Hello all,

I've been studying the Bigfoot phenomenon for well over a year now reading posts here, books, reports, etc. Heard a lot of strange stories and read a lot of plausible theories.

Anyways, my point is this - me and some of my friends [a mixture of believers and skeptics] are going to hit the wilderness in Southeastern Oklahoma here in a month or so. No amount of reading compares to actual field study and even if we don't see Bigfoot, it'll still be fun.

To those of you who have gone on expeditions before [especially you successful ones] how would you recommend we maximize our 3 day weekend in the woods? What gear is most useful? What techniques should we try in order to provoke a response or lure a sasquatch to us? What methods have you had success with in the past?

Thanks for all your input!

- ShadoAngel

I've stomped around that area a good bit myself. I'm sure others will be along to give you generic equipment advice but if you'd like some local info feel free to shoot me a pm.

And FWIW the two things you need to pack above all else are common sense and patience.

Beyond the basics for ANY camping/hiking trip, I would start with the essentials: notebooks and writing instruments, a ruler and tape measure, cameras, and possibly sound recorders. A supply of heavyweight thread could be used to put up "string traps" at above head height across trails to see if anything breaks them. If one or more members of your party has the knowhow to use them, casting materials would be an option.

The two things I would tell you to remember most are be patient and be quiet.

Mulder, do you have any sound recorders you recommend?

I would have NO idea how to advise you on that. I don't acutally get out in the field (physical limitations). I was just trying to give you a general idea of basic equipment you might want to take.

Depending on your budget you could go from just a basic set of information gathering/recording equipment (notebooks, pens/pencils, tape measure, basic cameras, etc) all the way up to parabolic mikes attatched to digital audio recorders and night-vison gear.

If you ARE interested in audio recording (and have the funds), I would suggest going to a good electronics store (not a Wal Mart or box store) and ask the salesman about equipment for recording "animal calls" (brid calls might make a good excuse so the salesman won't look at you funny).

Even if funds are limited, a simple basic hand held tape recorder MIGHT do the job with a bit of luck.

H2 Zoom is affordable and versatile and plugs right into a bionic ear

Thanks for the replies, guys. Picked up a few things we hadn't thought about and I think we're a bit more prepared.

ShadoAngel
Now here is a tip no one has given.for the encounter you want to find a hot spot an area that is very active and camp in the middle of it and do it a few times .Do not actively search but act like you are there for a good time and be yourselfs ,they will notice.Let them come to you because thats how it will happen not you going to them.The only thing that you are doing is finding where they active in a known area .Be prepared and be ready because things happen when you least expected and do not set up your stuff so that they cannot see it keep it hidden.Keep it simple and keep you group small and do not over plan.Act normal and you will see that they might visit because it is by chance that they do and have fun and keep safe they are wild and every encounter is different and can be dangerous.

True, I'm always making oral notes on my PDA. You take note of a lot more if can just say it than have to write it down. At least it's a convenience, at most it may record something other than you.

Find a remote area, not a regular campground. Set up camp, just like normal. I would choose an area that has hills or ridges overlooking it. The ridges would be a perfect place to view "you" from a relatively safe distance. Arrive in late morning and set up your campsite. This is the scenario I plan to use.

I plan to bring 3 or 4 trail cams and set them up on the ridges overlooking my campsite. Bring a ladder and position the cams about 10' off the ground, with a slight down angle. Camouflage the cams as best your can, but if you have visitors, it will likely be well after dark, into the morning hours. Leave some bait near each camera. Nothing large, just some droppings of fruit, bacon or bits of salmon. Make sure the cams do not face east or west (sunrise, sunset). The direct light from the sun may obscure your shot. Although I think any activity will likely be at night. The camera's shouldn't face your campsite, rather they should opposite or parallel (keeping in mind the east/west restriction). If you have visitors, they will be hiding and facing you.

I built a parabolic microphone system with a 22" dish mounted to my conversion van. I'll have it plugged into a Sony digital voice recorder ($14 on clearance at target). They usually run about $50 or more new. I can record for over 100 hours, so it's more than sufficient for my purposes. My dish can be manually rotated if anything interesting is heard. Search youtube, there's a few video's on homemade parabolic microphone assembly. Finding a good dish is the hard part, the rest is super easy. Your dish should be a minimum of 18" in diameter to be effective. This is what I discovered from extensive reading.

You can get a decent trail cam at your sporting goods store for less than $100. I just picked up a WildView cam with a 4 Mega Pixel camera and regular flash for $99. I also have a more expensive Bushnell with infrared flash.

Try wood knocking late at night and early in the morning. Maybe you'll get lucky. If you have incoming rocks thrown at you, you may have visitors! (don't throw them back LOL).

I have a few spotlights that are rated at 2 million candle light. I don't plan to use them unless I'm sure I have visitors near. I'll be mounting a video camera on at least one of the spotlights. If there is activity, I'll hope to get some footage by lighting up the ridge with an unexpected flood of light. Hopefully three people, spread out along the ridge with these powerful lights. The drunkest guy or gal gets to charge the ridge with their spotlight. LOL.

Okay, that's the plan. Hell, I may get lucky. You may too!

No one has said this, but I would carry something for self defense, just in case.

You don't want to use it unless you have to, and you don't want it to be seen.

A powerful (.357 magnum, .44 magnum, .40 cal) handgun under your belt or on the belt with a high ride external holster under a big shirt or jacket would be a 'don't leave home without it' item for me.

(edited to add) You may need it for some other type of threat or predator than a bigfoot; there are other types of bipedal animals out there that sometimes prey on humans.

I'm never in the woods without my .45!

Ditto the comments on being armed. If you are unconfortable with firearms or you are prohibited from carrying them where you go, make sure you have a good fixed blade knife, bear spray, etc. for protection.

Also, see this thread from this section of the forum - In the Field - tools and equipment. Here is the link.
http://www.bigfootforums.com/index.php?showtopic=25310
This talks about what equipment people carry.

One of the best hints is to be ready to record anything as you approach your study area. Turn your camera on and have it ready to shoot. Turn your audio recorder on also. I've heard a lot of stories about investigators driving into or getting out of the car at the research site and they hear or see something but their cameras and recorders were in the bag or the trunk. Just be ready to go at all times.

Good luck.

One additional thing along the lines of your arrival - prior to getting to your site (if you're going with other people), meet and discuss the protocols you will use when you get to the site for who will do what - still cameras, video, audio, survey the site, etc. This will help in making sure you have your investigative tools ready to go. This would still probably fit even if you're trying to make a show of being "normal" campers.

Good idea Grizzly.

Did I hear "parabolic?":

Making Your Own Parabolic Microphone

Yes, this is my parabolic mic..... works really well!

The Marantz (Denon) PMD 620. Works marvel, not waterproof though. You should also buy a microphone (the machine has two, quite good, but if you want the best, search a better one). Fairly directional though, otherwise you will get all the forest noises.

I wish I could carry one. In Canada we are virtually unarmed! Totally illegal. So if you plan to go in British Columbia, all you can bring is a Swiss knife...

I think JULIO12 hit it right on the head!!!!

Your best chance in having creature activity is having fun camping and be yourself. If you look at many sighting reports you will notice a percentage of the encounters happen when people aren't even looking for the creature.

The creatures react because of Curiosity, Food/Smells and Territorial Dispute. Cook up some good smelling food over the fire while just being yourself while you keep your eyes, ears, and nose on your surroundings.

When you enter the woods if they are there, there is a good chance they will know you are there pretty soon after. Keep a listen as you enter for anything that could be signalling to others.

Most of all have a good time, be safe, and do not get discouraged if nothing happens! People have spent years looking for these creatures and never gotten to see them. I am still hoping to see one myself someday.

Good Luck!

MDBigfoot

Thank you all for your responses. You were all very helpful. No Sasquatch sightings occurred on our trip but we did have a good time and we're planning on repeat trips over the year to the same area to observe wildlife behavior and see how things go. Might arouse Sasquatch's curiosity by repeat visits!

The best tips I could offer for an expedition is not to bother with advice from other people. There is no person in the sasquatch community, no matter what they might say and claim, that can show a single shread of convincing evidence as to the productive results of their methods.

Don't follow the path of error of the blind leading the blind.

We have a hundred years of sasquatch stories and research with nothing to show. There are some pictures of tracks in books and the PGF. Neither the track pics or PGF were the result of an established research methodology. They were obtained by chance and are not able to be varified as authentic.

You can get a machete at walmart for 7 bucks if you live in a very anti gun area

I don't know about British Columbia but it is not illegal to carry a firearm in Alberta as long as it is not a handgun and you are not poaching. As for unarmed, I don't think you have seen the redneck hunters in Alberta, which I am proud to count myself among, but we are definitely armed...to the teeth!

I'm English - What's a .45?

Seriously, I wouldn't try to camo up, 'hunt', stalk or track them or generally act stealthfully. People have been doing that for years with limited results. They're not elk.

Find a mountainous and/or wooded area with a history of sightings, a water source (creek etc.), roads with sharp embankments, deer populations, then light a camp fire, act normally, chat, talk, whatever and if you have peaked their curiousity then maybe they will come to you.

As GrimsonGoblin states above, sightings and encounters are totally random. You have as much chance of seeing one as anybody else