Play Me Something Cool!

Written by Randy "Rebelistic" Savig, MABRC Missouri State Director

You know I wish I had a dime for every time I’ve heard this sentiment.  When it comes to bigfoot the public and wanna believers seem to only want the great videos, pictures and audio.  They want the Oohhs and aahhs so they can say they now know bigfoot is real.  Details don’t matter as long as it is cool!   So here goes a couple of questions, does this help research or get us closer to proving the existence of an undocumented species?   Is it only the cool stuff that matters?

With humans being so used to be entertained by all the available media out there it is hard to suffice the appetite for being entertained.  Sadly, real research seldom sees the cool stuff when they go out.  There are the hours in the woods.  There are the hours of review.  There are hours of planning.  There are the hours of try to put patterns together to make the time in the woods more productive.  On and on it goes.  Another sad fact is that what is cool to researchers ain’t always what is cool to the public.  You bet we love to hear and record the screams etc., see the possible structures or manipulations, or get lucky enough to catch something on video or thermal.  

Yes, we also appreciate the pat on the back when we do catch something from the public and other researchers.  Unfortunately for a lot of folks the Oohhs and Aahhs become addictive.  I think that is why there is such a hoaxing problem that we see every day on Facebook and Youtube.   It would seem like once you put something out there that is cool and possibly bigfoot related the public’s appetite just gets bigger.  At times it seems that they get demanding and what more from you.  Any researcher worth their salt know that we spend a whole lot more time without the so-called cool stuff happening.  We still do the planning, head to the woods, review what we have recorded, try and figure out things.  But we don’t get the Oohhs and Aahhs from that.  I’ve seen so many get into the trap of letting the notoriety get in the way and try and force things to happen.  If that fails, try and hype up the stuff that does happen just because they feel an obligation to fulfill the public’s appetite for so something cool.  I’ve seen scary bigfoot pictures added to audio, scary background music during talks about experiences, all in hopes of feeding the public’s hunger.  Sorry folks, that doesn’t do much but muddy the waters and takes away from the research.  All those scary pictures and music won’t help find the evidence needed to prove the existence of bigfoot.  

Now don’t get me wrong, I realize that folks are interested in bigfoot.  When putting presentation on for conferences and radio shows we need to share the cool stuff we get as that is what folks want when attending them.  Just don’t let the cool stuff be all that you are after.  The data is in the details.  The little stuff.  I can’t even begin to state the importance of how sharing the little stuff around campfires has made new ideas and filled in the blank to help others in researching their areas.  

So, one final thought.  As a researcher is your priority to the insatiable hunger of the public or to adding to the possible evidence to further push the existence for an undocumented species, we call bigfoot. 

Get your fat ass out in the woods!!

Wow, I seem to hear that a lot from people who get offended when I disagree with their "evidence" as not being the ground breaking "bigfoot evidence" that they want people to follow in line with.

Remember the burden of proof post from the other day, if not, you should go read it.  I'm not ever going to be a sheeple and believe people have great insight into Bigfoot, or the best evidence ever that makes the PGF look amateurish.  Back in May of this year, I found this post on Facebook.

The person who posted it, basically was saying that he knew the female Bigfoot made owl calls, and that he was feeding them in his barn.   And I need to point out, "HE SURE ISN'T IN THE WOODS" himself at this point.

So I did a screen capture and posted this in Bigfoot Hoaxers Exposed 2.0 along with my comments below.

 Yeah, maybe I should have not been so strong with my comments, but, that is how I am, I call it like I see it these days.

Well he asked to join the Bigfoot Hoaxers Exposed 2.0 Facebook group, and I allowed him in, I don't deny anyone from the group unless they have been found to hoax, then I deny them entry.  Now the Bigfoot Hoaxers Exposed 2.0 is a good group to go find out who has been caught hoaxing, who is suspected of hoaxing and even those who have just been outright the worst type of researchers in the Bigfoot community.  The reasons are always posted via screen captures to back up what is said about someone hoaxing or just being a bad person in the community.

Now so far I haven't mentioned the name of the person, and I won't, but here is his response to what was posted about his comments, despite the fact that everyone else had posted maps showing Barred owls and their range easily covered most of the United States.

Wow!!  Just flat come out swinging, with no intention of trying to prove me wrong, just the same old "GET YOU FAT WORTHLESS ASS OUT THERE" comment that seems to pop up when you question anyone's evidence or claims.  

And then he wants to claim I am making up stories or hoaxing a flipped off a 4 wheeler.  Or even the fact that I don't know anything about the subject of Bigfoot.

Just a really big "Awesome WOW!!!" is the first thing out of my mouth.

Let's look at some facts.

I have been doing research since 1991, in which I made my first trip down to Fouke, Arkansas to look for the Boggy Creek Monster.  Before that, I was interested in Bigfoot due to an incident that occurred in Adair County, Oklahoma back in 1977 just a few miles from my house.

In my lifetime, I have spent more than 4,000 times in the woods, in which I have had 26 encounters with what I suspected was Bigfoot, or actually seen the creature itself.  Not to mention multiple rock throwings, vocalizations, and other incidents to add to that count.  That figures out to .006 percent of the time I have been in the woods, I have had an encounter.

In 2016 alone, I have accumulated 42 days in the woods, looking for Bigfoot.  And there is still two months left of the year, and I expect to be out there another 14 days before the end of the year.

Now when I say in the woods, I don't mean camping in a state park or campground, I mean 10 miles back into the wilderness that only a 4 wheeler can get me to.  Why a 4 wheeler?  Because about 4 years ago, I was in an accident that broke my ankle, so hiking into the woods at night is hard for me to do without breaking my ankle all over again.  

I have several fellow MABRC researchers who have gone back into the wilderness with me, and we all knew, that if anything happened, it would be morning before we would come back out.  There was not much way of finding our way back in the dark, even with a GPS.

What did we do when we got there?  Simple, sometimes we would build a small fire to stay warm with, but most times, we took our folding camp chairs, set them up, and sat out all night in the dark waiting for something to happen.

Usually the only protection we had was bear spray.

I do have a lot of friends in the Bigfoot Community that has to do their research in state or federal parks because that is the only areas that they have around them to research in, and I understand that.  But I have a deep affinity to having to camp in a park or campground.  I want to go into the deeper areas where there is hardly any human activity to disrupt the research.

Here is what some of the areas look like that I go into.  Some of these pics were this last spring before the leaves came out.

The locations shown above are roughly 6 miles into a valley where we conduct a lot of research at, and to hike in at night is nearly impossible for even someone without a broken ankle to hike into.  That is why we use 4 wheelers to carry people and equipment into the valley.  And at night, sometimes we have to get to a person quickly and they sometimes are several miles away.

BUT NO!!!  I don't get into the woods according to this person, who thinks I am a keyboard commando, yet by his own admission, he doesn't go out into the woods, he stays apparently on his farm and only goes as far as his barn.

Now for the 4 wheeler incident.  Again, WOW!!!, this dude wants to talk about this, so let's talk about it.  An incident occurred last year during the 2015 Oklahoma Bigfoot Symposium at the valley that the MABRC researchers camp at during the Symposium.  A team comprising members from MABRC, BFRO, TBRG and a few independent researchers were going to set up a listening post at the entrance to the valley.  One thing we have found is that if you run into the valley on 4 wheelers and then come back out, the local Bigfoot seem to follow you out, as if to make sure you actually leave the valley.

To accomplish this, I mounted up on a 4 wheeler and was going to ride up about a third of the way up the valley and then turn around and come back out.  Now I admit, I broke the MABRC rules myself by going alone, but I didn't think much of it since I have been in the valley numerous times by myself.

Fate would have it differently, as I roared up through the valley, I turned a corner in the trail and lo and behold I seen two brownish-black Bigfoot carrying a young calf (For the city folks, a calf isn't just a little bity thing, a calf to country folks is any young cow, and they can get up to 600 pounds.  The one I saw being carried was in the 500 to 600 pound range) down the trail.  

Suddenly, the back of my 4 wheeler goes up in the air and nearly throws me over the handlebars.  As I look over my shoulder, I see a massive shoulder of black hair.  The 4 wheeler dropped, and to this day, I do not know how I turned around on that trail, but I did and roared out of the valley.  All I could think was that the Bigfoot that picked me up was running up behind me, so I was giving the 4 wheeler everything I had.  I crossed the creek coming out of the valley and ran directly into the listening post.  

From what I was told by those guys, I was nearly in shock, my 4 wheeler was smoking from being so hot.  After I regained my composure and told them what had happened, they looked at the back of my 4 wheeler, and this is what was found.

The (1) and (2) dots show where the fingerprints and handprint where something grabbed the back bumper of the 4 wheeler.

(1) shows how the bumper was bent outwards, (2) shows the bottom part bent outward and 3 shows the dried handprint the next day.

(1) to (2) shows the weld on the bumper was broken from the pressure of the bumper being picked up.

The next day at the Symposium, the caretaker for the cattle herd near the valley entrance came in and talked with me, when I told him what had happened, he told me that he had a calf missing that morning.  I didn't have a video camera at the time, but I have been trying to contact him so I can get him on video restating that.  

Now, all this is, is a story until I can get corroborating evidence, that being the caretaker saying he indeed was missing a calf that morning before he came to the Symposium.  Granted, this really doesn't prove that this encounter happened.  Nothing short of having a camera mounted to my head and recording the entire time I am in the valley will help to back that up.  Guess what though, I now will not go anywhere out of camp unless I have a gopro strapped to my head.  Lesson learned.

Finally, the fact that I don't know anything about Bigfoot.  First off, there is no one that is an expert on Bigfoot, and the only thing we know for sure, is that they live in the woods.  Second, I believe that I have more knowledge than most new people coming into the Bigfoot Community.  I've been doing this since 1991, have accumulated lots of evidence, and continue going in the woods.  I've worked long and hard on the MABRC Forums to post the combined information of everything Bigfoot-related on it, in one easy to research location.  I do know that the University of Oklahoma back in 2008 credited me with setting the model for Bigfoot Research on the Internet.  And finally, not to take anything away from Henry Mays, who has been given the title of the Bigfoot Encyclopedia, who can remember dates way better than I ever could.   I have shown that I have the memory of an elephant when it comes to information related to research and hoaxes, as well as the Community history.

So when someone who researches from their barn has the nerve to criticize me for not "Getting my worthless fat ass out there" it really just makes me wonder why anyone thinks I'm not out there.  Just because I don't post garbage "evidence" on Facebook like they do, doesn't mean I have evidence to present.  I just prefer to do it on the MABRC Forums.

I have said it numerous times, and will say it numerous times more, if you expect anyone to take you serious in Bigfoot research, you better do your homework.  Learn the history of the Bigfoot Community, learn who is who, because the person you blast may be someone who has been at this a hell of a lot longer than you have, have tried all the ideas you are claiming is your idea you just came up with, and know a lot more than you ever will know.

Basically, don't have your head up your ass.

And that is one of the reasons that this blog exists, to help people not only learn tactics, procedures and policies to use in the field of research, but also to teach them who the right people are to listen to.

There is also those who claim I bash all Bigfooters, and talk highly of myself.  I don't try to talk down to anyone until they show a case of the dumbass, then I have to say something.  I seldom talk highly of myself until someone attacks my background in the Bigfoot Community.  Just because they don't want to take the time to learn the history, it's not my fault that they sound so stupid or crazy when they make wild claims without anything to back them up.  I have also worked with tons of evidence sent to me, and used a lot of software to analyze this evidence.  Because of that, I was able to write books showing others how to do this.  So I think I do have some knowledge these days.

Enough ranting for this blog, but for those who will no doubt be upset about this blog post, all I can say, is do your homework, stop expecting everyone else to do it for you.

Latent Print Collection

Courtesy of the MABRC

The intention behind the guidance given by the MABRC on latent print collection is not to train researchers to be latent print examiners, nor to be crime scene investigators. Rather the guidance provided here is to give researchers a means of using makeshift equipment and proper protocols in the effort to successfully collect latent prints of suspected Sasquatch should the opportunity present itself.

Researchers should be aware that it is difficult at best, to substitute for professional fingerprint equipment, however the technique and guidance provided here can successfully lift latent prints under good conditions.

The list of supplies that a researcher will need a very simple and inexpensive.

-- A small, empty squeeze bottle (similar to an eye drop bottle, preferably with a screw off top)
-- A bright flashlight 
-- A two inch wide roll of clear tape
-- A black or dark colored plastic sheet (transparency sheets work perfectly)
-- A fine powder such as talc or cake flour
-- A camera lens brush with fine hair at one end, and a bulb at the other end (similar to a mini turkey boaster)
Researchers should be aware that the probability of encountering a Sasquatch print that is suitable to be lifted is minimal, and more than likely will either be encountered on a window, vehicle surface, or other nonporous surfaces. Prints will most readily be apparent after the surface has been coated in a fine dust, such as a vehicle that was used in field research.

Researchers should follow the following protocol in order to minimize contaminating the print, and aid in the successful recovery of the observed sample.

1. Photograph the print or hand mark of the surface prior to conducting any attempt at recovery. The use of a photographic scale or other measuring device is vital in the attempt to document the print.

2. If the print is difficult to see, attempt to use the flashlight at different angles in order to highlight the print for photographing. Dependent upon the camera the researcher uses, a flash may or may not be needed.

3. Take several photos from various angles and distances.

4. Annotate in your research journal what the photo is of. (The researcher may need to describe what is in the photo for later recollection.)

5. The researcher should now put on a pair of powder free latex or nitrile gloves in order to prevent contaminating the print, or worse yet, leaving one of his/her own, and lifting it as the specimen.

6. The small squeeze bottle should be filled approximately one-third to one-half full of the fine powder. It is imperative that the bottle be capped after every use in order to prevent moisture from absorbing into the powder and making it difficult to use. (A cheap trick to prevent moisture from sticking the powder together is to add a little dry, white rice to bottle)

7. Firmly shake the bottle a few times in order create a dust within the bottle, then remove the cap and softly squeeze the bottle away from the suspected print.

8. Pay attention to how much dust comes out of the bottle when squeezed, and at what direction the air is carrying the dust. Seldom is the air completely still, so pay attention to the direction it flows, and how fast it settles.

9. Once you have determined the air flow direction, the rate of descent of the dust, and how much dust exits the bottle with each squeeze, move to the opposite side of the print from which the air is flowing.

10. Softly squeeze the bottle and attempt to drift the dust onto the print. The key here is to lightly dust the print with powder, but not so much that the surface is obscured. (This is something that you can practice with at home before going to the field)

(If more powder is needed to dust the print, ensure that you continue to shake the bottle before squeezing it)

11. Using the lens brush, softly squeeze the bulb in order to blow air out the brush, and blow away any excess powder. Ensure that the brush DOES NOT touch the print at this point.

12. Use the flashlight from various angles to check and see if a print is visible under the powder.

13. If a print is apparent, but not clear, delicately use just the tip of the brush and softly brush it across the print to further remove any excess powder. Extreme care should be used on this step as it is very easy to destroy a print using the brush.

14. Using the roll of tape, start the tape and double back the end in order to make it easier to remove later.

15. Tack the beginning edge of the tape approximately two inches past the print, and with one hand controlling the tape roll, use the other hand to secure the tape to the surface.

16. Using one finger, slide it down the non-adhesive side of the tape, securing it to the surface and the roll of tape is maintained taut using the other hand. It is vital that the tape not have any kink, wrinkles, or air bubbles under it as it is secured to the surface.

17. Once the tape has been secured successfully two inches past the print, cut the tape and secure the end to the surface.

18. Using the transparency, or other similar dark material, cut a piece that is approximately one inch larger on all sides than the print that is attempting to be lifted.

19. If using a transparency that has been printed on, ensure to use the opposite side which will be shiny and non-porous. It should be noted that paper does not serve as a good medium when using this method.

20. Place the “card” near the tape and use the fingers of one hand to secure the flat end of the tape to the surface. 
Using the other hand, grasp the doubled tag of tape and slowly begin to peel it from the surface. Ensure that the tape is peeled back smoothly, firmly, and evenly as it is very easy to ruin a print at this point.

21. Once the tape has been removed and is secured using both hands, tack the flat end of the tape back to the surface and to one end of the “card” simultaneously.


22. Using one hand to control the tape, use one finger of the other hand to firmly slide against the non-adhesive side of the tape working your way up the card. Ensure that the tape is secured to the card smoothly, evenly and firmly. Kinks, wrinkles, or air bubbles can destroy the print.

23. Once the tape is completely secured to the “card”, remove it from the surface and trim any excess tape from all four sides.

24. Using a label, place it on the back of the card and label it with the appropriate tag number. Once this is done, fill out the specimen collection form and label it with the tag number from the print, and add this tag number to your research journal entry.

The researcher should be aware that usually a print is not able to be lifted again, once it has been compromised by the tape. Additionally, if there is more than one print lifted from the same location, each print will receive a different tag number, however only one specimen collection form is needed, but do include all the tag numbers from all samples on that form. All tag numbers should also be entered into your journal entry.

Diversions

Courtesy of the MABRC

When researching Bigfoot, the Researcher should be aware of the capability that is employed of diversion.

In the illustration shown above, a hiker spots a juvenile Bigfoot along the trail. As she stands there watching it, momma Bigfoot begins shaking trees and branches to divert the hikers attention and allow the juvenile to scamper away from view. 

If this does not work, the Bigfoot may resort to vocalizations, rock throwing and even appearing in the open itself to make the distraction for the juvenile to escape.

This has been witnessed on numerous occasions by MABRC Researchers in the field.

One such incident happened on an expedition in Oklahoma where two researchers were watching a Bigfoot crawl across a field towards the base camp. When they used their infrared lighting on their night scopes to paint the Bigfoot, it was for all intents and purposes trapped in that spot by them.

From behind them on the opposite side of camp, vocalizations began occurring that began as one animal, slurred into a second animal call, and then proceeded to imitate at least 5 different animals to create a diversion for the Bigfoot that was laying in the field.

When the researchers finally looked away, the Bigfoot in the field was able to belly crawl away from the base camp and into the woods surrounding the field.

Bigfoot will create diversions in order to help each other escape situations such as this.

Basic Field Pack/Evidence Collection Pack

Courtesy of the MABRC

The basic idea is to have a kit that allows you to collect evidence in the field made up of items that are purchased locally at a minimal cost.Ideal evidence kit is one that takes up a minimal amount of space, yet contains sufficient items to handle the majority of applications. To that end the list being proposed for this purpose is one that can be contained in a fanny pack. 

Note: heavy and bulky items can be stored in a vehicle or at base camp (if a pack in situation) until needed. Such as casting powder etc. . The exception would be if you are working in a team and the items can be split up among team members. 

Compact Camera: This is in addition to any other camera (s) you carry with you. A small digital with zoom capability are common place now. It should be placed in the evidence kit and used only to document any potential evidence you find. This does not mean that you do not take pictures with other cameras of evidence. All cameras have traits and by using more then one details that would normally be missed could be picked up. It allows for one camera to be dedicated to potential evidence. 

Small Flash Light: Besides allowing you to illuminate shadowed areas, a flash light held at different angles allows you to pick out details you might normally miss. This is especially important when examining tracks. Allowing you to concentrate photographing the area or taking extra care if you cast it.

Measure: Tape measures can be very useful, but only if properly used. In purchasing a tape measure it should be wide with large numbers. It is also a good idea to use a dulling agent on the tape measure prior to using. This allows for a better chance of reading any measurements on photos taken. A track caliper is a much better choice then a tape measure for measuring a track. (It can be easily constructed from inexpensive items.)

Sterilizing Agent: A small bottle or vial to be used to clean and disinfect any item that you will use repeatedly, such as tweezers.

Tweezers: Sterilize and dry after purchasing, then enclose in a safe environment such as a vial or zip lock. Use to pick up small objects. Do not handle with out clean non-powdered gloves. After use, sterilize and replace in container.

Q-Tips: Should be stored in zip lock bags or in individual containers. 

Gloves: Nitrile are the recommended, however any non-powdered "rubber" (using rubber as a generic term for lab type gloves not specifically rubber gloves) glove can be used. Do not handle potential evidence that you collect with your bare hands.

Knife: A disposable surgical knife or sterilized utility blade to be used in a utility knife. At times a sharp sterile knife is needed to remove a piece of potential evidence with out damaging it or to collect evidence. The blades can be sterilized and carried in a container separate from the knife. When needed, remove a blade (while wearing gloves) place it in the knife and use it. When done the blade may be resterilized or disposed of.

Containers: Envelopes from small coin size up to large manila should be in the kit, as well as a couple vials and some zip lock bags.

Note Book and Pencil: It should be small enough to fit in the kit. A small 4X6 ring binder with lined pages in front and unlined card stock in the back. When potential evidence if found, note it and the details in the lined section, then in the back draw a diagram of the item on the card stock. Including a rough site map, prominent features of the area and evidence.

Permanent Marker: 

3X5 Cards: These are used for documentation in photos, pertinent information such as time, date, location, name etc are written on the card and included in the photos by placing next to the potential evidence prior to photographing.

Spot Markers: These are extremely valuable when doing field research. A piece of bright cloth with a marble or rock tied in it. (If you take a photo of something, drop one of these directly between your feet to mark the spot you took the picture from. ) It allows for marking exact locations in an easy to find way. They may also be tied to near by brush or trees for photo referencing, trail marking etc.

Magnifying Glass: This one is pretty self explanatory, for examining items. Most sewing stores or departments also carry tweezers with a magnifying glass attached. While the magnifying glass may be a bit small and cause some eye strain if used to examine large surfaces, it is great for assisting in collection of small items and worth the space as a second tweezers and magnifying glass.

Tape Recorder: A mini or micro tape recorder dedicated to specific potential evidence. Other items recommended to have with that may be stored at base camp or in vehicle until needed.

* Lightweight tool box* Ruler or photo scale (these items should be in your carry kit if they fit)* Large surveyors tape for mapping* Pen/pencil* Evidence custody log* Tape recorder for recording impressions during investigation* Casting material* Reinforcing media I.e. plastic mesh bamboo kabob skewers* Two bottles of water* Gallon or larger bags to mix in* Border material* Multi tool* Evidence collection procedures manual* Large plastic sealable container* Duct tape* Ball of String or Twine* Garden hand spade* Paint Brush (at least 2 of differing sizes)* Trowel* Flagging Stakes 

Fixed Blade Knife: A heavy belt knife of good steel. Of all the items you can take with you, this is perhaps the most important. 

Basic First Aid Kit: Odds are you will not have to do any thing major, but you will have to treat, nicks, cuts, scrapes, and a varieties of other minor problems. So, a small basic kit should take care of them. (Note: Rule of thumb, the longer the trip/pack in or the larger the group the larger the first aid kit.)

Walking Stick: It does assist in walking in hilly or rough terrain. Can be used as a track stick (for measuring stride so you can find where the next track should be if you loss it). I have a tripod mount in the top of mine so I can mount a spotting scope or camera and use the walking stick like a mono pod. You can also take black tape and wrap around the stick at 1 foot intervals, this will enable the stick to be used as a method of measurement.

Don't Forgets: Extra batteries for every piece of equipment that takes batteries, Rolls of film of various speeds, extra memory cards for digital cameras, tapes that fit any tape recorders you have with, tapes or CD's for any video cameras you have with. Meds (even day tripping take your meds with, a hundred things can happen that may strand you in the woods for a day or two), Extra pair of glasses and at least 3 extra pair of socks. (trust me on the socks they have dozens of uses not the least of which is keeping your feet dry which can make the difference between a fantastic trip and a miserable one.)

Hydration Source: Water or a means of obtaining it.

Listening Post Suggested Protocols

Courtesy of the MABRC

Listening Post Protocols

During standard research trips to the field and on expeditions, the MABRC conducts listening posts in active areas. These protocols are placed here as guidelines to aid other researchers in setting up their own listening posts in the field.

* Always use 2 or more researchers for a listening post, this is for safety and credibility purposes. You can take along fold up chairs to sit on, or find a good place to sit down at.

* Always position the researchers so that they face each other, this goes along with the campfire tactic, as each researcher watches behind the one directly across from them. This allows the Bigfoot a level of comfort to approach the listening post, as they believe they are not being watched directly by the researchers.

* Always record the entire time you are in the listening post with a digital voice recorder, this will record all information, vocalizations and noises that are related to the listening post and what has occurred there.

* If using parabolic listening devices, position them in a way to not be viewed as a threat to any Bigfoot that may approach. Do this by hanging it on your chair or setting it on the ground by your feet, or even set it on a log. 

* Upon hearing a noise, do not jump up and begin shining your light into the surrounding area, wait until you are sure that the noise being made is close enough that you can successfully light up whatever is making it.

* Talking between the listening post participants can be conducted when there is a lack of ambient noise that would give the Bigfoot sufficient noise to cover their movements. This would usually occur in the colder months of the year.

* During an expedition, a briefing should be conducted of all members going out to conduct listening posts, this briefing should include, but no limited to: location of all listening posts, researchers in each listening post, radio channels, rally points should something happen, function of each member, and who should be in charge of the team in the listening post.

* If a researcher in a listening post becomes lost in the dark, they should stay where they are, do not wander around, as this will make it easier for search parties to find them in the dark.

* If able, the digital voice recorder should be left recording on the hike back to the base camp, that way, if anything occurs on the walk back, it will be recorded for review.

* Upon returning to the base camp area (expeditions) an immediate debriefing should be concluded in the event something occurs, this should also be done with the presence of a recording device for reference later.

* In some instances, if the location could be easily relocated the next day in the daylight, leaving a hidden digital voice recorder behind at the listening post location could obtain activity of Bigfoot, which would possibly come into that spot to check it out after the researchers leave.

* In some cases, parking in vehicles can be done at remote locations, in this case, recorders should still be used to record what is happening around the area. If you are trying to use the abandoned vehicle approach, avoid any activity that would produce unnecessary movement that would rock the vehicle and let the Bigfoot know you are in it. This could be from shifting in a seat, to stretching or even reaching into the back seat for something.

How to use research equipment

Courtesy of the MABRC

While the amounts of equipment that can be used for Bigfoot research expands on a continual basis, this will attempt to cover the basics of researching with equipment and how to properly get the most from it. We will cover only the basic equipment to get you started with.

Research on a budget.

While we do not have stock in Wal-Mart, you should always consider it the best place to obtain research equipment for lower prices. You don’t have to be rich to conduct Bigfoot research, but always realize that the cheaper the equipment, the poorer quality results you will obtain.

Always buy according to what you expect to do or accomplish in the field.

Research the information on different brands and models before you buy them, and always play it smart. Stick with good solid companies with proven track records. 

E-bay and Craigslist are also places to buy equipment, but remember, you will always take the chance of encountering someone who is not honorable on these places and can be taken for your money.

Night Vision Scopes

Wal-Mart and other online retailers usually have low-cost Russian-made night scopes at a reasonable price. If you have the money to spend, Generation 3 Night Scopes are available. For the novice Bigfoot researcher, a Generation 1 Night Scope should be sufficient to start with, and although it’s debated that Bigfoot can see the Infrared spectrum, Gen 1 scopes use IR LEDs to increase their viewing range, but can also use moonlight and other light sources to multiply it’s range.

Generation 2 and 3 Night Scopes do not have to rely on IR LEDs to view the area with.

Trailcams

While trailcams are great for photographing deer, it’s the general consensus of many Bigfoot Researchers in the MABRC that the Bigfoot will avoid these units in the field. More work is needed to figure out the best possible way to hide them.

Driveroperator has put his cameras high up above the eye-level of Bigfoot of 16 foot and higher with no comparable results. Biggjimm has been putting his in ice chests and leaving them in the area, hoping a Bigfoot will come up to the ice chest and open it up, thereby getting a picture. Other researchers will leave them in camp, sitting in chairs, camouflaged with clothes and other gear, in order to see if a Bigfoot may come into camp while the researchers are gone or asleep.

The MABRC has begun using the trailcams to basically funnel Bigfoot into areas where they can be observed better by putting trailcams up around 3 sides of a camp, leaving the fourth side open, hopefully, the Bigfoot will avoid the sides with the cameras and come in on the side that doesn’t.

Bionic Ears

There are several types of parabolics used by the MABRC Senior Researchers. It is in their estimation, the best piece of equipment outside of a thermal camera to use in the field. Price ranges vary, and you get what you pay for.

The first is called the Orbitor, and resembles a pistol, and includes a built-in 10 second recorder and a scope with it. Darkwing uses these extensively, and if you go to the section on Parabolic Listening Devices in this manual, you will see some of the methods that he uses with them.

The second is called the “Bionic Ear” brand, and is a higher priced device that reaches further than the Orbitor type. It comes with an extra plug-in for a voice recorder to be attached separately from the headphone plug in.