YEAR: 2009

SEASON: Fall

STATE: Illinois

COUNTY: Jefferson County

NEAREST TOWN: Bonnie

NEAREST ROAD: I-57

OBSERVED: I have saw what I would call a big foot three times. The first time it was in the fall of 2010. It was late at night. I woke up by my dogs barking. I got up to see what was going on. Thru the screen door I could see a large dark figure walking across my pasture going to my barn. I went back to my bed room and got a gun. I stepped out the door. The creature was a few feet from my barn and I noticed its head was level with the bottom of the roof of my barn. It was very large. I fired one shot in the air to try to scare it off. It didn't phase it. I then opened fire. It took off running across the pasture running thru 3 strands of wire. One of my dogs took off after it and I followed. I shot 14 40 cal. bullets toward this creature and it didn't slow it down. It disappeared into the corn behind my house. I had goats in the barn. Twice in the fall of 2011 I saw it walking across the field once in the field behind my house once in front. Both time going south to north.

ALSO NOTICED: I didn't hear anything then but a couple times at night I have heard strange noises coming from the woods

OTHER WITNESSES: First time my wife. She was sleeping before.

TIME AND CONDITIONS: 1-2 a.m. and dusk

ENVIRONMENT: Open fields and small woods a few miles from my house there is thousands of acres of almost untouched land.

Follow-up investigation report by BFRO Investigator Stan Courtney:

I spoke with the witness by phone.

In summary:

• The animal was eight feet tall.
• The animal was very dark or black in coloring.
• The animal was massively built with broad shoulders, looked like a linebacker.
• Although at night the area is lit by a security lamp.
• Witness was unable to see the animal's face.
• The witness fired shots from a .40 Glock pistol which contained a clip of 15 rounds.

About BFRO Investigator Stan Courtney:

Stan Courtney has a special interest in wildlife audio recording. He has attended numerous BFRO Expeditions. See Stan's blog StanCourtney.com for recordings he has collected over the years.

Stan Courtney can be reached at illinois@bfro.net