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11 encounters
22 January 2023 Custer Park, Will County, Illinois Class A #75453

Family describes multiple incidents in Custer Park, 45 SE of Chicago

Two children walking in a field reported seeing a figure standing in a ditch along a treeline watching them. They said it moved a short distance when they looked away and stopped when they looked back. They took photos of it and reported finding footprints.

Full-body sightingTracks
6 December 2014 Findlay, Shelby County, Illinois Class A #47403

Deer hunter has daylight encounters and attempts to take photos east of Findlay

The witness was deer hunting from a stand in a state park in Shelby County, Illinois, when they reported seeing a tall dark figure about 60-70 yards away in the late afternoon. The figure was described as about 8 feet tall with blackish coloring, broad shoulders, long arms and a crowned-shaped head, walking away with its face not visible. The witness took cell-phone photos that lacked detail and later noticed twisted and broken-off trees in the area.

Full-body sightingTree breakTwist
14 December 2012 Litchfield, Montgomery County, Illinois Class A #39568

Nighttime sighting from a window by a young woman near Lake Lou Yaeger

The witness was in bed around 2 a.m. when a powerful stench prompted a look out the bedroom window. A partially cut tree about 100 feet away began to topple, and a camera flash revealed a large brown hunched figure about ten feet from the house, possibly with a second figure near the woodline. The figures left into the woods, and the next day the witness found the tree down with the saw bar displaced and many tracks and cracked walnuts nearby.

OdorPartial sightingTree breakTracks
10 October 2011 Olive Branch, Alexander County, Illinois Class A #36246

Hiker has daylight sighting near Olive Branch

The witness reported walking back along a trail after making calls with no response when he found a very large footprint and a scat pile containing vegetation and shell fragments. Moments later he saw a very tall, heavily built, dark brownish creature about 70-80 feet away that had been digging at a ground hornet nest. The creature then ran rapidly down one ridge and up another at a speed the witness felt could not be matched, and disappeared. The witness then collected his things and left for his car.

Full-body sightingTracksScatAnimal behaviour
16 November 2010 Brookfield, Cook County, Illinois Class A #28728

Daylight sighting by a motorist near Brookfield Zoo

The witness was driving in the morning when they saw a very tall, hairy figure running through woods beside the road. They stopped, pulled over, and went back to the spot on foot. There they found broken branches and a strong musky odor but no tracks or fur.

Partial sightingOdorTree break
22 July 2006 Jacksonville, Morgan County, Illinois Class A #28484

Vocalizations and a sighting with a spotlight near Murrayville

In 2007 the witness led an armed group with spotlights to an area where relatives had heard screams. He shone a light across a field and saw a large dark hairy figure with outstretched arms run away in a split second. The group pursued into trees hearing walking and branches breaking but found nothing.

Full-body sightingTree breakFootsteps
8 July 2004 Alton, Madison County, Illinois Class A #10535

Two teens have daylight sighting near Alton

Two companions were building a squirrel-hunting blind at the edge of the woods when a dead tree they had been unable to push over cracked and fell. They then saw a tall, upright, hair-covered figure standing nearby. The pair quickly left the area and ran home.

Partial sightingTree break
26 October 2003 Pearl City, Stephenson County, Illinois Class A #15347

Deer hunter has early morning sighting from tree stand near Pearl City

The witness climbed into a tree stand before dawn to bow hunt. While it was still dark, something breathed heavily beneath the stand for about 10 minutes then walked away to the southeast. Shortly after sunrise in light fog, the witness saw a large human-like figure about 100 yards away walking east at a fast pace. After climbing down, the witness followed its footprints eastward.

Full-body sightingUnidentified soundFootstepsTracks
29 November 1986 Hennepin, Putnam County, Illinois Class A #27374

Man remembers his daytime sighting as a youth living south of Hennepin

The witness was riding a BMX bike on a snow-covered road in the afternoon when they saw a tall, long-haired figure crossing the road about 50 yards ahead. The figure was described as about eight feet tall with light brown hair. The witness ran inside for a camera but could not find one, and the next day found footprints with a relative.

Full-body sightingRoad crossingTracks
April 1978 Gorham, Jackson County, Illinois Class A #41916

Memory told of daylight sighting while mushroom hunting along Happy Hollow Road near Gorham

While mushroom hunting with a child near a creek, the witness noticed movement behind a tree across the creek and then saw part of a dark hair-covered entity, including knee, shoulder and face. The entity moved behind the tree out of view, and the witness left immediately with the child. She later returned with a firearm and found footprints where the entity had stood.

Partial sightingTracks
BFRO YEAR: 1988-89 IDOC Lake A-41 On The Map, Jackson County, Illinois Class A #44003

Close encounter while fishing remembered near Giant City State Park

The witness was fishing alone at a small wooded lake in the afternoon when brush breaking, snapping trees, and splashing rocks drew attention. The witness turned to see a large muscular creature standing nearby that emitted a loud high-pitched scream. The witness froze, the creature quickly retreated into the woods, and the witness fled down the trail to the vehicle.

Partial sightingScreamRock throwingTree break