1 00:00:08,880 --> 00:00:13,439 Speaker 1: Twenty years ago, a deer hunted southeast of Fort Worth, Texas, 2 00:00:13,560 --> 00:00:17,719 outside the town of Palestine. We hunted on over ten 3 00:00:17,800 --> 00:00:23,519 thousand acres of woodland forests leased by Texas Parks and Wildlife. 4 00:00:23,719 --> 00:00:26,000 On one of my hunting trips with my friends, we 5 00:00:26,320 --> 00:00:28,559 ate and geared up for a day of bow hunting. 6 00:00:29,359 --> 00:00:31,600 It was four point thirty am and I was going 7 00:00:31,679 --> 00:00:35,399 to put up my tree climbing stand. Along the trail 8 00:00:35,520 --> 00:00:41,000 were old growth oaks and pine trees and thickets. Halfway 9 00:00:41,039 --> 00:00:43,640 to my hunting location. In the thicket next to me, 10 00:00:44,079 --> 00:00:46,840 I heard a loud noise and it sounded like someone 11 00:00:47,000 --> 00:00:51,000 or something heavy lifting itself off the ground. The only 12 00:00:51,159 --> 00:00:53,799 light I had was when I had strapped on my head. 13 00:00:54,520 --> 00:00:56,880 I turned to the left and looked into the thicket, 14 00:00:57,000 --> 00:00:59,640 but it was too dense to see through, and at 15 00:00:59,640 --> 00:01:02,039 first I thought it was a wild hog, because a 16 00:01:02,039 --> 00:01:05,280 couple of mornings earlier, I ran into a bunch of those. 17 00:01:06,519 --> 00:01:09,079 I side stepped three or four steps to my right 18 00:01:09,599 --> 00:01:12,920 with heavier footsteps. The creature did the same and made 19 00:01:12,920 --> 00:01:17,000 a snorting noise in my direction. I'm six foot three 20 00:01:17,040 --> 00:01:19,920 inches tall and I weighed two hundred and twelve pounds. 21 00:01:20,480 --> 00:01:24,560 Whatever made that noise was bigger than me. Every hair 22 00:01:24,680 --> 00:01:28,120 on my body stood up. MY compound bow and five 23 00:01:28,359 --> 00:01:31,879 arrows were the only weapons I had. I pulled one 24 00:01:31,879 --> 00:01:34,560 of my arrows from the quiver, brought the arrow to 25 00:01:34,599 --> 00:01:37,079 the string, and had the bow in the firing position 26 00:01:37,879 --> 00:01:39,799 if I had to, I was going to fight to 27 00:01:39,840 --> 00:01:43,599 the death. I side stepped again to my left three 28 00:01:43,719 --> 00:01:46,920 or four steps, and the creature did the same. I 29 00:01:46,959 --> 00:01:49,079 looked into the thicket in front of me, and I 30 00:01:49,120 --> 00:01:52,120 told whatever was there that if it did not hurt me, 31 00:01:52,560 --> 00:01:55,640 I wouldn't hurt it. And I slowly turned to my 32 00:01:55,760 --> 00:01:58,840 right in the direction of the trail, and I started 33 00:01:58,879 --> 00:02:03,000 walking away. I looked over my shoulder and I saw 34 00:02:03,040 --> 00:02:06,239 nothing behind me, and I did not hear any footsteps. 35 00:02:06,799 --> 00:02:09,319 I finally made it to my tree, and I climbed 36 00:02:09,400 --> 00:02:11,319 up to the stand and I hunted the rest of 37 00:02:11,360 --> 00:02:16,000 the day without any other events after that incident, I 38 00:02:16,039 --> 00:02:19,840 only went hunting when I had some daylight. The next year, 39 00:02:20,120 --> 00:02:24,039 Texas Park's and Wildlife gave up the hunting lease. We 40 00:02:24,080 --> 00:02:26,520 heard that it was too expensive and was turned into 41 00:02:26,560 --> 00:02:30,520 a private hunting club. I had never heard of bigfoot 42 00:02:30,599 --> 00:02:33,800 until last year. When I came across your channel. It 43 00:02:33,800 --> 00:02:36,800 makes me wonder what if this had been a bigfoot. 44 00:02:37,840 --> 00:02:40,960 I really enjoy your channel more than any other. Thank 45 00:02:41,000 --> 00:02:43,960 you very much the way your voice aw He goes 46 00:02:44,000 --> 00:02:46,840 on say nice things about me. I appreciate that his 47 00:02:46,960 --> 00:02:50,520 name is Jim. Jim. I appreciated Jim heard something in 48 00:02:50,560 --> 00:02:54,280 the woods. No way it was a pig, No way 49 00:02:54,319 --> 00:02:56,520 it was any other kind of animal, because it was 50 00:02:56,639 --> 00:03:01,159 just too dang big, and it was snorting match his steps, 51 00:03:01,280 --> 00:03:04,479 and I bet he did have a bigfoot encounter. Thanks 52 00:03:04,520 --> 00:03:09,199 for the story, Jim. Okay. Short intro. Welcome to the podcast. 53 00:03:09,240 --> 00:03:12,639 My name's Cam Buckner. This is the Dixie Cryptid Podcast. 54 00:03:12,960 --> 00:03:17,280 You can also find the podcast out on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, 55 00:03:17,639 --> 00:03:21,400 wherever you get your podcast by doing a search for 56 00:03:21,919 --> 00:03:25,919 what if It's True podcast. In this podcast, I've got 57 00:03:25,960 --> 00:03:29,879 one dog man's story, one bigfoot story, and a real 58 00:03:30,080 --> 00:03:32,879 treat at the end, So you're gonna have to wait 59 00:03:32,919 --> 00:03:35,199 for that. But the last twenty minutes or so of 60 00:03:35,240 --> 00:03:38,360 this podcast are fantastic. You'll just have to get there 61 00:03:38,400 --> 00:03:41,319 to see what it is. All right, here we go. 62 00:03:45,520 --> 00:03:48,080 All right, we got a dog man's story. The writer 63 00:03:48,599 --> 00:03:53,919 titles the story juvenile, delinquent dog man. He claims it's true. 64 00:03:54,280 --> 00:03:58,280 He wants to be anonymous. Long ago, my parents owned 65 00:03:58,280 --> 00:04:01,800 a well maintained single wise trailer that included all the 66 00:04:01,840 --> 00:04:05,879 amenities already connected. The property was an hour and a 67 00:04:05,960 --> 00:04:08,759 half away from our home and was located at three 68 00:04:08,800 --> 00:04:12,800 thousand feet. The area was good for hiking, hunting, and 69 00:04:12,879 --> 00:04:18,000 getting away from city life. Two basque shepherds worked at 70 00:04:18,000 --> 00:04:21,480 a nearby ranch and pastured their flocks of sheep near 71 00:04:21,519 --> 00:04:24,959 the dirt path leading to our property, and on weekends, 72 00:04:25,040 --> 00:04:28,720 gliders rode the mountain thermals and sometimes the sky was 73 00:04:28,759 --> 00:04:32,759 filled with colorful hot air balloons. It was a beautiful 74 00:04:32,800 --> 00:04:37,600 little bubble with little interference from the outside world. The 75 00:04:37,639 --> 00:04:43,920 local neighbors added no end of color. A retired railroad worker, oh, man, 76 00:04:43,959 --> 00:04:48,120 I'm having trouble saying that a retired railroad worker on 77 00:04:48,199 --> 00:04:51,480 a wager had dragged two pullman cars up that narrow 78 00:04:51,519 --> 00:04:54,720 mountain dirt road, and his dwelling looked like a railroad 79 00:04:54,800 --> 00:04:59,120 station with cars on tracks beside the station. One of 80 00:04:59,160 --> 00:05:01,720 the local firemen had designed his house to look like 81 00:05:01,759 --> 00:05:04,839 a fire station, and two older women lived in a 82 00:05:04,879 --> 00:05:09,360 small two story Victorian style house, perfectly painted blue with 83 00:05:09,519 --> 00:05:14,439 white trim. The residents on the main road had wired 84 00:05:14,519 --> 00:05:18,839 phone service and were replete with off grid power sources 85 00:05:18,839 --> 00:05:23,360 of various designs. Long before off grid power became popular. 86 00:05:24,240 --> 00:05:27,519 There was plenty of space separating the neighbors, so the 87 00:05:27,600 --> 00:05:31,680 evenings were quiet, with the occasional friendly visit from the sheriff, 88 00:05:31,879 --> 00:05:36,279 whom I got to know well. One late autumn weekend, 89 00:05:36,399 --> 00:05:39,560 with perfect weather, my wife and I, still a young 90 00:05:39,600 --> 00:05:43,800 married couple with a highly energetic toddler daughter, decided to 91 00:05:43,800 --> 00:05:46,160 go to the mountains before the snow set in or 92 00:05:46,199 --> 00:05:50,800 the rain made the dirt roads undrivable. We arrived prepared 93 00:05:50,879 --> 00:05:53,639 for a relaxing, short weekend, and we spent much of 94 00:05:53,680 --> 00:05:57,000 the first day enjoying ourselves and keeping a close eye 95 00:05:57,040 --> 00:06:01,879 on our daughter. At sundown, the mountain temperature dropped quickly 96 00:06:02,199 --> 00:06:06,120 and we went inside for dinner. After our daughter finally 97 00:06:06,160 --> 00:06:08,319 went to sleep, my wife and I watched the full 98 00:06:08,360 --> 00:06:13,160 moon rise through the windows. At this elevation, it looked huge, 99 00:06:13,800 --> 00:06:17,199 and as expected, we heard the coyote soon start singing. 100 00:06:18,079 --> 00:06:22,319 It quickly escalated into chaos and then went abruptly quiet. 101 00:06:23,480 --> 00:06:25,839 All the clamor got me, thinking that I'd be more 102 00:06:25,879 --> 00:06:28,800 comfortable if I were armed, but I only had bird 103 00:06:28,839 --> 00:06:32,439 shot in my shotgun. I headed out to the van 104 00:06:32,519 --> 00:06:35,920 to grab some double buckshot, and when I reached the 105 00:06:35,959 --> 00:06:38,959 bottom of the stairs, the moonlight showed me half a 106 00:06:39,000 --> 00:06:43,800 dozen codes staring at me from twenty feet away. I 107 00:06:43,879 --> 00:06:46,920 backed up against the trailer to keep them from encircling me, 108 00:06:47,079 --> 00:06:50,240 while thinking about how to use four shots I had left. 109 00:06:51,319 --> 00:06:54,040 We stared at each other for what seemed like forever, 110 00:06:54,560 --> 00:06:59,519 until the strangest thing happened. The Alpha sank to his 111 00:06:59,639 --> 00:07:03,720 belly and started a doggy crawl toward me. The other 112 00:07:03,800 --> 00:07:07,360 five pac members followed in turn, and when the Alpha 113 00:07:07,480 --> 00:07:11,439 reached me, he rolled onto his back, demanding a tummy rub. 114 00:07:12,600 --> 00:07:16,480 One after another, they all did the same. I wondered 115 00:07:16,519 --> 00:07:20,399 if these were somebody's exotic pets or just full moon crazy. 116 00:07:21,240 --> 00:07:24,120 I kept my distance, though, and the coyoties crawled away, 117 00:07:24,439 --> 00:07:28,040 and they got up and disappeared into the woodline. I 118 00:07:28,120 --> 00:07:31,519 ran to the van and grabbed my bandolero and slug barrel, 119 00:07:31,720 --> 00:07:35,040 and I sprinted back to the trailer. I swapped out 120 00:07:35,079 --> 00:07:39,120 the barrels and loaded the magazine in record time. My wife, 121 00:07:39,319 --> 00:07:43,000 who had watched the dog's strange behavior from inside the trailer, 122 00:07:43,079 --> 00:07:46,240 hugged me. That was the craziest thing I've ever seen, 123 00:07:46,439 --> 00:07:49,920 she said, and I shrug, trying to project a false 124 00:07:49,959 --> 00:07:53,079 sense of calm. They had to be in somebody's pets, 125 00:07:53,120 --> 00:07:57,879 I said. After calming down, the quiet night air was 126 00:07:57,920 --> 00:08:02,319 suddenly riven with ear split howls and growls that shook 127 00:08:02,360 --> 00:08:06,519 the trailer like an earthquake. It wasn't from the coyotes, 128 00:08:06,560 --> 00:08:10,439 though the howls were far louder and deeper than any 129 00:08:10,480 --> 00:08:15,079 animal I'd ever heard. The vocals were followed immediately by 130 00:08:15,079 --> 00:08:18,560 two shotgun blasts, the crack of two rifle shots, and 131 00:08:18,600 --> 00:08:23,120 then total silence. Within a half an hour, blue lights 132 00:08:23,120 --> 00:08:25,959 were flashing at the bottom of the road, with radio 133 00:08:26,120 --> 00:08:29,959 traffic breaking the silence. It was all too much for us, 134 00:08:29,959 --> 00:08:33,200 and we decided to head home early. My wife and 135 00:08:33,240 --> 00:08:36,039 I grabbed our sleeping daughter and got in our vehicle 136 00:08:36,360 --> 00:08:39,799 and cautiously navigated the road, cut into the side of 137 00:08:39,840 --> 00:08:44,039 the mountain, and finally reached the main road. Two squad 138 00:08:44,080 --> 00:08:47,039 cars lit up the intersection, and both of the shepherds 139 00:08:47,080 --> 00:08:51,519 were on the scene. One of them spoke excitedly in Bosque, 140 00:08:51,759 --> 00:08:55,879 while the other one translated. It seems the Bosque speaking 141 00:08:56,000 --> 00:08:59,759 shepherd was returning from a pizza run, and upon return 142 00:09:00,080 --> 00:09:03,559 he saw two wolves heading for the sheep. He yelled 143 00:09:03,559 --> 00:09:05,879 at them, and one of the wolves lunged at him 144 00:09:05,919 --> 00:09:09,320 in his truck. There were scratches on the driver's side 145 00:09:09,360 --> 00:09:12,360 door to prove it. The wolf tried to eat the 146 00:09:12,399 --> 00:09:15,039 double barrel and lost the back of its head to 147 00:09:15,039 --> 00:09:20,320 two shotgun blasts. The translating shepherd had opened fire on 148 00:09:20,440 --> 00:09:23,600 the other wolf with his thirty thirty. He claimed he 149 00:09:23,679 --> 00:09:26,679 hit the other wolf twice, but it still carried off 150 00:09:26,720 --> 00:09:31,960 a small sheep. Feeling braver with extra people, I got 151 00:09:32,000 --> 00:09:35,039 out of the van and I was still clutching my shotgun. 152 00:09:35,759 --> 00:09:38,360 The sheriff, who had become a friend of mine, nodded 153 00:09:38,399 --> 00:09:42,279 for me to follow him. He lifted a plastic tarp 154 00:09:42,360 --> 00:09:45,919 and he showed me the shepherd's double barrel inserted into 155 00:09:45,960 --> 00:09:50,720 the longest canine snout I had ever seen. After a moment, 156 00:09:50,879 --> 00:09:55,360 he motioned toward the front paw. I was speechless. It 157 00:09:55,399 --> 00:09:58,120 looked more like a hand with claws than a paw 158 00:09:58,159 --> 00:10:02,360 of a wolf. I have no doubt those claws left 159 00:10:02,399 --> 00:10:05,279 their mark on the truck door. Now, I never thought 160 00:10:05,320 --> 00:10:08,440 that wolves ran in this area, much less got that big. 161 00:10:09,960 --> 00:10:12,840 The sheriff dropped the tarp over the animal and wished 162 00:10:12,919 --> 00:10:15,799 us to safe journey home. And I got back in 163 00:10:15,840 --> 00:10:17,679 the van and looked at my wife, and I said 164 00:10:18,200 --> 00:10:22,919 wolves were after the sheep. A week later, I received 165 00:10:22,919 --> 00:10:26,799 a letter with no return address. Inside was a local 166 00:10:26,840 --> 00:10:30,519 mountain newspaper clipping, and it stated that there had been 167 00:10:30,600 --> 00:10:34,919 a wounded bear causing problems in the area. The county 168 00:10:34,960 --> 00:10:38,080 had hired three professional hunters who tracked the bear for 169 00:10:38,120 --> 00:10:41,240 three days before ending its reign of terror, and the 170 00:10:41,320 --> 00:10:45,720 carcass was immediately disposed of. A handwritten note at the 171 00:10:45,720 --> 00:10:48,720 bottom stated that the boasque had removed the sheep from 172 00:10:48,759 --> 00:10:51,480 the pasture and would no longer go near the ranch. 173 00:10:53,159 --> 00:10:56,639 That following spring, my brother and his fiance wanted to 174 00:10:56,679 --> 00:10:58,679 go with my wife and me up to the mountains 175 00:10:58,720 --> 00:11:01,919 for a day trip to see the snow. I agreed 176 00:11:02,120 --> 00:11:05,879 under the hard boundary of leaving well before sundown, and 177 00:11:05,960 --> 00:11:09,879 that we both would be heavily armed while our daughters 178 00:11:09,879 --> 00:11:12,559 spent the day with Grandma. The four of us arrived 179 00:11:12,600 --> 00:11:16,360 at the single wide. The remaining snow was still plentiful 180 00:11:16,399 --> 00:11:18,960 and untouched, and as soon as we were out of 181 00:11:19,000 --> 00:11:23,039 the vehicle, I noticed some movement at the tree line. 182 00:11:23,200 --> 00:11:27,159 Two female coyotes wandered out and found a bare sunny 183 00:11:27,159 --> 00:11:30,279 spot to lie down. One of them looked over at 184 00:11:30,320 --> 00:11:33,440 us and gave us a low bark, and ten attention 185 00:11:33,639 --> 00:11:38,840 seeking puppies quickly attacked us. The wives were elated, and 186 00:11:38,879 --> 00:11:41,120 one of the coyote mothers looked at me as if 187 00:11:41,159 --> 00:11:44,399 to say, they're your problem. Now I'm taking a nap. 188 00:11:45,519 --> 00:11:48,480 Twenty minutes later, she barked again, and all the puppies 189 00:11:48,559 --> 00:11:51,799 ran back to their mothers and disappeared into the tree line. 190 00:11:52,519 --> 00:11:55,600 It was yet another bizarre experience I added to my 191 00:11:55,720 --> 00:11:59,320 mental list of things that had happened there. It was 192 00:11:59,360 --> 00:12:02,960 a beautiful and strange property, tucked away from the world, 193 00:12:03,320 --> 00:12:08,720 with a population of eccentric neighbors, both human and k nine. 194 00:12:08,799 --> 00:12:12,279 That summer, a fire destroyed the trailer and the two 195 00:12:12,360 --> 00:12:16,399 hundred acres. The cause was listed as arson and no 196 00:12:16,559 --> 00:12:20,679 suspects were found. For the next seven years, the entire 197 00:12:20,759 --> 00:12:25,840 ranch erupted into fierce wildfires every summer. We only went 198 00:12:25,919 --> 00:12:29,240 back once to view the damage. My mother finally sold 199 00:12:29,279 --> 00:12:32,600 the ravage land to a land consolidator for a pedtance. 200 00:12:33,960 --> 00:12:36,759 Often think back to that night that those wolves attacked 201 00:12:36,759 --> 00:12:40,720 the shepherds after listening to your channel, I believe two 202 00:12:40,799 --> 00:12:43,840 juvenile dog men had come out to try their hunting 203 00:12:43,919 --> 00:12:48,399 skills and paid dearly for their inexperience. Oh man, that 204 00:12:48,519 --> 00:12:52,759 was a cool story. He actually saw a dead I 205 00:12:52,759 --> 00:12:56,120 guess it was dog. It was a dog man. Some 206 00:12:56,159 --> 00:12:59,440 guy stuck his shotgun. One of the shepherds stuck a 207 00:12:59,480 --> 00:13:02,879 shotgun right in the snout and kill the dog man. 208 00:13:02,919 --> 00:13:06,000 And they had it laying there under a tarp. Then 209 00:13:06,679 --> 00:13:09,559 I don't know. Then they give this fake story about 210 00:13:09,559 --> 00:13:13,240 a bear being there and the shepherd's leaving. I don't know. Man, 211 00:13:13,279 --> 00:13:15,919 you got to wonder how these things happen. It's really 212 00:13:16,440 --> 00:13:19,399 really kind of interesting. It's a really good story. It's 213 00:13:19,440 --> 00:13:22,840 a real intriguing and creepy story. But I loved it. 214 00:13:23,159 --> 00:13:28,320 I sure appreciate the writer for sending it. Okay, this 215 00:13:28,480 --> 00:13:32,159 last story is going to be the first chapter from 216 00:13:32,200 --> 00:13:34,759 a novel. Well, let me tell you how I came 217 00:13:34,799 --> 00:13:39,000 across this. This guy sent an email to me. Is 218 00:13:39,000 --> 00:13:41,840 about a year ago and y'all. I have over two 219 00:13:41,919 --> 00:13:44,600 thousand emails in my inbox, and I just kind of 220 00:13:44,840 --> 00:13:47,919 I don't always open emails the minute I get them, 221 00:13:48,039 --> 00:13:50,759 and sometimes I'll go for two weeks and not even 222 00:13:50,840 --> 00:13:53,559 look at my email account. And then when I go 223 00:13:53,639 --> 00:13:56,039 looking for stories to put in the podcast, I just 224 00:13:56,120 --> 00:14:00,440 kind of roam around my inbox. It's like you just 225 00:14:00,440 --> 00:14:03,759 couldn't believe how full it is. But I came across 226 00:14:03,840 --> 00:14:08,759 this one today. And the author's name is Chris Kitchens. 227 00:14:08,879 --> 00:14:11,799 Chris was in the Marine Corps and when he got 228 00:14:11,840 --> 00:14:14,480 out uh uh. He says, he's on the road a lot. 229 00:14:14,519 --> 00:14:17,320 But he wrote a book and he's interested in cryptids 230 00:14:17,320 --> 00:14:21,159 and bigfoot and other things, other paranormal things. And he 231 00:14:21,200 --> 00:14:24,639 wrote a book called Elusive Piece. I'm gonna read you 232 00:14:24,679 --> 00:14:27,679 the first chapter of it because it's really good. You 233 00:14:27,679 --> 00:14:30,159 guys would like to read these type of stories. I 234 00:14:30,200 --> 00:14:33,960 think you'd love this book. Again. It's called Elusive Piece. 235 00:14:34,559 --> 00:14:39,000 The author's name is Chris Kitchens. The link to the 236 00:14:39,039 --> 00:14:42,759 to the uh to the book on Amazon will be 237 00:14:42,759 --> 00:14:45,919 in the description. And I hope you buy it and 238 00:14:45,919 --> 00:14:49,080 support him and read it because it's uh in this 239 00:14:49,159 --> 00:14:52,000 first chapter would keep me hooked and make me want 240 00:14:52,039 --> 00:14:55,320 to read the whole book. So let's uh, let's read 241 00:14:55,360 --> 00:14:57,240 the first chapter. I think you're going to like it. 242 00:14:58,519 --> 00:15:01,759 After retiring from the Marine cor Josh landed the job 243 00:15:01,799 --> 00:15:05,519 of a lifetime with the Arkansas Department of Natural Resources 244 00:15:05,720 --> 00:15:09,960 as a nuisance animal control officer. While the job was 245 00:15:10,000 --> 00:15:13,080 not a full time position, it did come with several perks, 246 00:15:13,440 --> 00:15:15,440 the main one being that he had time to work 247 00:15:15,480 --> 00:15:19,799 on their ranch in Cove, Arkansas. Josh met his wife, 248 00:15:19,840 --> 00:15:24,960 Emily while on his third deployment to Afghanistan. Recently promoted 249 00:15:25,000 --> 00:15:28,480 to lieutenant colonel and nearing her twenty year mark, she 250 00:15:28,639 --> 00:15:30,679 was able to get a billet at the Little Rock 251 00:15:30,759 --> 00:15:33,879 Air Force Base to finish her career, which worked out 252 00:15:33,960 --> 00:15:40,159 great for their plans. Although Josh truthfully believed Emily about 253 00:15:40,200 --> 00:15:43,679 the sisquatch encounter that she had while growing up outside 254 00:15:43,720 --> 00:15:47,519 of Bayview, Idaho, he often teased her over the sasquatch 255 00:15:47,679 --> 00:15:50,799 movies and shows that she made him watch and the 256 00:15:50,840 --> 00:15:53,759 podcast that she liked to listen to about the subject. 257 00:15:54,759 --> 00:15:58,679 While Josh thought bigfoot was a possibility, he never dreamt 258 00:15:58,679 --> 00:16:00,799 that he would come face to face with one in 259 00:16:00,840 --> 00:16:05,759 his lifetime. After all, the only actual proof that existed 260 00:16:05,960 --> 00:16:09,480 was the video from northern California shot back in nineteen 261 00:16:09,600 --> 00:16:14,960 sixty seven, Josh was dispatched to Waite in Arkansas, where 262 00:16:15,080 --> 00:16:19,519 ranchers were reporting livestock attacks from an unknown predator, and 263 00:16:19,600 --> 00:16:23,399 their efforts to thwart the attacks, along with identifying and 264 00:16:23,480 --> 00:16:28,759 terminating the predator, were going nowhere. Little evidence was left 265 00:16:28,840 --> 00:16:31,799 after each attack, and with the ground being rocky and 266 00:16:31,919 --> 00:16:37,080 hard track, impressions were all but impossible to find. The 267 00:16:37,120 --> 00:16:40,279 animal had hit several chicken houses in the area, leaving 268 00:16:40,320 --> 00:16:44,039 only feathers and the heads of the chickens. Although cattle 269 00:16:44,080 --> 00:16:46,919 were present, none of them had been attacked at this point. 270 00:16:47,879 --> 00:16:52,000 Occasionally some feed went missing, and if dogs were around, 271 00:16:52,039 --> 00:16:55,039 they were either scared of this predator or it was 272 00:16:55,080 --> 00:16:59,399 stealthy enough to avoid the dogs. This led Josh to 273 00:16:59,440 --> 00:17:02,320 believe that a large cat was in the area, so 274 00:17:02,440 --> 00:17:07,599 he opted for his integrally suppressed three hundred AAC Blackout 275 00:17:07,839 --> 00:17:12,000 with low variable powered optic with four magazines of his 276 00:17:12,119 --> 00:17:15,920 handloaded one hundred and eighty grain soft point AMO, along 277 00:17:16,000 --> 00:17:19,640 with his night Hawk Custom nineteen eleven and four sixty 278 00:17:19,799 --> 00:17:25,319 rollin as a secondary firearm. As per his personal standard 279 00:17:25,480 --> 00:17:29,039 operating procedures. His custom made four and a half inch 280 00:17:29,160 --> 00:17:32,400 fixed blade field knife was a staple on the back 281 00:17:32,440 --> 00:17:35,160 of his battle belt he wore while in the field. 282 00:17:37,119 --> 00:17:39,960 After meeting with the rancher from the most recent attack 283 00:17:40,039 --> 00:17:43,440 and going over the area, Josh parked his truck where 284 00:17:43,440 --> 00:17:45,519 the rancher said it would be out of their way, 285 00:17:45,839 --> 00:17:49,440 and he proceeded to gear up for the hunt. Carrying 286 00:17:49,519 --> 00:17:52,240 enough water and food for a week in his pack, 287 00:17:52,680 --> 00:17:55,640 Josh headed toward the nearest tree line with the confidence 288 00:17:55,720 --> 00:17:59,079 his tracking skills would lead him not only to the 289 00:17:59,119 --> 00:18:02,440 animal that he was looking for, but also identify what 290 00:18:02,559 --> 00:18:06,960 he was looking for well before he encountered it. Large 291 00:18:06,960 --> 00:18:10,480 cats are very stealthy, blending in extremely well in their 292 00:18:10,599 --> 00:18:14,400 environment and having an uncanny ability to stalk their prey 293 00:18:14,480 --> 00:18:18,759 while being stalked themselves. And while cougars and panthers and 294 00:18:18,839 --> 00:18:22,000 mountain lions or whatever the locals referred to them as 295 00:18:22,079 --> 00:18:25,319 were not common in the Arkansas, the game and fish 296 00:18:25,359 --> 00:18:29,799 had recently recognized them as being in the state. Josh 297 00:18:29,880 --> 00:18:32,119 had seen a few back in his youth, and like 298 00:18:32,240 --> 00:18:36,519 many others, knew they had been here for years. The 299 00:18:36,599 --> 00:18:40,000 ranch bordered the Ozark National Forest, and though it was 300 00:18:40,039 --> 00:18:43,880 still spring, much of Arkansas had experienced a mild winter, 301 00:18:44,279 --> 00:18:47,920 which meant many trees bloomed early. The forest in the 302 00:18:48,000 --> 00:18:52,279 area consisted primarily of hardwoods, and being in the mountains, 303 00:18:52,519 --> 00:18:55,559 the underbrush wasn't as thick as in the lower areas 304 00:18:55,599 --> 00:18:59,000 by the streams and rivers or the Delta region of 305 00:18:59,039 --> 00:19:03,319 eastern Arkansas. All Josh gowered the ground for any sign 306 00:19:03,400 --> 00:19:08,000 of the animal as he began to search. Checking his 307 00:19:08,079 --> 00:19:11,279 position on the GPS, Josh knew he had a couple 308 00:19:11,279 --> 00:19:15,160 of hours before sunset. He wanted to make camp prior 309 00:19:15,240 --> 00:19:18,440 to nightfall, and began scouting for a defensive spot to 310 00:19:18,480 --> 00:19:23,279 make camp. Like discipline was crucial with the probability of 311 00:19:23,279 --> 00:19:26,480 a cougar in the area. He would be relying on 312 00:19:26,519 --> 00:19:29,839 his thermal imager and night vision clip to see what 313 00:19:29,920 --> 00:19:32,319 he may not be able to see with his naked eyes. 314 00:19:33,559 --> 00:19:37,079 Josh had found a small pocket against a rock outcropping 315 00:19:37,160 --> 00:19:40,279 that would be perfect. There was only one way in 316 00:19:40,599 --> 00:19:43,880 should whatever may be lurking in the night decide to attack. 317 00:19:45,039 --> 00:19:48,160 He set about running some fishing lines with bells attached 318 00:19:48,200 --> 00:19:51,519 around the perimeter to act as an early warning system, 319 00:19:52,000 --> 00:19:56,200 and After ranging several reference points, he started making his supper. 320 00:19:57,599 --> 00:19:59,920 He still had self service, so he checked in with 321 00:20:00,000 --> 00:20:02,480 with Emily to let her know that he was okay, 322 00:20:02,799 --> 00:20:06,279 and he sent her the coordinates of his location. And 323 00:20:06,319 --> 00:20:09,759 as Josh relaxed by the small fire he'd built, he 324 00:20:09,880 --> 00:20:14,279 was checking his GPS information. He was a little shy 325 00:20:14,319 --> 00:20:16,960 of two miles away from where he'd crossed the fence, 326 00:20:17,279 --> 00:20:20,079 yet had covered six miles as he worked the area 327 00:20:20,160 --> 00:20:24,039 looking for tracks or clues. He finally picked up the 328 00:20:24,079 --> 00:20:27,160 trail he was currently on after finding some feathers and 329 00:20:27,240 --> 00:20:31,079 chicken parts. While this wasn't much to go on, he 330 00:20:31,160 --> 00:20:34,480 felt confident he was on the right track. As the 331 00:20:34,519 --> 00:20:37,880 sun settled behind the mountains, he snuffed out a fire. 332 00:20:38,599 --> 00:20:40,839 He did not need the flames to interfere with his 333 00:20:40,960 --> 00:20:45,920 night vision. Closing his eyes, Josh left the darkness of 334 00:20:45,960 --> 00:20:48,960 the woods enveloped him. This was when he felt like 335 00:20:49,039 --> 00:20:51,960 he was most alive and the forest and away from 336 00:20:52,000 --> 00:20:55,799 all the noise. Even small towns emit a lot of 337 00:20:55,839 --> 00:21:00,319 noise pollution and focusing his hearing, the forest was coming 338 00:21:00,359 --> 00:21:04,599 alive with the night critters that inhabited it alone. Coyote 339 00:21:04,680 --> 00:21:08,039 yelped in the distance as the crickets chirped their serenade. 340 00:21:08,640 --> 00:21:11,599 With the exception of whatever was killing the chickens and 341 00:21:11,720 --> 00:21:17,599 making the larger livestock animals nervous, all was well. After 342 00:21:17,599 --> 00:21:20,960 scoping the area with the thermal for a few hours, 343 00:21:21,039 --> 00:21:24,240 Josh settled in to get some sleep, and he was 344 00:21:24,240 --> 00:21:28,200 startled away by how quiet the forest had become. He 345 00:21:28,319 --> 00:21:30,680 checked his watch and it was four twenty five in 346 00:21:30,720 --> 00:21:34,920 the morning. Josh strained his ears, listening for the slightest sound. 347 00:21:35,799 --> 00:21:38,200 It was as if a switch had been flipped or 348 00:21:38,240 --> 00:21:42,440 putting on sound suppression ear muffs. There wasn't any noise 349 00:21:42,599 --> 00:21:46,640 at all. Moving as slow and quietly as he could, 350 00:21:46,759 --> 00:21:50,119 Josh powered the thermal on and began scanning the area, 351 00:21:50,480 --> 00:21:54,440 and he saw nothing. He eased around to a sitting position, 352 00:21:54,559 --> 00:21:57,160 with his back leaning against the rocks he had set 353 00:21:57,279 --> 00:22:00,599 up in. He placed his rifle where he could shoulder 354 00:22:00,640 --> 00:22:04,359 it quickly, and he waited. It would be another hour 355 00:22:04,440 --> 00:22:07,839 before the sun would begin rising, and the moonlight was waning. 356 00:22:09,599 --> 00:22:12,160 Josh was reaching for his water when he heard it, 357 00:22:12,599 --> 00:22:18,000 a feminine voice that said help me. The voice sounded strange, 358 00:22:18,079 --> 00:22:23,559 almost mechanical. He sat there in silence, listening intently, he 359 00:22:23,599 --> 00:22:26,680 couldn't have heard a voice, as there wasn't any direction 360 00:22:26,799 --> 00:22:30,279 from which it came. That's it, Josh thought to himself. 361 00:22:30,640 --> 00:22:34,480 I've officially gone off my rocker. He had no longer 362 00:22:34,519 --> 00:22:38,079 finished that thought when he heard the voice again. Please hurry, 363 00:22:38,599 --> 00:22:42,039 was what sounded in his head. The voice was followed 364 00:22:42,079 --> 00:22:45,480 by what sounded like a loud thump against a tree. 365 00:22:45,720 --> 00:22:48,440 Slinging his pack over his shoulders, he now had a 366 00:22:48,480 --> 00:22:53,559 direction to go toward. Walking cautiously with his rifle at 367 00:22:53,599 --> 00:22:56,640 the low ready, Josh made his way toward where he 368 00:22:56,720 --> 00:22:59,799 believed the noise had come from. Don't be alarmed when 369 00:22:59,839 --> 00:23:03,240 you crest the knoll, he will not hurt you. Another 370 00:23:03,359 --> 00:23:07,920 voice said. This was a different voice. Again, it was 371 00:23:08,000 --> 00:23:11,960 mechanical in nature, but it was just different. Trying to 372 00:23:12,000 --> 00:23:16,240 control his breathing, Josh was experiencing a severe adrenaline dump 373 00:23:16,279 --> 00:23:18,960 to his system, and the senses seemed to be in 374 00:23:19,039 --> 00:23:22,920 hyperdrive and the air seemed to be bristling with electricity. 375 00:23:24,440 --> 00:23:27,319 The nole was now less than one hundred meters away, 376 00:23:27,759 --> 00:23:31,599 and he was closing quickly, scanning the woods for any 377 00:23:31,640 --> 00:23:34,359 sign of the movement, and sweeping his weapon to check 378 00:23:34,440 --> 00:23:38,240 behind him every fifth step. Josh was moving quickly as 379 00:23:38,279 --> 00:23:43,599 a sense of urgency seemed to overcome him. Nothing could 380 00:23:43,599 --> 00:23:46,079 have prepared him for what he was about to see. 381 00:23:46,160 --> 00:23:50,119 As he topped the knoll, Josh almost lost his balance 382 00:23:50,160 --> 00:23:53,200 as he came to a sudden stop, lunging backward to 383 00:23:53,279 --> 00:23:56,559 help offset his forward momentum at what was laying there 384 00:23:56,599 --> 00:24:02,680 before him. It was a very pregnant female sasquatch. Her 385 00:24:02,720 --> 00:24:06,039 hair was auburn in color, and what skin was exposed 386 00:24:06,079 --> 00:24:09,559 around her faced, hands, and breasts, and feet was leathery 387 00:24:09,720 --> 00:24:13,799 tan colored. Her hazel colored eyes were large and soft, 388 00:24:14,160 --> 00:24:17,000 and as he looked in them, he could see pain, fear, 389 00:24:17,279 --> 00:24:23,480 and intelligence. Something is wrong, she said. Lowering his weapon, 390 00:24:23,720 --> 00:24:27,640 Josh wondered, how's this possible? He said it out loud. 391 00:24:28,440 --> 00:24:33,039 Please help quickly, was her reply. Josh knew she hadn't 392 00:24:33,079 --> 00:24:36,200 said the words verbally, yet the words were crystal clear 393 00:24:36,240 --> 00:24:39,519 in his head, and he set his weapon down, dropped 394 00:24:39,559 --> 00:24:43,640 his pack, and began digging his medical kit out. Scanning 395 00:24:43,680 --> 00:24:46,559 the area, he noticed another one peeking out from behind 396 00:24:46,559 --> 00:24:50,519 a tree. This one was larger, and Josh figured that 397 00:24:50,559 --> 00:24:53,279 one to be a male. I won't hurt you, the 398 00:24:53,359 --> 00:24:57,839 voice tried to reassure him. Please help her, the voice pleaded. 399 00:24:59,119 --> 00:25:01,400 He put on a pair of nitral gloves and with 400 00:25:01,519 --> 00:25:05,160 his medkit in hand, Josh stated sympathetically as he could, 401 00:25:05,599 --> 00:25:07,839 I'm going to do all I can to help. Let's 402 00:25:07,839 --> 00:25:12,599 see what's going on. Kneeling down, he began his examination. 403 00:25:13,759 --> 00:25:17,720 The anatomy, though somewhat disproportionate, appeared to be roughly the 404 00:25:17,759 --> 00:25:21,440 same as a human. Josh had never delivered a baby 405 00:25:21,519 --> 00:25:24,960 human before, yet he had helped many mama cows and 406 00:25:25,000 --> 00:25:29,720 a few horses deliver their babies. Hopefully those experiences would 407 00:25:29,720 --> 00:25:34,680 help him here. Putting his headlamp on, Josh apologized to her, 408 00:25:34,759 --> 00:25:37,119 saying he was sorry for having to put his hand 409 00:25:37,200 --> 00:25:41,200 inside of her. She seemed to understand as she leaned 410 00:25:41,240 --> 00:25:45,200 her head back, clutching the ground with her hands. Being 411 00:25:45,240 --> 00:25:48,079 as gentle as he could, Josh could feel the baby's 412 00:25:48,160 --> 00:25:51,640 feet and buttocks. Your baby is breach. We need to 413 00:25:51,680 --> 00:25:55,319 turn it, he explained, as a contraction seemed to hit her. 414 00:25:56,119 --> 00:25:58,960 Josh hoped these things could feel the empathy he felt 415 00:25:58,960 --> 00:26:02,920 for them in their situation, Knowing they didn't have the 416 00:26:02,960 --> 00:26:05,359 time needed for him to google how to best help 417 00:26:05,400 --> 00:26:09,240 turn a breach baby the correct way. Josh recalled seeing 418 00:26:09,319 --> 00:26:12,319 a movie or a show once where the doctor pushed 419 00:26:12,359 --> 00:26:15,279 on the abdomen of the pregnant woman in breach to 420 00:26:15,319 --> 00:26:19,440 turn the baby, so he decided to try that. He 421 00:26:19,480 --> 00:26:22,160 could feel the baby shift a little with the pressure, 422 00:26:22,279 --> 00:26:25,400 so who began to push more and she grunted. As 423 00:26:25,440 --> 00:26:28,160 he applied the pressure and manipulated the baby to a 424 00:26:28,200 --> 00:26:32,799 correct orientation, He could see the baby crowning almost as 425 00:26:32,839 --> 00:26:35,680 soon as the head was in position. I see it, 426 00:26:35,920 --> 00:26:39,799 Josh exclaimed excitedly. You have to push with a contraction, 427 00:26:39,960 --> 00:26:43,680 do you understand. He could hear her grit her teeth 428 00:26:43,720 --> 00:26:48,039 and take in a large breath. His heart was racing. Push, 429 00:26:48,119 --> 00:26:50,880 he said, and with a loud and long grunt, the 430 00:26:50,920 --> 00:26:56,359 baby Sosquatch, slid into his arms. Josh could not believe 431 00:26:56,599 --> 00:26:59,960 what had just happened. He became overwhelmed with the flow 432 00:27:00,119 --> 00:27:04,079 of emotions. He used his shoulders to wipe at the 433 00:27:04,160 --> 00:27:09,200 tears that came from nowhere. Realizing he had just left 434 00:27:09,240 --> 00:27:12,279 his sleeping gear at camp, Josh pulled a shirt from 435 00:27:12,359 --> 00:27:15,359 his bag and gently laid the baby on it. He 436 00:27:15,480 --> 00:27:17,799 checked to ensure the baby had a pulse and was 437 00:27:17,880 --> 00:27:21,000 breathing before gently wrapping her up and handing her over. 438 00:27:21,960 --> 00:27:26,359 You did great, mama. Congratulations on your daughter, he said, 439 00:27:26,720 --> 00:27:30,920 as he stayed knelt beside her. Are you okay, he asked. 440 00:27:32,079 --> 00:27:34,160 He could see the joy in her eyes as she 441 00:27:34,480 --> 00:27:39,079 caressed a new born. Thank you, she replied. The baby 442 00:27:39,160 --> 00:27:42,799 made some cooing sounds unlike anything Josh had ever heard before. 443 00:27:43,519 --> 00:27:47,039 While they were someone animalistic in nature, they were soothing 444 00:27:47,079 --> 00:27:51,039 at the same time. Suddenly Josh felt a huge hand 445 00:27:51,079 --> 00:27:54,200 on his shoulder. He had forgotten about the mail during 446 00:27:54,240 --> 00:27:59,359 this ordeal. We don't often trust you humans, the male said, 447 00:27:59,759 --> 00:28:03,519 and continued wend, since you have a pure heart and 448 00:28:03,559 --> 00:28:07,240 do not take pleasure in killing animals. Now that our 449 00:28:07,319 --> 00:28:10,000 child is here, we will move back into the forest, 450 00:28:10,119 --> 00:28:13,640 leaving the humans and their animals alone. I only took 451 00:28:13,680 --> 00:28:15,839 what we needed to make sure that she was strong 452 00:28:15,960 --> 00:28:18,559 enough to get through the berth. He had a look 453 00:28:18,599 --> 00:28:22,480 of appreciation on his face as Josh had stood and 454 00:28:22,519 --> 00:28:27,000 turned to face him. The male was huge, over seven 455 00:28:27,079 --> 00:28:29,960 feet tall, and he was four feet wide, with brown 456 00:28:30,039 --> 00:28:35,000 and black hair and gray leathery skin. Looking him square 457 00:28:35,039 --> 00:28:38,640 in the eyes, Josh said, I have so many questions. 458 00:28:39,079 --> 00:28:42,440 I don't even know where to start. The thoughts raced 459 00:28:42,480 --> 00:28:46,039 through his mind. The giant male looked at the female 460 00:28:46,119 --> 00:28:49,640 and nodded, and with that gesture, she stood and handed 461 00:28:49,680 --> 00:28:53,880 their newborn to him, Josh. She said, I want to 462 00:28:53,920 --> 00:28:57,160 share with you and believe you will keep our secret. 463 00:28:57,799 --> 00:29:00,880 She reached her hands out and cradled his face in 464 00:29:00,920 --> 00:29:05,000 her hands, touching her thumbs to his forehead. Josh could 465 00:29:05,079 --> 00:29:09,319 feel her apply some slight pressure. He tense for a moment, 466 00:29:09,519 --> 00:29:14,319 and his world went black. Josh woke up back at 467 00:29:14,319 --> 00:29:18,480 his camp, looking at his watch. He had lost almost 468 00:29:18,519 --> 00:29:23,720 thirty six hours. He checked his gear, everything was accounted for. 469 00:29:24,319 --> 00:29:27,039 His head felt like it was in a vice. He 470 00:29:27,119 --> 00:29:29,480 reached for his water and he fished some twin off 471 00:29:29,559 --> 00:29:32,480 from his medkit. He popped two in his mouth and 472 00:29:32,519 --> 00:29:36,559 he washed them down with the water, finishing the bottle. 473 00:29:36,680 --> 00:29:40,119 He began to recount his last memory. He recalled the 474 00:29:40,160 --> 00:29:44,599 female sasquatch touching him, a flash of bright light, and 475 00:29:44,680 --> 00:29:48,160 then it was He wasn't quite sure how to explain this. 476 00:29:48,839 --> 00:29:52,400 It was as if she downloaded her memories into him. 477 00:29:53,559 --> 00:29:56,440 The last memory was of her telling Josh that they 478 00:29:56,480 --> 00:30:00,880 would see him again, wondering what that meant. Josh said 479 00:30:00,920 --> 00:30:04,279 about gathering his stuff. He wasn't sure what he would 480 00:30:04,319 --> 00:30:06,799 tell the rancher when he got back, but it definitely 481 00:30:06,880 --> 00:30:10,200 would not be the truth. He had some time to 482 00:30:10,279 --> 00:30:12,599 mold it over as he packed his gear, and he 483 00:30:12,680 --> 00:30:16,079 realized he hadn't talked to Emily. He pulled his phone 484 00:30:16,079 --> 00:30:18,119 out and he sent her a message that he would 485 00:30:18,160 --> 00:30:20,799 be home in a few hours, and then he rocked 486 00:30:20,880 --> 00:30:24,359 up and he began his hike out. And that is 487 00:30:24,440 --> 00:30:28,240 the end of chapter one of the book Elusive Peace. 488 00:30:30,480 --> 00:30:33,240 I've never read anything like that. I have never even 489 00:30:33,319 --> 00:30:38,839 imagined human helping a Sasquatch have a baby. Actually heard 490 00:30:39,640 --> 00:30:43,079 some guy on YouTube years ago talk about that that 491 00:30:43,200 --> 00:30:48,240 he had been invited into a clan of Bigfoot and 492 00:30:47,400 --> 00:30:52,720 there was a female bigfoot berthing twins, and he knew 493 00:30:52,759 --> 00:30:55,839 their names, and he was talking with them with this 494 00:30:56,000 --> 00:31:02,200 mental telepidley telepathy thing, and he had developed a relationship 495 00:31:02,240 --> 00:31:04,599 with them. But after that, I never thought about it again. 496 00:31:05,640 --> 00:31:08,359 Now Chris Kitchens has written a book about it. I 497 00:31:08,480 --> 00:31:12,000 wonder where this story is going. It would be worth 498 00:31:12,079 --> 00:31:16,240 buying this book. Click the link in the description below 499 00:31:16,799 --> 00:31:19,720 pick up this book if you're a Kindle Unlimited member, 500 00:31:19,839 --> 00:31:22,960 it's nothing. You just check the book out. You can 501 00:31:23,079 --> 00:31:27,279 order a hard copy or buy the electronic version. But 502 00:31:27,920 --> 00:31:32,119 this chapter's really piqued my interest. I'm gonna read this book. Okay, 503 00:31:32,200 --> 00:31:34,680 that's going to do it for this podcast. I appreciate 504 00:31:34,720 --> 00:31:37,559 you Chris for sending this and the other two writers. 505 00:31:37,920 --> 00:31:41,240 I've enjoyed doing this podcast and we will see you 506 00:31:41,279 --> 00:31:43,000 guys on the next one. Thanks.