Texas Bigfoot Research Conservancy

Man has encounter while duck hunting on Lake Cherokee.

Report#: 01020037
Occurred December 1, 1980: (Submitted August 6, 2002)

Witness Observation

I was duck hunting in waders at Lake Cherokee. After hunting that day, I was exiting the water onto the shore and looked to my right about 200 - 300 feet. I had that creepy feeling that I was not alone. I thought to myself that it was just a big tree stump, but it moved. I saw a large creature that was fairly tall and dark. It looked at me. It appeared to be hairy. I could clearly make out that it was not another hunter. It had hair on it - kinda long and dark. We looked at each other for what must have been 20 minutes. I think it had been looking at me before I noticed it. I could not make out any facial features.

Finally, what I saw turned and started walking away from me. I stood there watching it walk along the banks of the lake. After it was pretty far away I headed back to my truck. At the back of Lake Cherokee where I was hunting there were no houses or structures back then (in 1980). I haven't been there in over 15 years. I didn't hunt at that location for quite some time. When I did, I took someone else with me. It really spooked me. I have never gone on record with this for fear of being labeled a nut.

Physical Evidence

I didn't go after it. I decided at that point if it would leave me alone I'd do the same. It was a frightening experience then.

Sounds

I didn't hear any sounds. At other times I have heard sounds, but I just charge unknown sounds in the woods as typical sounds maybe made by normal animals.

Additional Observations

It was tall and dark. It appeared to be hairy. There were no facial features that I could see. It appeared to maybe walk with a slight limp. It didn't walk fast, just a little slow.

Time and Conditions

Between 4:00 and 4:30 pm - It was also very cold. It was December or January. Mostly cloudy. Wooded and swampy.

Investigator's Comments

Craig Woolheater

This investigation was conducted as a result of an incident that allegedly occurred in Rusk County, Texas along the banks of Lake Cherokee in January of 1980.

This witness contacted us after reading the special report on Bigfoot in East Texas on the NBC56 website.

I interviewed the witness on 8 August 2002. The witness recalled that he was out hunting in January of 1980 on Cherokee Lake. It was a mostly cloudy day around 4:30 in the afternoon. There was very little vegetation due to the time of the year.

As the witness was heading out of the area he had a strange feeling of being watched and noticed what he initially thought was an odd looking stump near the water’s edge about 250 - 300 feet away (inside of 100 yards).

After he had been looking at it for a few seconds, the subject moved. He now realized that it was no stump but was some sort of animal with which he was totally unfamiliar. The witness described the subject as dark in color with an estimated height of about 7 feet, however due to distance and what looked like a stooped posture, the witness made it clear that an exact height was impossible to determine. The witness could not discern any facial features.

The subject ambled off to the tree line, occasionally turning around to look at the witness. There were no sounds or odors present at the time of the incident. The witness estimated that the total time of observation was about 20 minutes.

As soon as the subject disappeared into the tree line the witness moved out of the area and back to his truck. He did not go back to look for tracks or any other evidence. He felt that there was some sort of intelligence even though he could not see the eyes.

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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.