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Bow hunter describes close encounter at dusk from his tree stand near Grain Valley
The witness was deer hunting alone from an elevated stand at dusk when deer behaved nervously. A large unseen animal approached behind the stand, breathing heavily, sniffing, producing knocks and screams, and pacing before moving west. The witness turned on a headlamp and saw a tall dark figure from behind that grunted and ran along a creek bank into the woods.
Woman hears possible vocalizations in the James A. Reed Memorial Wildlife Area
The witness was photographing along the tree line on the south side of the lake when she heard a close grunting-snorting sound followed by a deep growl without seeing the source. Shaken, she returned toward two fishermen and then left across the dam, photographing a large print in the mud. From the car area she heard the same loud vocalization coming from across the lake where she had been and saw the fishermen hurrying across the dam, after which all parties left.
Possible vocalizations and rock throwing east of Makanda
On a night trip in early March 2013, the witness and three companions stopped in the woods around 2:30 a.m. after hearing a loud moaning sound. The witness shone a light downhill and saw a head with two closely spaced eyes about 40 feet away and 5 to 6 feet off the ground. The eyes stared for about 45 seconds before sidestepping behind a tree, and a quick search found nothing and no tracks.
Daytime sighting on the edge of Lost Lake, near the Continental Divide
In the early afternoon the witness hiked from one high mountain lake toward nearby Lost Lake. Near a boulder about 20 yards away the witness saw a large hairy biped that crouched, looked toward the lake and the witness, then stood and walked briskly into trees out of earshot. The witness estimated the encounter lasted 8 to 12 seconds and then left the area quickly without following.
The "Big Muddy Monster" flap of Murphysboro
In the late 1970s to early 1980s, residents around the Big Muddy River reported a foul-smelling, hairy hominid-like creature. Witnesses described seeing and hearing it near the river and finding footprints, with size and color accounts varying. The writer compiled these secondhand accounts and notes the creature was never reported as violent.
Memory told of possible vocalizations and rocks thrown at Lake Kinkaid
In 1978 two people were fishing from a boat on a lake at dusk and stopped in a cove. They heard grunting and saw trees shaking violently on a brushy cliff, but saw no animal. Two large rocks were thrown from shore toward the boat, landing very close, prompting them to leave.
Possible stalking and vocalizations near Frozen Camp
The witness camped alone overnight on a ridge and was awakened around 10 p.m. by a loud, unfamiliar animal call heard from three directions around the tent. The accompanying dog reacted fearfully while the witness could see nothing with a flashlight. The witness left all gear and hiked out that night, returning the next day to find everything untouched and no tracks.
Wood knock near Makanda Or Cobden, Illinois
The night after the eyes encounter the group walked the same path hearing movement, twig snaps, snorting sounds and one woodknock.
Vocalization near Lee's Summit, Missouri
In the last week of August 2020 the witness, alone at the same lake, heard three rapid owl-like hoots followed later by a deep growl behind him that vibrated in his chest, saw nothing, and left.