Hunting Sasquatch? Equipment you will Need to Find Bigfoot

The legendary hairy men tend to be found in the forests of North America.  The Bigfoot Field Research Foundation keeps us up to date with all of the latest sightings.

You will want to head out to where a Sasquatch has recently been located.  At the time of writing, that would be Franklin County, Illinois; Allegheny County, Pennsylvania; and Le Flore County, Oklahoma.  All of them are within the United States of America.

But also note the kind of places these are.  Vast forests, which may make the going treacherous. This isn't the expedition for light-weight coats and high-heels.

Moreover, Sasquatch is a nocturnal primate. You are unlikely to see it as daylight comes. So you will be crossing that terrain in the dark.

This is what we have to prepare for. This is why it's important to carry the right gear.  But first, a warning...

Check out the weather reports.  Is it going to be hot, cold, raining?  Is there a storm front on the way? 

Remember that daytime is no real indication as to what it will be like in the middle of the forest. At night, the temperature can drop considerably.  The last thing that  you want is to be lumbered with too much stuff, as you hike through the trees in darkness.  But neither do you want to be caught short.

Layers and a decent backpack are the key!  Shove in an extra jumper or fleece, but also something waterproof. You don't want to catch a chill, should the Heavens suddenly open.

But you're not just here on a pleasure hike.  You have a huge, hairy man to spy.  Some specific gear might be in order.

The camo baseball cap will keep the sun (when it's up) out of your eyes, but it would also protect you from light drizzle.  You lose most of your body heat from the top of your head, so it will go a short distance into keeping you warm too.

Best of all, it's camouflaged!  You could hunker down in the undergrowth and your head won't be seen poking out.  With its Bigfoot design, it might be the perfect accessory for your expedition.

Of course, if you're getting really serious about camouflage, then a ghillie suit is the way to go. You can fade right into the background in one of those, which is why the army use them so much.

However, they are a bit restrictive if you plan on moving around too much.  The bits get stuck on branches!  This is the suit for those wishing to stake out a certain location, rather than properly hike through the trails.

Whether stationary or on the move, you will need the appropriate footwear.  Hiking boots all the way!  And those ones come with a Sasquatch theme.

Most sightings of Bigfoot are accidental.  People just happen to be in the right place, at the right time, and often the glimpse is fleeting.

These are the odds stacked against you and the reason why the evidence is all so debatable. But you have already raised your chances, by going out at night and doing so in known Sasquatch hot-spots.

You can raise them a little more, if you pack the right gadgetry.  Here are just some of the options.

It's the nature of the beast to be secretive. The average Sasquatch is an intelligent creature, perfectly capable of hiding out and stalking you.

Even those startled out in the open will immediately head for the tree-line.

This is their environment and they know it. They are past experts at disappearing into the foliage and behind the trees.

Thermal imaging strips away their cover; and allows you to see deep into the forest. It isn't showing you what the eye can see, but what the body emits.  It's seeking out the heat, which neither Bigfoot nor any other mammal can stop radiating out.

Body heat will show up as a distinct glow on your thermal imager. Nothing will be able to sneak up on you, nor covertly watch from the shadows, as long as it's alive.  The shapes may be fuzzy, but you will know if you're looking at a deer or a Sasquatch.

With most heat-seeking cameras, you will be able to transfer your images onto your computer later. 

Or else you could use them to know where to approach.  NB Bigfoot is bigger and stronger than you are. Bear that in mind before hurtling off after it!  In fact, it might be safer all round to use that information to set up motion camera traps.

You can have the most amazing meeting with Bigfoot, but unless you can prove it, no-one is going to believe you.

You will spend the rest of your life being called mad, or a liar, or someone who's smoked way too much weed.  At best, you can look forward to being told over and over again that you can't identify a deer or a bear. 

Doesn't sound like fun?  Then be prepared to gather your evidence! (And the really savvy people wait for an academic to analyze the results too.)

• If you see it, take a photograph.  Infrared camera, thermal imager or ordinary camera - it doesn't matter as long as you get the picture.  While in location, return when it's safe to work out the proportions of the creature. You can do this by measuring a nearby tree or positioning someone else in the spot for scale.
• If you are filming, keep going long after it's gone.  Most hoaxers only submit short film. Even if Bigfoot has left the spot, the rest of your footage will be great for contextual evidence.
• If you hear sounds, record them!  Stay very quiet as you do so too. No-one will be able to distinguish a genuine howl over your triumphal wooting.
• If a Sasquatch throws rocks at you, do not pick them up with your bare hands. It will have left amino acids on the missile! These are the protein building blocks of our bodies and we shed them everywhere. As Bigfoot clasped that rock in its hand, it would have left traces too. Scientists can lift DNA from that!  Wrap it carefully in a sterile bag and stash that rock away.
• If you find Sasquatch hair, see above.
• If you discover broken branches or anything which may have been touched by Bigfoot, see above.
• If you come across footprints (or a hand-print):

1. Photograph it in the first instance. Include something in the picture for scale - preferably a tape measure or ruler, but a dollar bill or your own foot will do, as long as you add in your own shoe size. 
2. Take measurements there and then, noting the width, length and depth of the impression. Focus in on any features, like ridges or evidence that the toes have moved.  (To counter the accusation of a hoaxer with a wooden board.) 
3. Protect the print, while you look around for more.  One footprint is great; several are invaluable.
4. Make a cast.

Happy 'squatchin' and please do report back if you find anything at all.  I'd be fascinated to hear your stories!