Looking for a research/hiking buddy near Austin, West of town in the Hill Country. Lots of very interesting things to see for sure. You won't be disappointed. Mostly daytime hikes, and night hikes when the moon is full. The big lug is around......lots of sign, occassional vocalizations. I live in the hills West of Austin.

Have you contacted the Texas Bigfoot Research Conservancy?

Would rather not deal with 'professionals'.

Nice skeletal remains pics BigTex. Makes me think that a thread devoted to such would be an interesting one all by itself (if we don't already have one somewhere) just because of the big question about finding Sasquatch skeletons, etc. It'd be interesting to see what animals folks are finding, what condition the remains are in, how far the bones are scattered, etc. Thanks for sharing those and hope you find a Squatching buddy!

In regards to Firefly's post, I recently found a dear leg, lower half, on the hiking trail of my research area. The weird thing, there are deer there but they dont venture near the northern part of the observation point where the trail runs, and its just....a shin and hoof. With no hunting there and rarely do I ever see coyotes at this lake...It wierded me out a bit. I may have to post the pics of it soon, cause ten feet from it was a small tree bent-twisted. Never found the rest of the deer.

I do find lots of skeletal remains, it's a real killing zone out in these hills. Anyone wanting to tag along will see lots of interesting things and animals - dead or alive. The one below was a strange fellow, and still has me scratching my head; just under six feet tip of nose to tail, inch and a half canines that splayed out, rounded rat like ears & tail, and NO HAIR. It wasn't mange, I've seen those, and there's usually some sign of hair - not a trace on this thing. He was five days dead when I found him, as I am in the area quite a bit. Very oddly, nothing wanted to touch him except buzzards. Anytime I find something dead - which is often - quite a few different diners have their fill, and scatter the pieces in the process. This thing was big too, and I would not have wanted to meet him alive. The weirdest thing besides the no hair, are those ears.......so very strange, and not like any dog, wolf, or coyote I have ever seen.

Chupacabra for sure.

Nice big teeth! They're worn down to about the same spot my 10 yr old dog's is, though that's not a good indicator of age since their diets might not have remotely been the same. Looks like the bugs didn't mind a free meal though!

I had someone who I took to see the thing, say it was probably a Chupacabra, and maybe it is. Did a search, and it sure looks like some of the creatures you see when searching that topic.....but I am a Bigfoot guy, and don't need to start chasing another mystery.

FYI.......I have the body, if anyone knows anyone in the area who might want to check it out. I did measure most of the bones that I could, and the front legs are out of proportion to the back legs......they are shorter.

Here's another trophy find.......think it's a Badger, but not sure. What do you guys think?

Wow,something or someone is sure doing some damage to the wildlife in that area! I am sure you can find someone willing to take a look at that skeleton. Strange thing,I live in WV and recently found a few scattered bones of deer,possum and a few other creatures along the same trail. There has been a large black bear sighted of late so maybe he is responsible. Its just rather odd to find remains of several different species within 500-1000 feet of each other. We have a lot of hunters so maybe its just some bloodthirsty hunter doing the damage but I have found no evidence of bullet wounds on any...then again,I am not all that up to par on identifying bones and such. Well,good luck and have a good weekend. Peace.

No......this isn't Bevo roaming the side lines at the UT game, but it's his free-ranging cousin. He popped out of some fairly dense vegetation, and I didn't even see or hear him coming. He got very close, heard a small twig snap, turned around, and there was the 1,500# beast! Pretty amazing something this big could be so stealthy in his approach, and makes you wonder about other 'things'. He was coming at me, which was a little scary, but think he was just looking for a hand out. The picture is of him walking off, after my initial shock. Did I say big? These Texas Longhorns are about 5 feet at the shouldler.

As you can see, a lot of cool things to see other that Bigfoot. However, here are some strange deliberate looking structures, and they are along a power line that goes through this area. I suspect that they could be migrating up and down the cleared area for the power lines. If I was making a trek, I sure as heck would. I find many of these seemingly constructed temporary dwellings, for lack of a better word, and usually within 50 or so yards in from the power line. The one below is old, as the branches used to make it have died, and the leaves have fallen off. Think of what it looked like 'fresh', with the leaves still on, and green - very well hidden. I have found a 'fresh' one only once, and almost walked right by before noticing it. Notice the Live Oak leaves inside....bedding? The tree used for the dwelling was Juniper (Texas Cedar).

Here's another.....the pics below are in a very strange area. If Bf constructed this deal, it's a darn Hotel! Anyway, only a hardly noticable opening in some tall grass gives any clue to what's behind, and that is the first pick. The second picture is after I went in, something moaned/growled at me, took the picture, and hauled ass. Interestingly, I got about a half mile away, and wondered why in the heck was I retreating. After all, I am looking for Bigfoot. Anyway, I stopped, turned around to go back, took a few steps, and the 'thing' back where I had just been let out a blood curdling scream.....lots of lung power too. As if to say...."think again chump"! I have not been back there since, and figure I need a buddy for that one.....and several more spooky areas - hence this email.

"He"?

Click to view attachment

LMAO.....never noticed those, I was more focused on the business end I guess!

After visiting here for five years, I know bull when I see it.

And Pere gets the 'bone' (below) for being the first heckler. But this thread is different, because ANYONE who doubts what I'm saying can come on down, and see for themselves. Yo Pere.....get off that couch, put down that laptop, and put your money where your rather large mouth is......I won't get you to lost out in the woods

What is that BigTex???

That would be the rear leg bone and part of the spine of a White Tail Deer........the other part of the spine, head, and antlers is a few pics above. It was a fresh kill, happened the night before I hiked up there, and the two pieces were about 50 yards apart. If you find one bone, and keep doing bigger circles, you will usually find enough pieces to put the whole animal together. Yes.....I spend a lot of time in the field, maybe too much.

And this little piggy.......got his ass shot!

You around Lake Travis or Fredericksburg? Plenty of hill country all around.

Unfortunately I no longer live in the area. Did grow up close to Leander.

That would be Lake Travis.....in Lago Vista, just down 1431 from Leander.

Definatly plenty of hill country there! Close to the Bar K club area is a great spot to get arrow heads.
(if Bar K golf course is still there) Right next to the lake, behind the club house, you can find one in just about each square yard.
Plenty of spots around the lake that are still un developed, or I hope is still the case. It's a beautifull area with plenty of game all around.
My brother use to maintain the greens at Lago Vista. Spent many a night driving golf carts on the course to keep critters from tearing them up before big events.
Wish I still lived down there. I'm up in the Dallas area now.

Hey Wheellug, you should come down sometime, things are pretty much the same down here. Bar K Golf is still around, and lots of Indian stuff. Haven't gotten that far yet, but anyone interested in seeing Indian artifacts would have a good time too. There is also evidence of a much older settlement here, maybe 10,000 BC type stuff......very interesting, and nobody seems to know anything about it.

Here are my pictures for the day; first one is a nice foorprint out by where I keep the trash on the side of my property, and adjacent to a wooded area. I jumped up and down, and could hardly make an impression. It was 17" long. The second picture is out in the hills, and down in a ravine. A creek flows through this ravine, but by August, was just a series of pools, and the bigger ones with trapped fish. I had been watching this one pond, full of fish, getting smaller and smaller. One day they were there, and the next they weren't - all gone, around 20 fish, and not even a scale or bone anywhere. There was a stick that was apparently used to herd the fish laying beside the pond, and a huge footprint in the middle of it. The picture shows it under water, and is approximately 18" long. This was back in August, and the print was so heavy duty, that the impression is still there under water (saw it 2 days ago). Might be hard to see in this photo, but is clearly visible in my larger file size picture.

I'm ready for a day or night this weekend either Sat or Sun. I'm an AZ researcher working temp. here near your Airport. I have everything I need with me since I drove here. Contact me by email, PM or I'll watch for a response.

WRF

Here are some interesting pictures.........something is after the bone marrow on Deer leg bones. Find these frequently, but only the leg bones, as something is taking these to another location to 'crack' them open, kinda like crab claws I guess. I pick up and save most I find, look at them carefully, and don't find the normal chew marks that you would find from a normal (toothed) predator. The first pick shows a rather fresh one....notice the skin is pulled down like a banana peel. The second was an aged find.......were the rocks being used to crack them open?

Yo Willie....left you a private email with my phone number.....hope to hear from you.

Tex, I live in Round Rock and would like to join you on a day hike sometime. I am brand new to any of this but find it fascinating. Give me a shout @ jukebox212003@yahoo.com

BigTex, I have found a few of these also. I don't believe they are cracked open with rocks. First, I don't find any rocks around when I find them (however, that wouldn't negate a creature carrying around his rock with him, which I don't believe is happening, either. )

Second, the ones I find are "snapped" apart, which I believe, would require an opposable thumb.

For those folks that think a human could have "snapped" that size of bone in half, should try to do it themselves. I have "splintered" a deer femur bone in half, however I had to bend it by grasping it at each end. In order to "snap" a bone in half, you would have to grasp it closer to the break point. I just doubt that there are very many "humans" that could do that.

Hello Pywacket, I agree that most appear to be hand-cracked, but some of the leg bones that I find do show evidence of rocks being used, and the rocks being discarded along with the bones where they lay. Possibly the young and/or females are using the rocks? It is a bit puzzling, but can't think of a better explanation. The rocks ARE being used on some of these, and you can see the strike marks on them.

I call this picture 'The Throne', appears to have been carved into the side of a ravine, and with a very nice view.

Here's something strange that I ran across, and how it got there is anybody's guess, no roads, trails.....nothing. There was probaly a dirt road at one time, and I am figuring this fender is late 30's.....does anyone know for sure? Just a little surface rust, but solid, straight, and in very good condition.

.......And a few more lost souls.....

Here's my little cabin up in the Cascades in Washington......only get to go 2 or 3 times a year, but WOW! What a difference from these Texas woods.

Regarding the pic with the fender. In the 40's the whole of the states were scoured for minerals and materials. I recall dumps out in the middle of some cedar breaks that I couldn't understand why they were there. You know cedars as well, there in the hill country, they grow any and everywhere. Think it's solid rock? There's another spot for a cedar to pop right up it seems. Had many a brush fire as well out there. The cedars just grow right back and if not for the remaining burnt stumps you wouldn't know there had been any fire after several years. Plenty of growth to cover old roads with ease. Then you look at the rock and gravel and can see the faint whispers of an old trail or road, even in the least likely spots.
I need to get me some time and go check the area out again.

Howdy BigTex, This is Fish from Strawn.( About half-way between Abilene & Ft. Worth) I'm very excited for you and your findings.
Was wondering if you had recorded any vocalizations or set any camera traps or made any casts yet. Casting may be your next step.
You are also correct about your need for someone to watch your back. Our Cougar population is considerable, and even the Longhorns are pretty sneaky.
On another note, how do you broach this subject with your friends? Are they supportive at all? What's your wife think about your BF hikes?
Not trying to be nosy, just wondering. Can't imagine what mine would say if I told her I was going BF hunting down by Austin! I guess I could start warming her up to the idea.
Glad to meet you and write back,
Fish

Hey Fishman, good to hear from you. The cougar's are around here too in pretty good numbers, and saw a black Jaguar last year. They have been sneaking up from Mexico to occupy what was once their territory - this is a big and scary cat. And you are right about dem Longhorns. 'Watching the back' is important, as most of the places that I end up a very remote, and would be hard for searchers to find me, or what's left of me.

I am starting to get some camera traps out there, but my experience has shown me that the store-bought kind do not work worth a flip for what we are doing, and you can check some of my past posts for more info on the camera traps that I design and build. Just look at most pics from the store bought camera traps, the animals pictured are usually looking at the camera.....can you say "cheese"?

As far as my dear friends, wife, and kids......they all think I am a little crazy. But that's OK, they haven't seen one like I have. I will rarely even discuss the subject with 'normals', and even when asked. I am not looking to convence anyone, nor do I care what they think about it. It is my free time, and I am having a blast doing this. The woods offer so much more of an experience than just searching for the elusive beast, and hopefully some of my pictures show this.

And for more fun in the hills? How about a little low flying in a B-25J WW II bomber!

Your trophy find looks like some kind of cat. What kinds do you have out there? Lynx? Bobcat?

It is some kind of dog creature, and fairly large.....you can see the dog like foot hopefully in these pictures.

Here are a few more pictures of the 'El Chupacabra', or whatever it is. Notice how the teeth are splayed out in the frontal shot. Nope, that's not a stogie in his mouth. it's the end of his hairless rat-like tail. Yes, I have the head and tail, if anyone wants to check it out.

No, I meant the other skull you showed us.

Ah.....sorry about that. Seems like the skull is too long & narrow for a cat, but it might be a Bobcat. We have the Jaguarondi and Ocelot, but they are rarely seen. Here's another picture......what do you think? Also, here's a cat print, either a Bobcat or young Cougar.

That looks like a front print of a very large bobcat. Did you measure it? It looks about 2 1/2 inches long? That is well above the average.

Hmmm the skull could be a ringtail, also called a civet cat. That would account for the catlike teeth but the longer skull:

http://www.skullsunlimited.com/graphics/sm-405-lg.jpg

Really I need measurements to be more accurate. Taking a small tape measure along with you on your outings is always a good idea!

Your canid skull looks like a very elderly Grey Wolf:

http://www.skullsunlimited.com/graphics/sm-495-lg.jpg

The canines are very large and long for a domestic dog, and the snout has that extra length indicative of a wolf. Pity you don't have the incisors, which would help me more with identification, as it also could be the much rarer (thought to be extinct) Mexican Grey Wolf, which is smaller and has different incisors. Measurements also would help.

Nice find!

I can get the incisors, they just fell out. I have seen the Texas Red Wolf on two occations, and NO mistaking what they were. Big, broad head, long legged, and huge feet. A good friend has a 10 year old full-blooded Grey (Timber) Wolf, and I have many years of interaction with this magnificant creature.....I know a Wolf when I see one, so they are around too.

Just took some better photos of the other skull, and put a ruler down by it. If you can't see, it's right at 6 inches. That's my future hiking buddy.......and Cleo the Timber Wolf.

PS......I don't hike in my sandals.....the cat print was in the side yard by the trash. Didn't measure it either, but that's my foot, and can measure that.

......And a few more unfortunate victims. I started taking some trophy bones from my hikes, and throwing them in the back.......it keeps people from messing with my truck. Hopefully, they think the driver is crazy.

and are you sure he isn't?

Hey BigTex,

Made a quick trip home for Thanksgiving and then will head to the sandbar state for the rest of the year. I;ll will be back in TX next year and will be intouch as I'm very interested in the bone yard and activity you have there in your area. Check out this this elk bone I found this year when following up on a possible encounter; Campers report harassment on the Mogollon Rim near Knoll the picture is in post #30 of the broken Elk leg bone. After talking with you last month I'll be collecting the more interesting bones I find from now on.

Mexican Grey wolves here in AZ are competing with the the other predators of their class as the population has increased dramatically. I find their tracks most every time I go out. Here's is an interesting comparison of skulls but I don't think this takes into account all the types of wolves roaming around the continent.

Click to view attachment

Hey Vil & Willie, here is a comparison between the 'weird' hairless thing, and the very first picture in this thread, which I have always assumed was a wolf. The two look very similar, but are either a different sex, and/or young vs. old. The features are dead-on though, and in several places that the photos don't show.

If you consider the pics Willie sent, and what Vil is telling me, then these are Grey Wolves? I might have my terminology wrong, but the saginal crest on top of both skulls is large, as in the photo from Willie of the Grey Wolf. The smaller skull was several months old when I found it, and I'm guessing 6-8 months dead. It was also killed by another animal, as canine marks are present in several places. The other one appears to have died of natural causes, and possibly in a flash flood the night before I found it. Both are right at 9" long, from back of the head, to tip of nose, but the one is obviously a bigger animal, maybe an old male with skin problems, and the other one was a young female? If these are Grey Wolves, why the heck are they here? Also, I have the entire skeleton of the big one, and it is/was a very large animal.

I'm not a good photographer, but here goes......PS....in the first photo with my hand, one of the lower canines fell out of the big skull, and I had put it back in backwards, so it appears longer than it actually is......I switched it around for the other photos.

I am not a hunter, would rather film than kill something, and am definitely a 'No Kill' guy. However, at least in Texas, it's open season on the damn hogs.

Another little piggy.....got his ass shot!

These looked a little like German Shepards, but had a definite wildness to them......was in a neighbors garage, when a herd of Deer came running by, tails up, and snorting. These these two canids, male & female, came cruising by after them. They acted wild, not domestic. Does anybody know what these might be?

Looks like a couple of feral dogs. Watch out for your kids, if they are hunting deer, and maybe you should take them down if you see them again. Huh. Dogs hunting deer.

Do those wild hogs taste good? I hunt but just for meat.

The dogs all look healthy, but no collars appear to be visible.

I'm going with the idea they belong to someone, who unfortunatly has either a bunch of yard decorations
or cars they think they can repair sitting around the back of the house.
Yeah that sounded kind of bad, but I know people like that.