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Hunter describes strange encounters and finds a possible footprint near Kickapoo State Park
The witness was bowhunting deer alone from a tree stand in the evening and shot a buck. While climbing down and tracking the deer in near-dark, the witness heard loud screaming-growling noises, smelled a strong pungent odor, and saw a huge silhouette about 30 yards away on a hillside. The witness left the woods while still hearing the noises and returned the next morning to find the blood trail ended with no deer.
Late night observation by a home owner near Lake Decatur
The witness was smoking on the front porch at night when rustling was heard nearby. A dark massive upright figure stood up about 30 yards away, looked both ways, then ran across the street into a wooded area. Later that night the witness noted a musty odor and heard a deep scream-howl sound on and off.
Possible nighttime sighting and vocalizations in a backyard near Old Ripley
The witness was in bed late at night when barking dogs prompted them to go outside. They saw a dog run under the porch and something retreat into the woods. After shouting and tossing a small stone into the trees, the witness heard a shriek/howl and the stone was thrown back to land at their feet. The witness ran inside, then returned with a flashlight to find twisted vegetation and snapped branches and noted a foul smell.
Possible sighting by a deer hunter west of Rushville
The witness was deer hunting in a valley at dawn when a loud scream was heard nearby. The yell was loud enough to startle turkeys roosting overhead. Looking toward the sound, the witness saw a tall black animal about 70 yards away that then disappeared.
Wood knocks, vocalizations and possible footprint found in rural cemetery near Shelbyville
Over a couple months of visits to a small rural cemetery, the witness and companions repeatedly heard wood knocks surrounding them, logs or objects being thrown, and a walnut thrown back toward them. They also heard growls, hissing, grunts, yells and screams on separate occasions, and once heard a large unseen thing charge to the cemetery edge then go silent. They never saw the source, reported no departing footsteps, and described a persistent feeling of being watched and warned from entering the woods.
Mushroom hunter hears vocalizations and finds footprints near Jubilee College State Park
The witness was hunting with a dog on a sunny afternoon when the dog became agitated and a strong odor was noticed. The witness heard grunt-like noises followed twice by a loud scream or yell, plus cracking and movement in trees and brush, while the dog returned frightened with raised hair. After driving to a more open area across a shallow creek, the witness found two very large barefoot-like footprints that seemed too large and out of place to be human.
Possible encounter and vocalizations heard by bowhunter near Metropolis
The witness was bow hunting and was packing his truck to leave about an hour after dark with his flashlight off. A small noise from his tree stand startled something behind the truck that ran away down a hill on two legs making loud crashing noise. From the bottom of the hill and while moving away across a road and fence, the animal vocalized about a dozen times, stopping about every 50 yards to turn and scream toward the witness.
Family experiences large rocks being thrown and hear an unknown scream outside the Shawnee National Forest
The witness and two relatives were setting up a telescope near a group campfire when rocks landed near them on three occasions while movement was heard in dense dark woods with nothing seen. Those at the fire denied throwing anything. Hours later a loud high-pitched scream was heard that the witness did not recognize, and a next-day search found no clear footprints due to heavy leaf cover.
Possible sounds heard, etc., in Kickapoo State Park
The witness was fishing at night in a park when he heard two large splashes in the river behind him followed by a loud awful scream. He then heard rustling like a scuffle in dry leaves and a deep purring or heavy breathing sound lasting about a minute before the source moved away. Frightened by sounds he did not recognize, he left the area and went home early.
Memory of possible vocalizations and rock throwing southwest of Atwood
The witness, then a child, was walking through woods and field toward ponds to feed fish when a loud high-pitched scream came from the woods and trees shook in a visible path without wind. After waiting, the witness continued to the pond embankment where a boulder-sized rock landed nearby from higher ground. Two sisters were present for the rock incident, and the witness reported repeated rock-throwing at that embankment and occasional feelings of being watched.
Young man hears nighttime vocalizations and is followed in woods near Mounds
On a summer night in 1990 the witness walked up a field road near his home when he heard a loud whistle followed by screams from nearby ridges. As he fled back toward his house he heard another scream close by and was followed to the creek behind his house, where he heard heavy breathing, growling and bipedal footsteps. He fired a large amount of ammunition toward the sounds without seeing the source, then stayed inside overnight, and the next day found bullet damage to trees and a flattened depression but no blood or tracks.
Coon hunters hear vocalizations and footprints found near Burlington
Two people were sitting on a log in the woods late at night when a loud unfamiliar scream was heard from close behind them. After a second scream, a similar sound answered from a distance. Both individuals left immediately without seeing the source.
Couple in car terrified by loud howl/scream near Carlinville
In spring 1978 the witness and a companion were parked in a car off a rural road in creek-bottom woods when a foul odor filled the area. They then heard nearby low grunts that erupted into an extremely loud, shrill scream that seemed to shake the car. Panicked, the witness drove away immediately and avoided the area afterward.
Possible vocalization heard in Marion, Illinois
During a holiday visit in heavy snow, the witness was awakened around 2 a.m. by a very loud, prolonged scream from outside the bedroom window. The witness stayed frozen listening, then found other household members awake, and was told it was probably a cat under the house. The next morning new snow covered the area, and later checks found no sign of cats, leading the witness to note its similarity to recorded alleged vocalizations.
Possible vocalization heard near Pyramid State Park
The witness was outside at a relative's rural farm at night when a loud, hair-raising vocalization was heard from across a lake. The witness ran to a shed where two relatives were working but had not heard the sound. Horses nearby became agitated and later avoided the area where the sound originated until daylight.
Woman recalls her possible encounter on a farm outside Prairie du Rocher.
The witness was camped alone with a dog near a sinkhole on a farm bluff to feed horses in the morning. After building a fire and cooking, loud grunts, growls and scream-like screeches came from the sinkhole while many young trees shook violently despite little wind. Horses stared then fled, the dog stayed close shaking, and a brief odd odor was noticed. Frightened, the witness doused the fire and left with the dog, and reports avoiding woods since.
Memory told of strange occurrences while growing up near Castle Rock State Park
In the fall of 1965 the witness was staying in a trailer on the family property when loud screaming was heard approaching from the direction of the river. The witness and a relative heard something pacing behind the dwelling while the screaming continued, then striking the trailer sides four or five times. The witness fired a gun once from the doorway, after which no further sound was heard that night.
Memory told of possible vocalizations and footprints found near Atwood
On a winter evening around 10 p.m., the witness opened the door to let a dog out and heard an immense scream-howl from just north of the house. The sound felt like a physical impact and frightened the dog so it would not go outside. The witness's mother also heard the vocalization from inside the house.