any existing indigenous or non-indigenous species. Humans or statues dressed in Sasquatch
costumes do not qualify, as well.

The person submitting the winning photo will win $1,000,000 payable as an annuity. The sweepstakes will also award monthly and one yearly prize.

The sweepstakes runs from June 3 through Dec. 15, 2008. For complete sweepstakes information, rules and eligibility requirements, visit
http://www.fstrailcamcontest.com. Consumers can enter online at the Bushnell web site by clicking on the "Win a $1,000,000" icon, or by mail. Mail in
entries must be postmarked by Dec. 15, 2008 and received by December 30, 2008.


Bushnell Outdoor Products is a global manufacturer and marketer of branded consumer products based in Overland Park, Kansas. Bushnell Outdoor Products
sells its products worldwide under the Bushnell®, Tasco®, Serengeti®, Bolle®, Uncle Mike's Law Enforcement®, Stoney Point®, Hoppe's®, Butler
Creek®, Kolpin® and Final Approach® brand names. For information about any of these brands or products, please contact Bushnell Public Relations at
(913) 752-6105.

$1 million reward for proof of Yeti

Binocular manufacturer Bushnell, along with "Field & Stream" magazine, have teamed up to offer $1 million to anyone who can "provide an unaltered photograph/video, verified and substantiated by a panel of scientific experts [including a zoologist and biologist], the evidence required to prove a Sasquatch/Bigfoot/Yeti exists."

The contest started a few days ago and ends Dec. 15, but before heading out to claim your million, note that the rules' fine print states that they are not liable for any injury incurred during a Bigfoot attack. A good quality Bigfoot image would make history; most photos are of such consistently poor quality that within the Bigfoot research community there's even a name for a typical blurry "Bigfoot" image: blobsquatch.

This is, of course, a marketing promotion and not a genuine search for Bigfoot. There's no way to authenticate a Bigfoot photograph by itself; the image is simply a two-dimensional pattern of pixels. To truly prove a Bigfoot exists, you'd need corroborating hard evidence like a body, teeth, or bones.

Find Bigfoot and earn a cool million bucks

By Lionel Green - The Reporter, June 10, 2008

Bigfoot is back in season. Less than a month after my report on the Alabama chapter of the Elusive Primates of North America, I read about how binocular manufacturer Bushnell, along with Field & Stream magazine, have teamed up to offer $1 million to anyone who can provide an unaltered photograph or video, verified and substantiated by a panel of scientific experts, that proves Bigfoot exists.

The contest ends Dec. 15.

I called up Hawk and Karen Spearman after I read this. They’re the couple who recently started the Alabama chapter of EPNA.

Karen had heard about the reward and didn’t seem too surprised.

“There’s quite a few people who are offering rewards like that for capturing a Bigfoot,” she says. “I have never heard of a million-dollar reward.”

Karen is skeptical about the motivations of such a reward.

“In my honest opinion, it’s just a marketing ploy to get somebody to buy their equipment, because what are the chances,” she says. “You can have a Bigfoot standing right there in front of you and take a picture of it, and they can still say it’s a fake.”

Karen says there’s a word for fuzzy photos of would-be Bigfoot — blobsquatches.

Rewards rarely seem to unearth any new evidence of Bigfoot. Random encounters are more common than organized searches.

“The harder you try, I think the less you achieve,” she says. “People are going to read about the reward and run out in the woods every day and find the same thing they found yesterday. Nothing.”

Karen thinks the heat of the South will make Bigfoot more scarce.

“Because of the heat and weather, they’re not going to be out in the South, except maybe at night or real early morning,” she says.

Hawk and Karen admit their quest for Bigfoot stirs mixed feelings, because they don’t necessarily want the creature captured or killed.

They say they’ve spent thousands of their own dollars over the past decade trying to merely prove Bigfoot exists. It’s not about the money to them; it’s about the quest.

Still, Karen says about the million bucks: “I wouldn’t turn it down.”

One tidbit of info: If you participate in any searches, try not to get hurt because these companies are not liable for injuries incurred during a Bigfoot attack.

I believe in Bigfoot. It’s probably a childhood fantasy, but the shaggy beast captured my imagination as a youth. Those memories are difficult to shake when imprinted on your brain at such a young age. I still vividly remember Bionic Bigfoot from “The Six Million Dollar Man.”

Even now, when a special about searching for Sasquatch is on TV, I can’t help but watch.

I recall many times going into the woods behind my home as a wild-eyed boy to find the creature. Although what I would’ve done if I happened to run across him, I had no idea.

Maybe I was thinking the beast would be like Bionic Bigfoot from “The Six Million Dollar Man” and figure out I was a swell guy. We could be buddies.

Come to think of it, that’s exactly how I envisioned the encounter.

Now that would be a story to tell.

[Lionel Green is a staff writer for The Sand Mountain Reporter. His e-mail address is county(at)sandmountainreporter.com.]

---

LEARN MORE: To learn more about the Alabama chapter of the Elusive Primates of North America, visit www.epna.webs.com on the Internet. To report mysterious activity that could possibly be Bigfoot-related, call Hawk or Karen Spearman at 205-589-4622 or 205-359-0130

Okie Swamp Monsters Wanted

By Sam Powell, Tulsa World, Okla.

Jun. 17--A LITTLE BIT a bout a lot, again, while wondering when it's going to stop storming and raining.

Got one of those increasingly popular trail cameras? Those are devices more and more sportsmen, landowners and lease holders are using to survey the wildlife on their particular areas. The better models take superlative images, or even video, to really show what's going on 24/7 on a wildlife trail and around feeders or watering holes.

Now there's a chance for one of those trail cameras to shoot a picture which could be worth a million dollars.

Field and Stream magazine and Bushnell Outdoor Products want you to find Sasquatch or Bigfoot or Yeti, or whatever you might call that mythical creature -- and take his photo. The contest is open to anyone 18 years or older within the United States, who can provide conclusive photographic evidence that this creature exits. The photo or video must be taken with a trail camera and must be submitted to a panel of experts for verification. The Bigfoot Sweepstakes runs through Dec. 15, and all the details may be obtained at www.fstrailcamcontest.com.

While most folks assume this could only happen in some remote wilderness

region of the northwest, we've had our own Bigfoot stories right in this country. I wrote several articles about 30 years ago concerning reports of sightings of some type of ape-like creature in the swamps around extreme southeast Oklahoma and into the Louisiana-Arkansas corner. I'll be very surprised if some jokers don't try to fool the experts with a gorilla-suit disguise.

Grand bear: But speaking of wildlife sightings, there have been two black bears seen in the neighborhood of heavily-populated Grand Lake this summer. The free weekly newspaper, "Grand Lake Chronicles," featured a photo last week of a large, brown-phased bear at a feeder. The photo was taken by Abe Weaver of Gran Tara, and the bears have also been spotted in the Monkey Island region. This is unusual, but certainly not unheard of, as we have a growing black bear population in extreme southeastern counties. It's usually the young male bears which sometimes roam far out of their normal range at this time of year.

Camping fees: Just like seemingly everything in today's world, the cost of camping in Oklahoma is going up this summer. Beginning Monday, the base rate for all campsites in state parks was raised to $10, from what had been $8 at most sites.

Camping in an Oklahoma state park is still one of the very best deals going in this summer of sky-rocketing gas prices.

We'll have some tips on good, interesting local camping spots in the next week or so.

Women's fishing: The Women's Bassmaster Tour makes a stop this week on Old Hickory Lake, just east of the Nashville, Tenn., area.

The tournament opens Thursday and runs through Saturday, with the winner taking home $51,000.

Several local anglers compete in these events. Muskogee's Sheri Glasgow was angler of the year last season.

Curious times



By Andreas Ohrt

Jun 18 2008

MOVING SIDEWALKS?

If you’re still pessimistic about the near future, check out the books of Dr. Ray Kurzweil, a scientist, inventor and futurist whose predictions about technology have been coming true ever since the beginning of the computer age. Last week, he gave a speech at the World Science Festival in New York and predicted that within 10 years we’ll have a drug that allows us to eat anything we want and never gain weight, within five years solar power will be competitive with fossil fuels and within 20 years all of our energy will come from clean sources. Kurzweil also advises you to stick around for at least 15 more years when life expectancy will keep rising every year faster than you are aging—which means you may, in theory, be able to use future technology to live for hundreds of years, all the while benefiting from cool new toys which have yet to be invented. (NY Times)

TAKE MY MONEY, PLEASE

Everyone claims they want more money, but if you offer them some they probably won’t take it. This was proven on the streets of London last week, where experimenters wandered the city wearing sandwich boards which offered a free £5 note to anyone who asked. Of the 1,800 people who could have claimed the cash, only 28 bothered to do so. (webitpr.com)

MONSTER REWARDS

Okay kids, time to put on your monster hunting cap and go out there and earn your fortune. A new marketing gimmick from binocular manufacturer Bushnell and Field & Stream magazine is offering a $1 million reward to anyone who can prove the existence of Sasquatch/ Bigfoot/Yeti. The reward is up for grabs until December 15, but they will not be liable for any injuries you might suffer during a Bigfoot attack. The official rules ask for “an unaltered photograph/video, verified and substantiated by a panel of scientific experts including a zoologist and biologist.” Good luck! (livescience.com)

TRICKS ARE FOR KIDS

Instead of giving medicine to your children the next time you think they’re faking a sickness, try a new placebo pill designed especially for kids. A mother who was sick of her hypochondriac son whining all the time invented the pill in order to try to fool him into getting well. The Obecalp pill (placebo spelled backwards) is simply a cherry-flavoured chewable tablet that looks and tastes like it might be filled with medicine. Get ’em at placebostore.com.

YOU ARE GETTING VERY SLEE . . . ZZZZZ

Special thanks to the genius minds at the American Academy of Sleep Medicine who recently completed research which concluded that taking a midday nap is a good way to beat afternoon sleepiness. You don’t say? The researchers also concluded that caffeine can also help shake off those afternoon cobwebs and might be an easier solution to implement while you’re at work. Thanks, guys!  (sciencenews.org)

PUT DOWN THE BEANS

But what if you have the opposite problem—what if, instead of feeling sleepy, you’re all jacked up and can’t relax? Well, there’s a new “anti-energy” drink which is being marketed as an “extreme relaxation beverage.”  The carbonated beverage called “Drank” is spiked with melatonin, valerian root and rose hips to help you chill out when you can’t find your stash. (Village Voice)

NO MEANS NO TEETH

Here’s one you don’t hear everyday: a 41-year-old woman in Stockholm has been accused of raping a 30-year-old man after she took him home from the pub and, according the the story in the Aftonbladet newspaper, “performed oral sex on him against his will.”

WALLET+BRAIN=EMPTY

The next time you’re about to run out of gas, instead of wasting your money at the pump just keep track of how far your car will drive after the needle hits the “E.” Then go to tankonempty.com and add your data to the growing body of research which answers the pressing question, “How far can you go after the gas light in your car comes on?” Thrills!

I-READ-IT-ON-THE-INTERNET-SO-IT-MUST-BE-TRUE FACT OF THE WEEK

The Earth moves over 89 million miles every time you have sex.

curioustimes.com

Bushnell offers $1M for Bigfoot photo

Is Bigfoot for real?

Bushnell Outdoor Products and Field & Stream magazine want you to find out, and they are providing a good reason to search -- one million reasons to be exact -- with the $1,000,000 Sasquatch Photo Challenge that runs through Dec. 15.

"We're not saying we believe in Sasquatch," said Nate Matthews, online editor for Field & Stream, according to a recent news release. "But if anyone's ever going to capture an image of one, we're guessing it'll be a hunter with a trail camera, and we'd like to settle this once and for all."

Don't live in prime Sasquatch hunting territory? Field & Stream and Bushnell also are giving away great Bushnell gear for the best trail cam shots in the following categories: Deer photos, non-deer photos, and funny photos. Three winners every month will receive a Bushnell Excursion binocular, and three grand-prize winners at the end of the year will receive a Bushnell Trail Scout Pro with Game Call Technology trail camera.

"For all you jokers out there, we're giving away an additional Bushnell Trail Scout Pro camera for your best attempt to cheat Bushnell out of their $1,000,000 prize," said Matthews. "So go grab your gorilla suit and head to the nearest woodlot. Just don't get mistaken for a bear."

The sweepstakes is open to any eligible adult 18 years or older within the United States who can provide conclusive photographic evidence that Sasquatch (Bigfoot or Yeti) exists. The photo or video must be taken with a trail camera and submitted to a panel of experts for verification. The photo/video must be an original, in black and white or color, taken during the day or night. Photos that have been retouched, altered or changed in any way will be disqualified.

For the $1,000,000 Sasquatch Photo Challenge, Bushnell will have a panel of experts review all submitted photos.

The person submitting the winning photo will win $1,000,000 payable as an annuity. The sweepstakes will also award monthly and one yearly prize.

For complete sweepstakes information, rules and eligibility requirements, visit www.fstrailcamcontest.com.

A big ol' hairy contest – but $1 million prize smells sweet

By Leigh Grogan - lgrogan@sacbee.com - Thursday, July 3, 2008
Story appeared in SCENE section, Page E1

We all know someone – or some thing – with big feet.

But that furry fellow known as Bigfoot, a.k.a. Sasquatch, doesn't want to be known. Dude likes to keep to himself.

So leave it to those wild and crazy editors at Field & Stream magazine to come up with a contest to capture an image of said mythic beast. Their money – or rather, Bushnell Outdoor Products' cash – is on an outdoor enthusiast using a trail camera to capture an image of Sasquatch, likely during a nocturnal stroll.
Click here to find out more!

Trail cameras are used by hunters to monitor wildlife traffic in areas where they might want to hunt. The cameras can shoot rapid-fire – even in the dark.

Bushnell is offering a shot, so to speak, at $1 million for the first person who uses such a camera to snap a verifiable photo of Sasquatch.

OK, so we don't necessarily live in Bigfoot Country. Or do we?

According to lore (and a recent story by The Bee's Dan Vierria), Sasquatch is thought to be a "stinky, hairy, bipedal humanoid … reported roaming from California's North Coast on up into Canada."

In other words, he's not holed up in a midtown Sacramento loft. In fact, Sasquatch was completely unavailable for comment on the offer.

"Surprisingly, we haven't received any photos of Bigfoot – yet," Field & Stream online editor Nate Matthews said from New York.

"We've received a lot of other trail camera photos of bears and deer and raccoons doing strange and unusual things on camera.

"That's what we really were hoping to get out of this thing. I'm not holding my breath on Bigfoot."

That said, Field & Stream is willing to have a little fun by offering Bushnell gear for the best trail cam shots in several other non-"Foot" categories: deer photos, photos of other animals and just plain funny shots. There are three winners (who get trail cameras) each month, and three grand prizes will be handed out at the end of the year.

The June winner will be announced in the next couple of days.

Oh, and let's not forget the bonus category: A Bushnell Trail Scout Pro camera goes to the outdoor person who attempts to win with a fraud. In other words, look for the biggest and – this is important – hairiest guy you know, get him to climb a tree and howl at the moon. Then take a pic of him and submit it.

Matthews related this bonus entry: "We got a picture of a dude who dressed up in a Bigfoot suit, put a trail camera on the kitchen counter and photographed himself raiding the fridge for Bud Light. From the evidence, he prefers Bud Light to Budweiser 2-to-1."

This whole Bushnell/ Sasquatch conspiracy matter started in September, when Rick Jacobs of Pennsylvania snapped a controversial photo on his Bushnell Trail Scout of what "some" believe could be a Sasquatch.

Most thought it was just a young bear.

The Internet growled with theories, and thus a contest was born.

The Field & Steam contest is open to anyone 18 or older. You must submit photos taken using trail cameras only. To enter online:www.fstrailcamcontest.com. Or mail your photos to Trail Camera Contest, Field & Stream, 2 Park Ave., New York, NY 10016.

Entries must include contact information and a detailed caption. Entries must arrive by Dec. 15 to be eligible for the grand prize.

Field & Stream editors will judge your photo skills and winners will be notified within 60 days of verification. Visitors to the site can also view the entries, post comments and "vote."

Just remember: Photographers Roger Patterson and Bob Gimlin's famous Oct. 20, 1967, photo of a purported Bigfoot is not admissable.

About the writer: * Call the Bee's Leigh Grogan, (916) 321-1129.