I actually agree with Grasshopper a lot. Nevermind the God analogy (this is a scientific discussion as far as I’m concerned, not religious) but my biggest fear in proving bigfoot exists would be the exploitation that would follow. But at the end of the day this creature would be of tremendous importance to science. I don’t care about egos or fame, I care about knowledge. Just think at what we would learn from such a creature. If killing one is bad for the population as some have pointed out than I’m afraid they’re doomed anyway, the death of one animal shouldn’t hurt a population unless that population is on its way out. If bigfoot really is endangered without us even knowing about it than what hope is there to save it unless we have one to study and prove its existence? It is a necessary but unfortunate requirement to get a hold of a body.

I also don’t think proving their existence is so urgent that we have to kill one right now. Proving it exists tomorrow might vindicate a few egos, but that’s not a reason IMHO to kill a rare living creature if you’re lucky enough to be confronted with one. If they do exist, real evidence will inevitably be discovered with time.

Assuming it exists, what makes you think your – or Bigfoot’s – chances of surviving the encounter would be any better with a tranquilizer gun?

Despite what many movies show, getting hit with a tranquilizer dart does not instantly render the victim unconscious. The dosage must be carefully calibrated to the creature’s size, weight and physiology. Too much of the drug puts the subject to sleep for good; not enough and you’re left with a large, powerful, disoriented – not to mention scared and/or enraged – individual that’s just been “shot” by you. Even if you get your dosage “just right,” it takes several minutes for the drug to take effect; again, giving the target a window of opportunity to place itself, or you, in danger.

I might also add that, assuming Bigfoot is a social animal, you might have a difficult time persuading its companions that the mother/father/child (etc.) you just “shot” is “only sleeping” and will be “ok” in a few minutes…!

IMHO, better bring along a “real gun,” just in case…

If you ran across God/Allah/Jesus/etc. in the woods, would you shoot him/her and haul him/her out, call the press, scientists, anthropologists, et al, to show the world that He or she is the real deal? For me personally, I think any reason one could come up for doing so, would still (no matter how one rationalizes it) be undeniably steeped in ego and ultimately would probably be the death knell for Bigfoot. They have survived and thrived apparently, because to the majority of people, they are just a myth. Make them a reality and their number will surely decline.

If proved, many will at first be enthralled with the news. Some may be inspired to go hunt them as trophies for their walls, others may want to hunt them just for sadistic pleasure or curiosity. Some may want to put them in a zoo to “protect” them and to allow the public to observe them behind iron bars or glass walls; some scientists may want to do “valuable” research and use them as specimens. Others will want to take them out of the woods and “civilize” them and educate them. Still others may want to put them in a circus. Then here come the lawyers to jump into the fray to “protect” them (you know, equal rights for Bigfoot, right?) And how about the ACLU? I mean the Bigfoot that live here in the good ol’ USA are considered Americans, right? Or would they fall under the protection of the American Wildlife Foundation?

See where all this could lead to? So many ripples in the pond, just from one single dead Bigfoot. I’d personally rather see a live “myth” continue to exist and hopefully prosper, than witness a dead “reality”.

JMHO

I think it was Finding Bigfoot this season (now don’t start on me–you know how I feel about that show too), there was an incident where a boy was walking and happened upon one. It yelled at him and all that, and I believe (if I remember the account properly) he dropped to his knees and covered his head. ANd, it went away.

If BF’s are indeed large primates, then most likely they’ll follow the usual patterns and if you go submissive in the presence of one, avert your eyes and all that business, the likelihood is that it will walk away and leave you alone. Of all of the accounts I’ve read recently across a dozen states or more, there’s only been one account I’ve come across where a BF actually did harm to a person and the details were sketchy on that one. Most encounters include accounts of a BF screaming at them (intimidation), or throwing rocks (ditto), and following someone until they vacate the area.

That is not the behavior of a violent animal. It’s a predator no doubt, but we’re not its prey or there’d be a lot more people disappearing in the woods. I have little doubt that if a BF wanted to hit someone with one of those thrown rocks, it would have been right on target–there have been too many encounters where a rock landed just close enough (again to intimidate) or ricocheted off a tree near someone’s head, which tells me that it hit what it was aiming at.

I’m with everyone here when they say, “If my life was in danger I would act to protect myself or my family.” I’d do the same, without a doubt. However, in this instance, I don’t believe that BF’s constitute a threat to people directly–unless someone injures one, invades its territory and antagonizes it or takes that first violent action.

BF’s are not violent critters by nature. They may kill animals to survive, or even to protect themselves, but that’s not aggressive violence. That’s survival.

Is there risk? You bet. But it has to be done, sooner or later. Those that set out to do so must take every precaution to make BIG TIME DARN TOOTING SURE that what they fire upon is neither a human being or a Bear (certain tech like night vision combined with thermograph goggles, particularly latter ones as clear or clearer than that featured in the Movie “Predators”, in order to better distinguish what you are targeting). They need not get too trigger-happy. But a true physical type specimen must be found, and whether you capture or kill one, it leads to the same thing: discovery.

But even so, I would probably do it anyway, just to put an end to this argument. It appears to me that the only way this animal will receive proper protection is to present a killed body as evidence it exists.

I would only do it if I had a way of immediately recovering the carcass. This, to me, means a 4X4 truck, an ATV, or a tractor handy. I strongly suspect that a dead Bigfoot left in the woods would be gone by the time a person could return with something to move it with.

As far as shooting a costumed human goes, I don’t think Bigfoots look like humans in Ghilley suits. They may look a lot like a human in a gorilla suit. This leads me to ask, “what would a person be doing wearing a gorilla suit in Bigfoot country?”

It is important for anyone who would shoot a Bigfoot be sure that is what it really is. It would also be important for that hunter not to put himself in a position where he may have to kill more than one to protect himself.