Post by Graveyardbride on Jan 22, 2021 13:55:51 GMT -5
Oklahoma Lawmaker Hopes to Establish Bigfoot Hunting Season
On Wednesday (Jan. 20), Oklahoma State Representative Justin Humphrey (R-Lane) filed House Bill 1648, which would establish an official Bigfoot hunting season and, in effect, declare the elusive cryptid real. The bill reads:
“The Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission shall promulgate rules establishing a big foot hunting season. The Commission shall set annual season dates and create any necessary specific hunting licenses and fees. This act shall become effective November 1, 2021.”
Humphrey elaborated on his proposal in a press release. “Tourism is one of the biggest attractions we have in my House district,” the release read. “Establishing an actual hunting season and issuing licenses for people who want to hunt Bigfoot will just draw more people to our already beautiful part of the state. It will be a great way for people to enjoy our area and to have some fun. A lot of people don’t believe in Bigfoot, but a lot of people do. Just like some people like to go deer-hunting, while some don’t.”
The lawmaker quickly added he doesn’t want people to actually kill Bigfoot and will be working with the state wildlife and tourism departments crafting language for his bill, specifying that Bigfoot is to be trapped, not shot. He also is hoping to secure at least a $25,000 bounty for the first person to trap the elusive creature.
According to the Bigfoot Field Research Organization (BFRO), Oklahoma is one of the top 10 states for Bigfoot sightings in the U.S., ranking 9th, with 104 sightings and 2.6 sightings per 100,000 population. Washington state is No. 1 with 676 sightings and 8.9 sightings per 100,000. Other states in the top 10 are Oregon, West Virginia, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Arkansas, Alaska and Ohio.
States with the most Bigfoot sightings overall are: Washington state, California, Florida, Ohio and Illinois.
The five states where one is least likely to have a Bigfoot “encounter” are Nevada, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Delaware.
Sources: Andrew Daniels, Popular Mechanics, January 21, 2021; Kaylee Douglas, KFOR, January 21, 2021; and KOCO, January 21, 2021; Kevin Severin, KOKH, July 29, 2020; and Bigfoot Field Research Organization.
