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August 14, 2008

Commentary
Two Georgians claim they have a
bigfoot carcass preserved in freezer


By JIM MATTHEWS
Outdoor News Service

 

There is finally proof of Bigfoot, that legendary, hulking primate that skulks through the backwoods of the South and Pacific Northwest, almost always eluding detection.
Or not.
Two apparently credible Georgians, Matthew Whitton and Rick Dyer, claim they have a frozen carcass of a Bigfoot they found in the woods of Northern Georgia in July. Whitton is a Clayton County police officer, recently shot in the hand in the line of duty, and Dyer is a former correctional officer. Like a lot of Southerners, both are devout believers in Bigfoot.
Both are not the likely hoaxsters, even though there have been a litany of hoaxes when it comes to Bigfoot, including some unlikely ones. But a lot of enthusiasts who want – once and for all – the existence of Bigfoot to be proven, are saying this one smells like the real deal.
Well-known Bigfoot hunter, Tom Biscardi, a Redwood City man who did the documentary “Bigfoot Lives,” was contacted by Whitton and Dyer to help them unveil the animal’s carcass and – of course – profit from it. The trio are having a press conference today in Palo Alto to unveil the photos of the carcass and share the DNA evidence results that was gathered from a piece of “tissue, hair, blood, the whole nine yards,” according to Biscardi, who had a Bay Area scientist and lab do the work-up.
They’ve also promised Fox news to let them film the frozen body next week.
Of course, there is still time for the house trailer (or whatever) holding the freezer with the Bigfoot to burn down, Bigfoot terrorists to discover the secret location of the body and steal it, and so on. We’ve all been down this road before.
While Whitton and Dyer are laying low until tomorrow, Biscardi has been more than willing to talk, and he – quite frankly – sounds like a kid who just caught his first two-pound bluegill.
“What I saw blew me away,” he said of the experience of seeing the dead Bigfoot in the freezer. “I touched it. I saw it. I measured it.”
Even though he says he’s now seen the frozen specimen, Biscardi admitted that he was a skeptic when invited to see the animal on a live talk show last week. The host asked if the two men would show him the carcass, but they said no, but they’d take Biscardi. So Biscardi got on a plane and remembers thinking to himself, “I’m either the stupidest SOB in the world or the smartest.”
Biscardi, who says he’s had six Bigfoot encounters with live animals, said the two guys were “straight up” and in the first meeting showed him pictures and gave him the samples for DNA testing. In their next meeting, he was shown the frozen animal.
“It was cloak and dagger sort of stuff. I thought they were going to blindfold me, and they had this guy there with an Uzi guarding the freezer,” said Biscardi.
Whitton and Dyer, in an interview in the Fayette Daily News July 24, were going to great lengths to keep the location secret because they know the animal will be valuable. In that interview, Dyer said he and Whitton plan to sell the Bigfoot carcass for a lot of cash.
"As of right now," Dyer was quoted as saying, "we've been offered a million bucks for it, from a very credible source. But we'll make 10 times that. This will change history forever."
Biscardi says he’s interested in getting as much information as possible for the scientific community, one of his key reasons for getting involved.


There are still a number of elements that make the story sound too much like a hoax:


Whitton and Dyer shot a video of a relative claiming to be a pathologist acting amazed at the sight of the frozen animal and posted it on U-Tube.
The has been a long delay in unveiling the animal and not telling the location where it was found, ostensibly because they want to “go out and try to get one alive,” according to their public relations agent Robert Barrows.
And why would you need a public relations agent when the world will beat a path to your door as soon as you show the proof?
There’s also supposedly a video the two men shot when they were hauling out the 500-plus pound carcass. Apparently they were shadowed by up to three other, live animals that followed them out of the woods. At one point, they were able to get good footage of one of the live animals. Where’s that tape?
Even the dedicated believers in Bigfoot are worried this is just another hoax. Tal H. Branco, who runs the AlabamaBigfoot.com website and has collected accounts from all over his state, said he hoped it was the real deal, but that “it does sound like just another hoax.”
Branco, like so many long-time rural backwoodsmen, has three stories of his own encounters with Bigfoot. He spends most of his free time these days roaming the woods hoping to get a glimpse of an animal he knows is out there and talking with people who’ve had encounters.
For a lot of people, an actual carcass would prove to themselves and their family and friends that they are not crazy.
But then again, it would also remove some of the romance and magic of it all. After Friday, will Bigfoot become just another endangered animal?

Crowley Lake Stillwater Classic
Raises $12,400 to plant more browns


The Second Annual Stillwater Classic, a fun fly-fishing competition and fundraiser to generate funds to plant brown trout in Crowley Lake, eclipsed the inaugural 2007 event by more than 50 percent, raising $12,400 for the trout plants.
Don Goodyear was named "Lord of the Fly," taking first place in the indivdual category by landing seven fish, and Team Cybertrout, Bill Hammons and Bryan McBride, took the top honors in the team category with 13 fish.
The Deep Creek Flyfishers team from of Riverside took second place in the team category. Russell Smith of Redlands and Ernie Gulley of Rubidoux, landed a total of 11 trout. Smith had a first-place tying seven trout, but didn’t enter the individual category.
“There are some beautiful browns coming out of Crowley again,” said Smith. “They cleared more than $10,000 for this event, so that’s a lot more brown trout for the lake.”
Smith said the fishing was tough the day of the tournament. He and Gulley prefished Crowley the day before the event and they landed more trout, and “some really huge fish.” Smith said that Gulley caught a Crowley trophy trifecta, landing a 24-inch brown trout (estimated to weigh over six pounds), a 22-inch cutthroat trout, and a 21-inch rainbow trout. The Trophy Trifecta consists of all three species caught in a single day, and all topping the magical 20-inch mark.
The bulk of the Crowley action has been on No. 16 or 18 midge larva or pupae patterns fished below a strike indicator in eight to 10 feet of water, but Smith said that Goodyear was fishing with perch imitations around the wed beds. The trout have moved in to chase perch minnows and damsel fly nymphs, besides feeding on the midges.

OUTDOOR CALENDAR

AUGUST 16 NORCO HUNTER SAFETY CLASS: A one-day, 10-hour certified hunter safety class will be held at Mike Raahauge's Shooting Enterprises, Norco. Classes are required for all first-time California hunters before a hunting license can be purchased. Cost is $35 per person. The remaining 2008 class dates are Aug. 23, 24, 30, Sept. 13, Oct. 11, Nov. 1, Dec. 6. Sign-ups are taken at all Turner's Outdoorsman stores. Contact Raahauge's at 951-735-7981.
AUGUST 22 FRIENDS OF THE NRA MOUNTAIN COMMUNITIES FUND-RAISER: The Mountain Communities Friends of the NRA will have its annual banquet beginning 5 p.m., Friday, August 22, at the Lake Arrowhead Resort, 27984 Highway 189, Lake Arrowhead. Dinner tickets are $50 per person. Contact: Warren Weir at 909-941-1496 or via e-mail at mtncomfnra@live.com.
AUGUST 20 CALIFORNIA WATERFOWL CHINO FUND-RAISER: The Chino Chapter of the California Waterfowl Association will have its annual fund-raising dinner beginning 5:30 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 20 at the Chino Fairgrounds, 5410 Edison Ave., Chino. Tickets are $50 per person, $75 per couple. Contacts: Jim Morton at 909-391-6512 or Tom Homen at 209-587-0886. Web site: www.calwaterfowl.org.
AUGUST 23 HOG HUNTING A TO Z SEMINAR: There will be a six-hour compendium wild hog hunting class at Bass Pro Shop, Rancho Cucamonga, beginning 10 a.m., Saturday, August 23. The $100 seminar will be conducted by Jim Matthews, editor of California Hog Hunter, a newsletter on hunting wild hogs, and Durwood Hollis, hunting book author and public land hog hunting expert. Guest presenters include Tejon Ranch hog hunting guide Ron Gayer and GPS expert Dennis Phillips. Information and reservations by calling 909-887-3444 or www.outdoornewsservice.com/hogs/seminars.html.
AUGUST 23 NORCO HUNTER SAFETY CLASS: A one-day, 10-hour certified hunter safety class will be held at Mike Raahauge's Shooting Enterprises, Norco. Classes are required for all first-time California hunters before a hunting license can be purchased. Cost is $35 per person. The remaining 2008 class dates are Aug. 24, Aug. 30, Sept. 13, Oct. 11, Nov. 1, Dec. 6. Sign-ups are taken at all Turner's Outdoorsman stores. Contact Raahauge's at 951-735-7981.
AUGUST 23-24 CAMP CADY WORK PROJECT: The Mojave Water-for-Wildlife Volunteer Group is coordinating a major two-day work detail to make improvements at the Camp Cady Wildlife Area, an unstaffed Department of Fish and Game wildlife area on the Mojave River 30 miles east of Barstow. Volunteers and a wide range of equipment and material are needed for this effort. For more information, a laundry list of work to be done, and directions to the camp site, contact Cliff McDonald at 760-326-2935 or via e-mail at bigmc@citlink.net.
AUGUST 24 NORCO HUNTER SAFETY CLASS: A one-day, 10-hour certified hunter safety class will be held at Mike Raahauge's Shooting Enterprises, Norco. Classes are required for all first-time California hunters before a hunting license can be purchased. Cost is $35 per person. The remaining 2008 class dates are Aug. 30, Sept. 13, Oct. 11, Nov. 1, Dec. 6. Sign-ups are taken at all Turner's Outdoorsman stores. Contact Raahauge's at 951-735-7981.
AUGUST 30 INLAND EMPIRE NWTF BANQUET: The Inland Empire Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation will have its second annual Hunting Heritage Banquet beginning 5:30 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 30 at the Elks Lodge, 2055 Elk’s Drive, San Bernardino. Tickets are $60 per person, $90 per couple. Contact numbers, 909-380-3629, 909-208-2212, or 909-815-5682.
AUGUST 30 NORCO HUNTER SAFETY CLASS: A one-day, 10-hour certified hunter safety class will be held at Mike Raahauge's Shooting Enterprises, Norco. Classes are required for all first-time California hunters before a hunting license can be purchased. Cost is $35 per person. The remaining 2008 class dates are Sept. 13, Oct. 11, Nov. 1, Dec. 6. Sign-ups are taken at all Turner's Outdoorsman stores. Contact Raahauge's at 951-735-7981.
AUGUST 30-31 BAKERSFIELD GUN SHOW: The Central Coast Gun Shows Bakersfield event will be held Saturday and Sunday, August 30-31 at the Kern County Fairgrounds, Bakersfield. The next Bakersfield gun show will be Nov. 22-23. Information at www.centralcoastgunshows.com.
AUGUST 31 CALIFORNIA WATERFOWL IMPERIAL VALLEY FUND-RAISER: The Imperial Valley Chapter of the California Waterfowl Association will have its fun dove opener fund-raising dinner beginning 6:30 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 31 at Aspen In The Desert, 595 W. Main St., Brawley. Tickets are $30 per person. Contacts: Frank Bailey at 760-359-0200, Hollis Daker at 909-615-6329, Keith Cowell at 760-455-8990, or Frank Theodoropoulos at 714-227-3304. Web site: www.calwaterfowl.org.
SEPTEMBER 6 RANCHO CUCAMONGA HUNTER SAFETY CLASS: A one-day, 10-hour certified hunter safety class will be held at Bass Pro Shop, Rancho Cucamonga. Classes are required for all first-time California hunters before a hunting license can be purchased. These free classes are held from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. the first Saturday of each month at Bass Pro and limited to 40 people. Reservations by calling Bass Pro at 909-922-5500.
SEPTEMBER 6-7 CONCEALED CARRY WEAPON COURSE: A 16-hour California Concealed Carry Weapon (CCW) course is being offered by Firearms Training Associates at Mike Raahauge's Shooting Enterprises this Saturday and Sunday. Cost is $180 per person. This course meets the state requirement for 16 hours of training to qualify for a CCW (not valid in San Bernardino County). Other dates for 2008 classes are Oct. 4-5, Nov. 1-2, and Dec. 6-7. Contact FTA at 714-701-9918 or 877-544-4867. The web site is www.ftatv.com.
SEPTEMBER 13 NORCO HUNTER SAFETY CLASS: A one-day, 10-hour certified hunter safety class will be held at Mike Raahauge's Shooting Enterprises, Norco. Classes are required for all first-time California hunters before a hunting license can be purchased. Cost is $35 per person. The remaining 2008 class dates are Oct. 11, Nov. 1, Dec. 6. Sign-ups are taken at all Turner's Outdoorsman stores. Contact Raahauge's at 951-735-7981.
OCTOBER 4 RANCHO CUCAMONGA HUNTER SAFETY CLASS: A one-day, 10-hour certified hunter safety class will be held at Bass Pro Shop, Rancho Cucamonga. Classes are required for all first-time California hunters before a hunting license can be purchased. These free classes are held from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. the first Saturday of each month at Bass Pro and limited to 40 people. Reservations by calling Bass Pro at 909-922-5500.
OCTOBER 4-5 CONCEALED CARRY WEAPON COURSE: A 16-hour California Concealed Carry Weapon (CCW) course is being offered by Firearms Training Associates at Mike Raahauge's Shooting Enterprises this Saturday and Sunday. Cost is $180 per person. This course meets the state requirement for 16 hours of training to qualify for a CCW (not valid in San Bernardino County). Other dates for 2008 classes are Nov. 1-2 and Dec. 6-7. Contact FTA at 714-701-9918 or 877-544-4867. The web site is www.ftatv.com.
OCTOBER 11 NORCO HUNTER SAFETY CLASS: A one-day, 10-hour certified hunter safety class will be held at Mike Raahauge's Shooting Enterprises, Norco. Classes are required for all first-time California hunters before a hunting license can be purchased. Cost is $35 per person. The remaining 2008 class dates are Nov. 1 and Dec. 6. Sign-ups are taken at all Turner's Outdoorsman stores. Contact Raahauge's at 951-735-7981.
DECEMBER 20 CALIFORNIA WATERFOWL IMPERIAL VALLEY FUND-RAISER: The Imperial Valley Chapter of the California Waterfowl Association will have its mid-season fund-raising dinner banquet beginning 5 p.m., Saturday, Dec. at the St. Patricks’s Community Center, 133 E. Church, Calipatria. Dinner tickets are $55 per person, $80 a couple. Contacts: Frank Bailey at 760-359-0200 or Keith Cowell at 760-455-8990. Web site: www.calwaterfowl.org.

CALENDAR RESOURCES


For a complete list of HUNTER SAFETY CLASSES held throughout the state, including times, dates, and locations, go to the Department of Fish and Game’s web site at this address: http://www.dfg.ca.gov/huntered/classes.aspx.
For the rules and regulations on GRUNION RUNS, along with a complete schedule and the expected times of the runs, go to this web site address: http://www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/gruschd.asp

CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS


The following is a list of hunting, shooting, and fishing clubs and organizations in Southern California with contact information and regular meeting dates:


976-TUNA ROD AND REEL CLUB: The 976-Tuna Rod and Reel Club meets 7 p.m. the first Thursday of each month at Bass Pro Shops, Rancho Cucamonga. At the December meeting a free trip to Palmas de Cortez in Baja will be given away. Contact Phil Friedman at 310-328-8426.
CALIFORNIA STATE VARMINT CALLERS ASSOCIATION: The California State Varmint Callers Association meets 7 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month at the Denny's just north of the 210 freeway at Irwindale Ave., Irwindale. Contact Steven Childs at 626-407-8826 or steve@sdchilds.com. Web site: www.csvca.com.
CANYON OAKS SPORTSMAN’S CLUB: The Canyon Oaks Sportsman’s Club meets the first Tuesday of every month at it’s clubhouse in Lakeview Terrace-Sylmar. The club has regular trap, skeet, smallbore, big bore, handgun, and Cowboy Action shooting events. Contact Gary White at 818-998-7240, Mike Totta at 818-362-2181 or Mike Nickoloff via e-mail at idpamike@yahoo.com.
CERRITOS ROD & GUN CLUB: The Cerritos Rod & Gun Club meets the second Wednesday of each month at Heritage Park in Cerritos. Contact Charles Sharp at 714-317-8290 or fish_90605@yahoo.com.
CLUB FISH: Club Fish, a 20-year-old fishing club, meets 7:30 p.m. the second Wednesday of each month at the Izaak Walton League Clubhouse, Santa Ana. The clubhouse is located at the entrance to Riverview Gold Course. Contact Mike Cross at 949-854-5258 or m_r_cross@yahoo.com.
    DEEP CREEK FLY-FISHERS: Deep Creek Fly-Fishers meets on the fourth Wednesday of each month at the Izaak Walton League clubhouse in Fairmont Park, in Riverside. Go to www.deepcreekflyfishers.org to download a map to the club house. Contact Brett Browning at 909-793-8912.
HIGH DESERT FLY-FISHERS: The High Desert Fly-Fishers holds its monthly meetings on the second Thursday of each month at The Apple Valley Fire Conference Center, 19235 Yucca Loma, Apple Valley. Contact John Rose at 760-247-5966.
HIGHLAND PARK SPORTSMEN'S CLUB: The Highland Park Sportsmen's Club meets at 8 p.m. the first and third Wednesday of each month at 2035 Colorado Blvd., Los Angeles. Contact Mauro Garcia at 323-254-0763 or incareal@juno.com.
NATIONAL VARMINT HUNTERS: The National Varmint Hunters meets 7:30 p.m. the second Wednesday of each month at the Veterans of Foreign Wars club located on Grand Avenue, just west of 17th Street, Santa Ana. Contact Mark Harris at 714-655-6954 or mhitis1@yahoo.com or Terry Mathers at 714-299-9938 or coyote@jps.net.
NATIONAL WILD TURKEY FEDERATION (HIGH DESERT CHAPTER): The High Desert Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation meets 6:30 p.m. the first Thursday of each month at the Apple Valley Gun Club, 16699 Stoddard Wells Rd., Victorville. Contact Dave Recce at 760-956-7092 or Dave Halbrook at 760-553-2794.
NATIONAL WILD TURKEY FEDERATION (ORANGE COUNTY CHAPTER): The Orange County Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation meets 6 p.m. the third Tuesday of each month at The Firing Line, 17921 Jamestown Lane, Huntington Beach. Contact Pat Ryan at 714-373-3688 or Casey Rasmussen at 714-377-5859.
ORANCO BOWMEN: The ORANCO Bowmen meet the second Tuesday of each month at the club range, 17504 Pomona Rincon Rd., Chino (Euclid Avenue one block north of the 71 freeway). The range is open to the public on Sundays 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Call 909-597-7582. Web site: www.oranco.org.
ORANGE COUNTY BASS CLUB: The Orange County Bass Club meets 7 p.m. the third Monday of each month at the Garden Grove Elk's Lodge. Contact Steve Pendergast at 949-651-8172 or prendergasts@netzero.com.
PLUNGE CREEK COWBOYS: The Plunge Creek Cowboys, a new Cowboy Action Shooting club in the Inland Empire, has shoots the third Saturday of each month at the Inland Fish and Game range on Orange Street in East Highlands. Authentic or replica firearms and garb required. Information: www.plungecreekcowboys.com.
PREDATOR CALLERS OF ORANGE COUNTY: The Predator Callers of Orange County meet 7 p.m. on the first Tuesday of the month at the Denny's restaurant, 7490 Edinger Ave., Huntington Beach. Contact Rickey Macy via e-mail at rickmacey@juno.com.
QUAIL UNLIMITED (HIGH DESERT CHAPTER): The High Desert Chapter of Quail Unlimited meets 6 p.m. the third Tuesday of each month at the Apple Valley Gun Club. Contact Cruz Garcia at 760-949-6334 or fathercruz@verizon.net.
QUAIL UNLIMITED (ORANGE COUNTY CHAPTER): The Orange County Chapter of Quail Unlimited meets 7 p.m. the first Tuesday of each month at the Izaak Walton League Clubhouse (located at the entrance to Riverview Golf Course) in Santa Ana. Contact Craig Riedel at 714-282-1194 or criedel@mflex.com.
QUAIL UNLIMITED (RIVERSIDE CHAPTER): The Riverside Chapter of Quail Unlimited meets 7 p.m. the second Thursday of each month at Prado Olympic Shooting Park, 17501 Pomona Rincon Road, Chino (one block west of Euclid, just off the 71 freeway). Contact Ron Gibbons at 909-902-9814 or gibbent@gte.net. Web site: www.quriverside.com.
QUAIL UNLIMITED (SAN DIEGO CHAPTER): The San Diego Chapter of Quail Unlimited meets 6:30 p.m. the third Thursday of each month at DFG Headquarters at 4949 Viewridge Rd., San Diego. Contact David Preddy at davidpreddy@cox.net or visit www.sdqu.org.
QUAIL UNLIMITED (SAN GABRIEL VALLEY CHAPTER): The San Gabriel Valley Chapter of Quail Unlimited meets 6 p.m. the second Wednesday of each month at Triple B Clays in El Monte. Contact Tim Bovard at 866-206-9070, ext. 6715 or sgvqu@onebox.com.
REDONDO ROD & GUN CLUB: The Redondo Rod & Gun Club meets 8 p.m. every Thursday of every month at its own clubhouse. The club has promoted hunting, fishing, sport shooting and the outdoors since 1948. The clubhouse is located at 2023 Vanderbilt Lane, Redondo Beach. Contact 310-379-7772.
RIVERSIDE VARMINT CALLERS: The Riverside Varmint Callers meet 7 p.m. the last Saturday of each month at Flo's Country Kitchen, Riverside. Contact Lance Cochrane at 909-919-4309 or Ray Gauthier at 951-785-4986. Web site:www.californiavarmintcallers.com/chapters.html/.
SAN DIEGO SPORTING DOG CLUB: The San Diego Sporting Dog Club meets 7 p.m. the second Wednesday of each month at the Animal Medical Center, 600 Broadway, El Cajon. Contact Steve Sarmiento at 619-659-9393 or sssarmi@sbcglobal.net.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA VARMINT CALLERS ASSOCIATION: The Southern California Varmint Callers Association meets 8 p.m. the first Wednesday of each month at the Denny's Restaurant at Pioneer Blvd and Imperial Highway in Norwalk. Contact Granville Crow at 310-548-6221 or crowshot1@cox.net or Skip Gildner at 562-900-9020 or mtnhigh5@excite.com.
TEMPLE CITY SPORTSMEN: The Temple City Sportsmen meet the first Thursday of each month at the Temple City Civic Center in Temple City. Contact Jim White at 626-201-7782 or TCSPresident2006@yahoo.com.
TURNER'S OUTDOORSMAN ROD AND REEL CLUB: The Turner's Outdoorsman Rod and Reel Club meets 7 p.m. the second Wednesday of each month at Marie Calendar’s Restaurant, 2300 Foothill, Pasadena. Contact Richard Crowe at 626-960-9610.
 

[Want your event or club listed here? Send the information to Jim Matthews, Outdoor News Service, P.O. Box 9007, San Bernardino, CA 92427-0007 or e-mail it to odwriter@charter.net. Following the style used above for events and clubs makes our life easier and increases the likelihood of it being included here.]

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