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33 encounters
2 October 2021 Harrisburg, Saline County, Illinois Class B #72110

Two hikers describe hearing bigfoot-like sounds near Indian Point (Garden of the Gods)

The witness and a companion were hiking in Shawnee National Forest when they heard rocks thrown, wood knocks, and a tree being pushed over nearby, followed by running footsteps that stopped abruptly. While heading back they heard a growl, whoops and howls from multiple directions and felt they were being watched. The witness attempted a phone audio recording but it did not capture the sounds clearly.

Rock throwingWood knockTree breakGrowlWhoop +3
9 January 2021 Wonder Lake, McHenry County, Illinois Class B #67486

Possible vocalizations after midnight from cornfield near Wonder Lake

Late at night the witness was walking in a rural neighborhood when a deep grunting yell was heard coming from a nearby cornfield. The witness also recalls hearing heavy walking or footfalls just before the yell. The sound was described as echoing and startling, and no visual of the source was reported.

VocalizationFootsteps
October 2020 Makanda, Jackson County, Illinois Class B #66182

Hammock Slapped, Bipedal Walking, and Two Vocalizations Experienced by Trio of Campers

Three campers spent the night in separate tent and hammock shelters arranged around a campfire at a remote site. During the night the reporting witness was awakened by a slap to his tarp, while the companions reported bipedal footsteps circling their shelters. Shortly after the footsteps left, two loud howls were heard about 15 minutes apart. No creature was seen and no footprints were found in the morning due to leaf cover.

FootstepsHowlDoor or window contact
February 2018 Lyndon, Whiteside County, Illinois Class B #71815

Law enforcement officers find and follow fresh snow tracks 33 miles NE of Moline

After midnight an on-duty officer searching for a stolen snowmobile along a river heard loud crashing and heavy running in a treeline. He then found large human-like footprints in snow, with two larger sets and one smaller set, showing a long stride and signs of running. He and two deputies photographed the tracks and interpreted the trail as individuals scouting, pausing, and circling before leaving, then withdrew from the area.

FootstepsTracks
12 November 2013 Radom, Washington County, Illinois Class B #50502

Possible sighting while hunting near Radom

The witness was deer hunting from a tree stand on a hill at the edge of a field in the early evening. He saw a dark figure moving along the field edge and into a ravine about 60 yards away, walking upright on two legs, and heard something walking in the ravine. He first thought it was a trespasser but concluded it was not a person in camouflage.

Partial sightingFootsteps
23 October 2013 Keensburg, Wabash County, Illinois Class A #43148

Hiker has close daylight sighting in Beall Woods State Park

The witness was walking a dog on a trail at Beall Woods State Park when the dog stopped and stared into a large ravine. The witness watched an entity at the bottom for about thirty seconds before it moved and turned toward them, then took two steps forward as the witness backed away. After the dog barked forcefully the entity stepped back, and the witness left while hearing it climb out of the ravine and move through the woods.

Full-body sightingFootsteps
July 2011 Manteno, Kankakee County, Illinois Class B #29836

Family experiences strange occurences while fishing Kankakee River

Four people were night fishing when the two who stayed by the fire reported footsteps and brush movement behind them. The witness later heard walking sounds, a grunt/growl from 20-30 yards away, noticed a strong pungent odor, and heard a whooping sound from the same direction. As the group walked out around 12:30 a.m. the witness felt they were being followed toward the bridge. No creature was seen.

FootstepsGrowlWhoopOdorAnimal behaviour
5 September 2010 Metroplis, Massac County, Illinois Class A #37972

Nighttime observation involving a pond on a farm near Metropolis

On Labor Day weekend 2010 at a family farm, the witness and companions shone a high-powered spotlight on a creature standing chest-deep in a pond about 30-40 yards away. They watched it move, pick objects from the water and chew on them until the light died. Immediately after, they heard a splash, movement through woods, and repeated series of booms followed by loud bellowing that seemed to answer from another part of the property.

Partial sightingVocalizationWood knockFootsteps
July 2009 Colchester, McDonough County, Illinois Class B #40995

Possible sighting of animal playing peek-a-boo at Argyle Lake State Park

Two companions hiking back toward their car noticed the woods go silent and heard something moving in brush alongside them and crossing behind them, along with a musky skunk-like odor. Near the last bend the reporter glanced back and saw a wide, dark-brown figure squatting beside a low dead tree about 100 yards away. They kept walking, then ran to the car and drove off and rarely spoke of it afterward.

Partial sightingFootstepsOdor
22 January 2009 Herod, Saline County, Illinois Class A #25362

Night time sighting by two witnesses at trailhead in Shawnee National Forest

The witness and her father were walking back to the trailhead parking area at night when the father noticed eyeshine in the trees to the side of the trail about 30-40 feet away. With headlamps on, they both observed shining eyes and the outline of a rounded head that turned to look at them before they turned their lights off. The figure then walked away downhill with heavy deliberate bipedal steps, paused, and remained nearby while the witness spoke softly before they left quietly. After returning home they photographed smudge marks on their vehicle that had not been noticed earlier.

EyeshinePartial sightingSilhouetteFootsteps
26 November 2008 Metropolis, Massac County, Illinois Class B #25924

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.

ScreamFootsteps
16 November 2007 Detroit, Pike County, Illinois Class A #24354

Hunter has sighting from his deer stand near Detroit

The witness was deer hunting from a tree stand in the early morning when loud footsteps were heard in a nearby pasture. Standing to look, the witness saw a large hairy figure about twenty yards away walking quickly with a long stride. The figure was estimated at 6 to 7 feet tall, dark rusty brown, with broad muscular shoulders, long arms and no apparent neck, and it never looked toward the witness.

FootstepsFull-body sighting
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
1 October 2005 Oakwood, Vermilion County, Illinois Class B #15844

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.

ScreamVocalizationFootstepsUnidentified sound
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
15 November 2000 Webster, Hancock County, Illinois Class A #3521

Deer hunter sees large hairy black creature that "plays peekaboo" near Webster

The witness was walking around timber at dusk during deer season and came upon a tall, black, hairy figure shaking a tree. The witness stopped to watch and spoke to it, then walked to an open field and shot at deer. After the shot, the figure was heard running away through the timber.

Partial sightingFootsteps
Summer 1990 Mounds, Pulaski County, Illinois Class B #5742

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.

WhistleScreamGrowlFootstepsOdor
July 1983 Seneca, La Salle County, Illinois Class A #11911

Campers have lengthy nighttime encounter near Seneca

Two companions camped in a remote wooded area after clearing a small site and lighting a fire. For several hours something circled the camp a few yards away, producing walking and breathing sounds and a musky odor. One companion glimpsed the figure in firelight as a much taller and wider upright figure, and it followed them out and crossed a road in a few steps as they left.

Partial sightingRoad crossingFootstepsUnidentified soundOdor +1
October 1977 Pontiac, Livingston County, Illinois Class B #36702

Memory told of a possible sighting at dawn by a hunter in his tree stand southeast of Pontiac

The witness arrived before sunrise on opening day to bow-hunt from a tree stand at the edge of a bean field. While in the stand the witness heard loud bipedal footsteps moving through dense saplings and then saw a tall hair-covered figure standing about 20 yards away. The two stared at each other for several minutes before the figure walked away, after which the witness fled to a companion's vehicle and did not return.

Partial sightingFootsteps
1976–1977 Rochester, Sangamon County, Illinois Class A #28545

Man tells of the strange occurrences and his sighting as a teenager near Buckhart

Four people drove to a hilltop clearing at night and parked with the engine off to listen. After hearing twigs crunching as something circled their position, those in the back seat noticed a figure behind the vehicle. The witnesses in front then glimpsed a tall dark bipedal figure with red reflected eyes ducking behind a tree, prompting them to start the vehicle and leave immediately.

Partial sightingEyeshineFootsteps