YEAR: 2009

SEASON: Fall

STATE: Illinois

COUNTY: Jefferson County

NEAREST TOWN: Bonnie

NEAREST ROAD: I-57

OBSERVED: I have saw what I would call a big foot three times. The first time it was in the fall of 2010. It was late at night. I woke up by my dogs barking. I got up to see what was going on. Thru the screen door I could see a large dark figure walking across my pasture going to my barn. I went back to my bed room and got a gun. I stepped out the door. The creature was a few feet from my barn and I noticed its head was level with the bottom of the roof of my barn. It was very large. I fired one shot in the air to try to scare it off. It didn't phase it. I then opened fire. It took off running across the pasture running thru 3 strands of wire. One of my dogs took off after it and I followed. I shot 14 40 cal. bullets toward this creature and it didn't slow it down. It disappeared into the corn behind my house. I had goats in the barn. Twice in the fall of 2011 I saw it walking across the field once in the field behind my house once in front. Both time going south to north.

ALSO NOTICED: I didn't hear anything then but a couple times at night I have heard strange noises coming from the woods

OTHER WITNESSES: First time my wife. She was sleeping before.

TIME AND CONDITIONS: 1-2 a.m. and dusk

ENVIRONMENT: Open fields and small woods a few miles from my house there is thousands of acres of almost untouched land.

Follow-up investigation report by BFRO Investigator Stan Courtney:

I spoke with the witness by phone.

In summary:

• The animal was eight feet tall.
• The animal was very dark or black in coloring.
• The animal was massively built with broad shoulders, looked like a linebacker.
• Although at night the area is lit by a security lamp.
• Witness was unable to see the animal's face.
• The witness fired shots from a .40 Glock pistol which contained a clip of 15 rounds.

About BFRO Investigator Stan Courtney:

Stan Courtney has a special interest in wildlife audio recording. He has attended numerous BFRO Expeditions. See Stan's blog StanCourtney.com for recordings he has collected over the years.

Stan Courtney can be reached at [email protected]