Texas Bigfoot Research Conservancy

Youths have encounter while hunting in the Big Thicket.

Report#: 01030026
Occurred Spring 1962: (Submitted November 9, 2003)

Witness Observation

About 40 years ago, my cousin and I saw a bigfoot. At the time, we were only 10 or 12 years old. We were staying at my grandmother’s house for the weekend and were out hunting hogs, naturally, without my grandmother’s permission. We only had #20 fiberglass bows and the odds weren't in our favor.

As morning turned into afternoon, we wandered down toward the creek still dreaming of bagging a hog. When we got to the creek, at what I would now guess to be around 75 yards, we saw what appeared to be a big brown and black wild boar. At least that's what we thought it was. It appeared to be getting a drink from the creek. This animal was about 3' high at the shoulder and on all fours. We stalked within about 40 or 50 yards trying to get within bow range. At that point, we stopped behind a tree to think about what to do next. While we were whispering and trying to make a final decision, this so called wild boar stood up on its hind legs, turned and looked straight at us. Naturally we froze and stared back at it. It turned into a staring contest because our legs wouldn't work. It seemed like it had us hypnotized or something. This episode seemed to last forever but was probably less than a minute. Finally, it turned and started walking away and looking at us over its shoulder. It appeared to have no fear of us whatsoever. As it got to a safer distance, we started walking and finally running toward the house.

When we got to the house, my grandmother asked us what was wrong but we were afraid to tell her for fear she would never let us leave the house again, even though we had no intention of ever returning to that particular area again anyway. For a long time, we had a feeling that we had done something wrong by seeing this thing. It's a feeling that's hard to describe but one I'll never forget.

There is no chance that this could have been imagination because we had never even heard of a bigfoot at that time. What we saw was no man in a suit because it was much too large and muscular to be a man. Also, it walked like no man could. I've spent most of my life in and around the thicket and this was no animal native to the area. Or, at least it was one that I've never seen before or since.

I don't know if I could describe this thing as an animal. It almost appeared as much human as it did animal. The thing that we saw was well in excess of 7' and at least half as wide at the shoulders as it was tall. The hair was brown and black and probably 4" long and covered the entire body. The arms hung almost to the knees and the stride was extremely long. Even though the stride was long, it walked so graceful that it seemed to almost glide along. It was a stride that no man could duplicate.

Physical Evidence

Didn't check.

Sounds

No sounds were heard.

Additional Observations

I don't remember the wind direction but we noticed no smell.

Time and Conditions

Late afternoon, sunny, warm. Wooded, scattered houses and farms.

Investigator's Comments

Charles DeVore

This investigation was conducted as a result of an incident that allegedly occurred in Hardin County, Texas, in 1962.

I contacted and interviewed both witnesses and found them both very willing to relate their experience of this sighting. Both their statements were the same for the incident and their memories were quite vivid as it was obviously a unique experience for both of them.

While they were quite young at the time, they had much experience in the woods and spent a good part of their lives hunting and generally entertaining themselves in the woods. This particular reported incident was along Village Creek about halfway between the towns of Silsbee and Kountze, Texas in what is referred to as the Big Thicket.

At that time of their lives, the boys had never heard of bigfoot. Being an animal that they had never seen or heard of before, it was a rather surreal event. When the subject turned to look back at the boys as it walked off, it turned by twisting at the waist and looked over its shoulder at them and continued walking as it looked back at them. It did not make any threatening gestures or vocalizations.

The Big Thicket has a long history of reported sightings of upright, hairy, ape-like animals with incredible howls and screams. Individually, the animals have been referred to as the “wild man,” the “raggedy man,” or “ol’ mossyback.” However, it is the Southeast Texas version of what is generally referred to as bigfoot.

Additional reports in this county

Occurred 11/24/2004 in Hardin County, TX

Submitted on February 9, 2009

Hunter witnesses possible intimidation display near Turkey Creek Unit of Big Thicket National Preserve. Read more...

Occurred 6/2006 in Hardin County, TX

Submitted on August 10, 2008

Near Big Thicket National Preserve, motorist has road encounter. Read more...

Occurred 11/15/2004 in Hardin County, TX

Submitted on June 13, 2007

Squirrel hunter reports morning encounter in Big Thicket National Preserve. Read more...

Occurred 10/1987 in Hardin County, TX

Submitted on March 29, 2002

People on Bragg Road saw something run in front their car. 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.