Mystery at Devil's Elbow
Chapter Fifteen – First Week of November 1969

Tammy Jenkin’s article made its way to several Bigfoot hunters in the American Northwest. With the recent sightings in Pike County over the summer and now more recently Pulaski County, three of those hunters thought these sightings could provide them with essential information. So, they got the first planes to Springfield, Missouri, and drove rented vehicles to Pulaski County.

All three men rented cabins at the McCain campground in Devil’s Elbow. Each appeared to have brought a truck full of equipment to help them search for and find a Bigfoot. Tammy Jenkins heard about the three men and arranged for an interview at the Hungry Mans Sandwich Shop.

“Gentlemen, I’m glad you agreed to an interview this afternoon,” said Tammy.

“It’s my pleasure, Tammy,” said Gunner Wilson, a retired US Marine Corps helicopter pilot. He focused his Bigfoot hunting in Northern California. Gunner was well known for his use of helicopters to search migratory patterns of Bigfoot food sources.

“I’m glad to do it,” said Casey Benson. He was a former Army paratrooper and former member of the French Foreign Legion. He focused his Bigfoot hunting in the state of Oregon. He was famous for parachuting into Bigfoot zones for long-term studies.

“I’m happy to join my colleagues in what I think will be a fruitful discussion about the Bigfoot primates seen in this area,” said Sonny Gillette, a retired Army Green Beret. He focused his Bigfoot hunting efforts in Washington state. He was considered an authority on the Patterson-Gimlin film.

“There you go, Sonny, trying to be a bigshot,” said Gunner.

They all had a brief laugh at Gunner’s sarcasm.

“I’ve brought questions for you if you’re ready?” asked Tammy.

“Sure, but please note in any articles you do that we are Bigfoot Hunters that focus on researching and locating a Bigfoot. None of us actual hunt to kill a Bigfoot,” said Casey.

“Thank you, Casey, I will make a note of that.”

“You’re welcome.”

Sonny, you focus your Bigfoot hunting in the Washington state area. Our readers would like to know why you limit yourself to that area?”

“Well, Washington state is very representative of the Northwest. It has large indigenous forests, mountainous regions, and plenty of food sources for an apex predator.”

“What exactly is an apex predator?”

“An animal at the top of the food chain. And that’s what Bigfoot is. As far as I know, nothing eats Bigfoot, but Bigfoots are capable of eating everything else.”

“That’s a little shocking, isn’t it?”

“Shocking, but I believe true.”

“Casey, you limit your area for Bigfoot hunting to Oregon. Can you explain to our readers why you prefer that region?”

“Oregon is very much like Washington state with forests, mountainous areas, and plenty of food. But I’m very interested in the areas where humans don’t go. Where there are no hunters, fishermen, campers, or hikers. These are the areas that I think we’ll find evidence of Bigfoot. And these are the areas I find and search in Oregon.”

“Gunner, you limit your area to Northern California. Could you explain to our readers why?

“Northern California has a lot of the same qualities as Washington and Oregon. I personally like the region because I grew up there. I know many of the areas like the back of my hand. So, I have an advantage in Northern California I wouldn’t have in Oregon or Washington.”

“Sonny, you spend a lot of time in the forest looking for Bigfoot. What are the main things you focus on to tell you when a Bigfoot is in the area?”

“Tammy, I look for three things. First an area with little or no human activity. Second, an area that has a lot of overgrowth for animals to hide and live. Third, I look for Bigfoot’s food source. I look for berries, grains, and deer.”

“Casey, how important are footprints to your investigations?”

“Footprints are one of our two primary sources of evidence for Bigfoot. The other, obviously, is eyewitness testimony. I use footprints to categorize the animal and identify patterns. For example, if I’m working in a wooded area and I collect a Bigfoot print with plaster, I compare that footprint to other footprints I have collected in the past at that location. Using this method, I hope to identify migration patterns.”

“Gunner, in addition to footprints and eyewitness testimony, how do you search for Bigfoot?”

“I like to search at night using vocalizations and wait for responses that help me locate a potential Bigfoot. The second method I use is tree knocks. I have a fish bat, and I knock on the trees and listen for a response from a Bigfoot. Responses give away the Bigfoot’s location. I move to that location to find Bigfoot.”

“Vocalization, what exactly is that?”

“Vocalizations are the sounds that we believe a Bigfoot makes. It’s described as a harsh growl mixed with a howl.”

“Have you had success using vocalizations, Gunner?”

“Yeah, I have over 100 recordings of vocalizations that I’ve received back from what I believe are Bigfoot.”

“Are they dangerous, Gunner?”

“They can be. I’ve had them throw rocks at me. They’ve thrown tree limbs at me. They’ve blocked roads out of an area by downing a tree across the road. I’ve even had my truck damaged. As for hurting me, I’ve never given them a chance. When the situation gets dangerous, I leave.”

“Sonny, you’re purported to be an expert on the Patterson-Gimlin film. Do you think the creature in the film is really a Bigfoot?” asked Tammy.

“I do. I’ve studied the film and gotten expert opinions from zoologists. I’ve walked the ground where the film was taken. There’s no doubt in my mind that the film shows an actual Bigfoot.”

“That sounds impressive. Casey, I’ve heard that it’s best to search Bigfoot at night. Can you tell our readers why that is?”

“We believe it’s a nocturnal animal. This means that it sleeps during the day and goes out hunting at night. It would be hard to find a Bigfoot during the day because they’d be sleeping in a cave or an overhang.”

“Gunner, do you believe we’ll ever find a skeleton of a Bigfoot?”

“I don’t think we ever will. The reason is that bears die, and we seldom find their skeletons either. Insects and other animals eat the remains leaving nothing to find.”

“Tammy, I believe the real proof would be in capturing a Bigfoot,” said Sonny.

“I have to agree with that, Tammy. The only difference between me and Sonny is that I don’t care whether Bigfoot is alive,” said Casey.

“What do you mean by that, Casey?”

“We can learn nearly as much from the dead Bigfoot as a live one. We can get a lot of data from the bones that would give us height, weight, blood type, and determine whether it is related to humans. It doesn’t matter to me which way we get one, but I won’t kill one.”

“I believe that to learn the most, we need to bring Bigfoot in alive. This will give us all the information Casey just spoke about, plus things like language and diet and strength,” said Sonny.

“Gentlemen, I understand that all three of you will be going out for night searches in the local area. Some of you have gotten permission to search on private land and others on public land. Would you agree to meet with me again to discuss some of your findings after you’ve searched?”

“Count me in,” said Sonny.

“Me too,” said Casey.

“I’ll do ya one better, young lady. You can join me,” said Gunner.

Tammy threw her arms in the air and asked, “Really?”

“Absolutely, meet me here 30 minutes before sunset.”

“I’ll be here, Gunner,” she said. “And thank all of you, very much. I think our readers will be delighted with the additional information.”

The three men ordered another beer and went back to telling war stories among themselves. Tammy gathered up her notes and headed straight for her car. She wanted to get this information to her editor quickly so she could be back in time to go searching with Gunner.

Tammy’s editor was very impressed with the information she’d gathered and agreed to put it in the paper in two days. That would allow her to go on the search with Gunner and spend tomorrow, typing up the article.

Tammy headed home to dress for her night in the forest. She got back up to the Hungry Mans Sandwich Shop at about 6:00 PM. The sun wouldn’t set for another 35 minutes, so she and Gunner had plenty of time to get to the search area. She saw Gunner walking towards her at the sandwich shop.

“Just stay with me. Don’t go off on any tangents and don’t run unless I tell you to. And if I tell you to run, you run like hell,” said Gunner.

“Of course, I’ll listen to everything you say, Gunner,” said Tammy.

“Okay let’s start walking into the forest. I have permission to search on the forested land on the other side of the Big Piney. Let’s walk across the Devil’s Elbow Bridge and get started.”

“I’ll be right behind you.”

They stopped at the edge of the forest, it grew even darker, and it was hard to see the stars in the sky from all the tree branches overhead. The forest smelled of pine, but with no breeze, it was a bit overpowering.

“While we’re stopped, here’s a flashlight. Check it out and make sure it’s working.”

Tammy took the flashlight and shone it directly at him. “How’s that working, Gunner?”

“Now, turn it off before you wear out the battery and clip it to your belt,” he said, straining his eyes from the bright light.

“This is a two-way radio.” He handed her the device, which matched a second one he was holding. “Walk away from me a few feet and test it.”

Tammy walked to the right about 40 feet from Gunner, then she spoke into the radio.

“Radio check, Gunner?”

“Read you loud and clear, Tammy.”

“These radios will sure come in handy.”

“If we get separated they will.”

“I’ll do my best and try not to get separated from you.”

“Clip that radio on your belt too. Here’s the last thing I brought for you,” he said as he handed her a wooden object that looked like a small baseball bat.

“What’s this?”

“That’s a fish bat that fisherman use to kill large fish after they reel them aboard the boat.”

“I’ve never seen one.”

“Some people use a stick they find. It works, but I find this easier on my hands. I’ll show you what I do with it in a few minutes. For now, put the leather strap of the bat around your wrist. Okay, now that it’s dark let’s start moving through the forest.”

“Right behind you.”

The two walked through the dark forest for about 15 minutes. Their eyes adjusted to the darkness, but it was still tough going. The sound of the wind in the trees made it hard to hear anything and the smell of pine at times was overpowering. Gunner stopped right next to a huge pine tree that blocked their vision to the front. There was a slightly muffled sound.

“Let’s stop right here to do some tree knocks.”

Gunner pulled the fish bat from his pack. He stepped toward a huge tree and hit it four times very hard. They both waited several minutes silently to see if there was a response. Nothing.

Gunner hit the tree again two more times. Several minutes, still no response. sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ (ꜰind)ɴʘvel.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

“Okay. A Bigfoot knocks hard on tree trunks to send a message to other Bigfoot in the area, who respond with similar knocks. Let’s move deeper into the forest.”

“Can we use our lights?”

“No, lights will scare the Bigfoot off.”

“Have you ever fell and hurt yourself?”

“Many times.”

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