Texas Bigfoot Research Conservancy

Two teenagers have visual encounter while hunting rabbits.

Report#: 01020031
Occurred February 1998: (Submitted August 1, 2002)

Witness Observation

My son and his friend were out spotlighting rabbits. They saw the animal running, or loping, with long gray hair, and long arms. They were about 100 yards away from the animal, and picked it up in the spotlight only briefly. They said it was moving fast, and crossed a barbed wire fence without making a sound.

Physical Evidence

Too scared to look. The boys were both 16 years old at the time of the sighting.

Sounds

None, they were too far away.

Additional Observations

Not to my knowledge.

Time and Conditions

2:00 AM - Wooded pasture land, some native, some coastal bermuda, used for cattle.

Investigator's Comments

Craig Woolheater

This report was published as a result of an investigation into an incident that allegedly occurred in Anderson County, Texas in February of 1998.

The witness’s parents saw the special report with Jonna Fitzgerald on NBC56 Tyler-Longview about the TBRC and reported bigfoot sightings in East Texas. They contacted us after they viewed the program and put us into direct contact with their son, one of the actual witnesses.

I interviewed the son on the evening of 7 August 2002. He explained to me that sometime after Valentine's Day in February of 1998, he and some friends were out at his family's cabin, which is about 16 miles outside of Palestine. He remembered that it was early morning, around 2:00 a.m. There was a quarter moon and a light fog on the ground to about two feet; above the fog, visibility was “crystal clear.”

The witness recalled that he and another friend were sitting in his friend's truck hunting rabbits. They were slowly fanning the spotlight around looking for the next rabbit to shoot when just on the outside edge of the light they could see something that was about eight feet tall running ahead of the light. It also appeared to have grayish brown hair with long arms. The witness distinctly remembered the shape of the torso and head but he could not provide any detailed descriptive information. He remembered the subject running 20 - 30 yards ahead of them and crossing a five-strand barbed wire fence without hesitation or a sound. No scent or sounds were detected during the incident, which lasted about three to five seconds. The witnesses continued to sit in the truck in stunned silence for a few moments then left the area as quickly as they could.

Additional reports in this county

Occurred 11/7/1978 in Anderson County, TX

Submitted on January 31, 2005

Deer hunter reports close encounter at night outside of tent. Read more...

Occurred Summer 1983 in Anderson County, TX

Submitted on August 27, 2003

Kids have unusual visual encounter while riding bikes through Piney Woods. Read more...

Occurred 10/1998 in Anderson County, TX

Submitted on November 19, 2001

Man chased to his truck by dark figure. Read more...

Class 1a: A sasquatch/bigfoot specimen has been collected (alive or dead).
Class 1b: A report investigation results in a sasquatch observation or the documentation of clear tracks or other forms of physical evidence by an investigator.
Class 1c: An investigator determines that a visual encounter with a sasquatch/bigfoot by a very reliable observer is a distinct possibility, tangible corroborating evidence is documented, and all other sources can be reasonably ruled out.
Class 1d: A visual encounter with a sasquatch/bigfoot is a distinct possibility involving two or more reliable observers, and all other sources can be reasonably ruled out.
Class 2: Investigator determines that a visual encounter with a sasquatch/bigfoot is a distinct possibility, the observer is exceptionally trustworthy, professionally trained, and experienced in the outdoors and/or is accustomed to looking for and recording details (e.g., biologist, anthropologist/archaeologist, ranger, trapper/tracker/seasoned hunter, bird watcher, game warden, naturalist, law enforcement), and other explanations can be reasonably excluded.
Class 3a: Investigator determines that a visual encounter with a sasquatch/bigfoot is a distinct possibility, the observer is credible, and all other sources can be reasonably ruled out.
Class 3b: Unidentifiable vocalizations were reported and there is accompanying tangible evidence to possibly indicate the presence of a sasquatch/bigfoot, the observer is very reliable, and other sources can be reasonably ruled out.
Class 3c: No visual encounter occurred, but physical evidence was found to indicate the presence of a sasquatch/bigfoot (tracks, hair, scat, etc.), the observer is very reliable, and other sources can be reasonably ruled out.