Howdy, this is my first post and I just wanted to share one of my experiences. Nothing major, just want to remind folks that sasqautch visits the south too. I'm originally from south Louisiana (Bogalusa 1 hour north of New Orleans), I now attend Louisiana Tech in Ruston (north) Louisiana. We have alot of legends and folk lure: parlaingua, wennibaggo, etc. One that seems to be the most reoccurring is the the honey island swamp monster (sasqautch). Honey Island is a secluded area in the Pearl River swamp where game, fish and beautiful vegatation thrive. Many people get scared in the swamp at night, but I feel at home. It's very peaceful listening to the swamp music. Honey Island and its surround swamps is one of the couple of places black bear are found in LA. As you know, bear are reclussive (in La anyway), and live where humans are unable to go. I feel sasqautch are the same way. NE way my friend and I where fishing on oxslot slough. He didn't know much about running an outboard motor but he just got a new motor for his dads boat and really wanted to run it so I let him drive. He also put the motor on the boat, but he didn't do a good job. As soon as we entered the slough, we hit a stump and it almost took the motor of the boat. I paddled to shore and told him to switch places with me so I could fix it. We drifted down a little ways while I worked on the boat, the current was swift. Finally, we hit a log that held us in place. I raised my head while I took a break and there on the muddy bank was either a sasqautch track or the biggest human track I have ever seen. I don't think it could have been human. Where we were at was not a place where people swim, not a sand bar in site. The thing that really got me thinking sasqautch that there only one track headed into the slough (it would have to have been a large stride not to leave anymore ), and it was 3" (at least, I didn't measure) deep in the mud. I immediatley looked around but ofcoarse nothing was near. I put the motor back on and we got out of there. I don't know why we didn't go back and make a cast or atleast take a picture of the print, but I'll always remember it. I'm a forestry major at La Tech University and none of my professors will even consider the idea of sasqautch. My wildlife professor will not stand for the idea of pumas (Felix conculor) in LA either, though there have been multiple sitings and tracks found. I believe though. NE way, just wanted to share my experience. Hopefully, it wont be my last.

Let me be the first to welcome you, swampfox (usually someone else beats me to the punch).

I hope one day you will make a discovery that you can flaunt in the face of those professors...either puma or sasquatch. LOL

Zog

P.S. - Do you have pictures of the swamps? It would be cool to see them.

Thanks, I'm saving for a trail timer now

Lets hope its a real Print this time. The Honey Island Swamp Monster was , I thought to be proven a HOAX.
Someone correct me i f I'm wrong.


Belle

please give us a run down on the swamp monster as only a local with the flair of local info can. please tell us of any recent encounters u know of ect
chris

welcome to the bff

The latest "encounter" occurred when I was about 11 or 12 (I'm 21). It was proved to be a hoax. There was a very good picture of a sasqautch wading in waste high water. The picture was too good. Some scientist analized it and easily proved it was someone in a suit (I think he actually found a zipper or a seam or something). But that was certainly not the only encounter, yet there haven't been many. I believe that sasqautch here live where humans rarely visit because there are plenty of places like that in the swamp. There are places in the swamp that are only accessible by walking with chest waders or swimming. The trees and vegitation are so thick that peros even have trouble getting through. Not many people want to wade through snake/gator filled swamp for miles and not know when there can be a dry enough place to camp. Land that appears to be above water on a map, are often flooded throughout the year. I will try to find the name of this book that is at my library that mentions the Honey Island Swamp Monster. The story goes that 3 men from Covington, La (nearby) were camping near the river. One went to use the latrine, and heard something really moving through the brush, but it didn't run like an animal, so he thought someone might be trying to come up on them. He got back to camp and rounded up his buddies. They went looking for someone, but found a something they've never seen, sasquatch. It scared the crap out of them. They left the campsite without packing anything and got in the truck and left. There are far less encounters in the south than in the northwest or north period. But, there have been many encounters and evidence in Florida, where they commonly know it as the "skunk ape". Arkansas has had it share of encounters. I'm sure you've all seen "The Legend of Boggy Creek", that may be a joke to some people, but there are crypto-zoologist researching the area still. I will try to find out more about encounters here, but honestly, most here refuse to believe in bigfoot. So people quickly dismiss any evidense. Most people here are of the christian religion (Cathlic or Southern Baptist or Penacostal mainly), and don't believe in the "missing link". I'm a christian, but I don't believe bigfoot is the missing link. Merely an animal that has survived a long time, like humans. Anyway, that's what I know. I will try to find more. Later.

Oh yeah, I remember one more encounter from when I was in high school. Not the Honey Island Swamp Monster though. Some loggers where doing a thinning opperation in the Tesas Management Area (near the Mississippi river). A logger was running a chainsaw when he got the errie feeling he was being watched. He turned and yelled as he saw a large,hairy creature moving away from him. He didn't know what it was. So some scientist came out there and found large tracks, and hair. The hair, was cohearant with what is usually found during an encounter, unknown but close to ape and human. But after that, nothing else was seen or found. That is the latest encounter in Louisiana to my recollection. Later.

Some of the sightings and claims were indeed proved to be hoaxes by Jay Micheal and M.K. Davis of the GCBRO (they literally found the shoe/boots/footwear responsible for the fake tracks)...

But, there have been sightings in that region for quite some amount of time...Most of what was proven infactual were attributed to the claims of one (or possibly a few, can't remember off the top of my head) individual(s)...So I, personally, wouldn't rule out that there could indeed be continued activity in the Honey Island Swamp...

Are you familiar with a large bear's print when it steps into it's own track? (i.e., hind foot track mixed with front foot track making it look like one large print)

t.

Yes, I learned it in my wildlife habitat class. I would not count out that possiblilty, because I didn't know what the heck it was, and I didn't waste any time getting out of there. But, I remember it looking like a perfect, huge human footprint. Plus there have been no reported sightings in tha particular area, so I'm not saying it was or wasn't, just a possiblity. I'm gonna get my friend fired up and see if he wont take me back there this August when I'm home (it's private property and I haven't been back there in 4 years) to see if I can find any evidense. I "hear" that sasqautch often make nest or stuff? I guess I'll look for those. What should I look for besides nest and tracks (besides the actual creature )???

You're asking the wrong guy what to look for in regards to bf evidence... :rolleyes: There are some here though that will give you good information although I don't think you can take anything to the bank unless you really know the person who is advising you. Good luck with your studies. I'm in forestry as well!

t.

Thanks Ran Man!

Swampfox,
I've lived here in SLidell all my life. 29yrs. I have hunted and fished the Honey island Swamp all my life. My uncles friends and cousins. I hunt the lower marsh to the northern area into wastehouse. Been all over off the roads years ago but now use my boat to get into most of the swamp. I have been into Bogue Chitto and for the past two years into Bens Creek. Honey island Swamp monster I believe is an old story past throught the years. Proven hoax. Not to say one day a lone BF could wonder down through the woods and swamps into Honey Island. But as a BF living in the swamp now I dont think so. Honey island is only a few miles wide. If one would be in the area I would think it to be a traveler. If they lived there I do beleive during hunting season with all the yahoos that are out there, more sightings would be reported. If you hunt this area you know how many hunters are in the swamp. I do believe in Bf but just dont think he lives in Honey Island Swamp. That is probably a good thing as he would probably get shot by one of the many crazy hunters that come from New Orleans ready to shoot anything. Any word about BF in Tensas? Hunted there a few times. Nice area. Lots of swamp and wood in the whole area up there.
I'll keep my eye open this hunting season, like always, for BF.