Deep in the heart of Texas, Bobby Hamilton has been on the hunt for Bigfoot ever since encountering the monster as a child. Decades later, the world still doesn’t have definitive proof of Bigfoot’s existence. That’s where Bobby, his friend Jim Lansdale, and their team of monster hunters, known as the Gulf Coast Bigfoot Research Organization, have decided to take matters into their own hands.
Down south, the hunters believe a sleeker, faster and more aggressive type of Bigfoot is attacking people’s homes, farm animals and pets. In the all-new series “Killing Bigfoot,” GCBRO is on a mission to help families terrorized by Bigfoot and prove once and for all that the fabled creature exists by killing one specimen – and providing a body of definitive scientific proof. The six-episode first season of “Killing Bigfoot” premieres today at 9 p.m. on Destination America.
Managing Editor Megan Whitworth chatted with Bobby about GCBFO, his personal experience with Bigfoot, and the search for the creature. Keep reading to learn more about Bobby and the hunt for Bigfoot.
TFCL: Tell me about Gulf Coast Bigfoot Research Organization.
Bobby: It was formed to get answers and find out more about the creature because the information that is currently available in books doesn’t answer any questions.
TFCL: Tell me about what you do.
Bobby: I am the founder and director of GCBRO. We investigate reports from people who have had Bigfoot encounters and sightings, and from families who have nuisance creatures around their homes. We get involved on a case by case basis and conduct a field investigation. Depending on what the witness wants done, we proceed to investigate. Do they want it gone or are they just curious? Answering these questions help us determine how we handle reports. Some people want answers and to learn more about what it is, but don’t necessarily want it gone. Some people want to be through with being terrorized and want it gone. We hunt and investigate depending to the reports that we get from landowners.
TFCL: What is Bigfoot?
Bobby: An unknown, unclassified, undocumented, primate
TFCL: What interested you in Bigfoot from the very beginning?
Bobby: I had an encounter as a child in East Texas (came up to window as child, beckoning me to come to the window in the middle of the night, found out later it did the same thing to my older brother three different times), and decided I needed answers as to what it was as no one could give definitive answer. There was a mysterious element about it that drew me in and inspired me to create the GCBRO. I needed to know what it was.
TFCL: What is myth versus what Bigfoot is really like?
Bobby: The myth everyone tends to believe is that they are a shy elusive creature, because people have encounters where they see one and it turns and leaves area with no aggressive behavior. However, not all encounters happen this way, there are many aggressive encounters. Everyone expects a shy, peaceful creature, and that’s simply not always the case.
TFCL: Where is Bigfoot’s habitat?/Where does he roam?
Bobby: They’re typically found in dense forest and heavily wooded areas, but (specifically in Texas) they’re found a lot more on the eastern side of Texas and along the rivers and larger creeks. The Sabine River Basin is a notorious area for sightings.
TFCL: Are they scared of people?
Bobby: I don’t think they’re scared of people, but it also depends on the individual creature that’s encountered. Some encounters end with creatures leaving area quickly and quietly, but other creatures display aggressive behavior towards people. Depends on individual creature. They don’t have televisions like we have, we are their entertainment. They sit there for hours and watch the things that we do.
TFCL: Have you had any personal experiences with Big Foot? Tell me about that.
Bobby: I have had many encounters. Recently, we had one come outside our tent in Polk County, Texas. It was growling at us and making noises. When we felt safe to exit the tent, we found foot prints right outside tent that measured 18 inches. In the tent were three grown men, not children with imaginations running wild. people in the tent – three grown men – no kids with overactive imaginations.
TFCL: What do you want the viewers to learn from your new show? What do you hope they take away?
Bobby: They should know that out of all these creatures, not all of them are going to be peaceful. There is a real danger upon encountering these animals, and it should be taken seriously. If you encounter them near your home or are terrorized by one, they should feel free to report it to us.
TFCL: Why bring the search to TV?
Bobby: We want to get our message out – because there is so much misinformation out there. People are under the impression that he’s a big lovable teddy bear that you can bring into your home, make friends with him, watch TV. This is undoubtedly a wild and unpredictable animal. There are too many misinformed people, and our goal is to promote safety and awareness for all.
TFCL: What have you learned over the years about Bigfoot?
Bobby: Number one is that they’re not all peaceful and friendly. There’s also an assumption that all bigfoot have five toes, which isn’t the case. We’ve found tracks with five, four, and three toes. Most down in the south have three toes. Regardless the number of toes, they all express different forms of aggression. We do believe the one with three toes has a tendency to be more aggressive and hostile than the others, perhaps due to inbreeding.
TFCL: Why has it been so hard to track Bigfoot over the years?
Bobby: We are dealing with the ultimate predator, not a normal woods animal that man has hunted before. We know how to hunt deer, bear, turkey, but there’s no field guide on how to hunt Bigfoot. You’re dealing with a creature that doesn’t want to be found. Only reason we are having any luck is because the aggressive ones let their guard down and come around people’s home and are terrorizing people, giving us an opportunity to hunt them.
TFCL: Do you believe they are closely related to humans?
Bobby: They are definitely not related to humans. Back in 2003 we shot one in the shoulder, the animal lived and has been seen several times since. However, we sent the blood in for testing and it was definitely not human. We also cross tested across all animal species and it still came back unknown.
TFCL: How many species of Bigfoot are there? Are there hundreds of them in the wild? Do they colonize?
Bobby: Can’t say for sure in terms of number of types/species. We’ve noted variations in several different ones we’ve come across (height, number of digits), but anyone who says they know for sure are just guessing and theorizing. There are thousands across the country. A lot of people question how there can be thousands, but when you look at the country as a whole and look at how many sightings are reported on a daily basis, it adds up to thousands of creatures. They do travel and hunt in groups and or pairs. When you see one there is likely another one close by.
TFCL: What should people do if they have come face to face with Big Foot?
Bobby: If you can think fast enough to take a photo, take one, and leave the area as quickly as possible. There’s a reason we don’t hunt them alone, and go in groups upwards of 10. If we shoot one, there’s always another one close by and they can get extremely hostile. They’re dangerous and aggressive creatures.
TFCL: What advice would you have for someone who interacts with Bigfoot?
Bobby: A Bigfoot’s temperament depends on individual creature itself. Nonetheless, you can never predict how a creature will react or what its intentions are, so you should always stay away and get out of the area if you do come across one. People need to understand they’re dealing with a wild animal. You wouldn’t go up and interact with a bear. It’s a massive, and even worse, unknown creature. It would make no sense to try to interact with something like that.
TFCL: What is your hope for the future for GCBRO?
Bobby: I hope the show goes over well and people enjoy it and that we become successful in our quest in hunting a Bigfoot, because in doing so, scientists can then study the creature, and we can get some answers. They can set up protection for these creatures, as their habitats are currently being destroyed by deforestation.
TFCL: What happens if you do find Bigfoot?
Bobby: It’s anybody’s guess, as it’s never been done before. We’ll present it to the scientific community, and it will undoubtedly be a life-changing event. It will open eyes around the world.
TFCL: What is the argument on Kill vs. No-kill?/What do you think should happen?
Bobby: Personally – people have a right to their opinions. What is frustrating for us is when we have people arguing on the side of No-Kill, yet, they don’t believe Bigfoot exists. If you don’t believe it exists why do you have a problem with us killing it? The No-Kill side doesn’t understand bigger picture. It is a matter of time until someone ends up killed by one of these creatures. This creature is being depleted of its habitat, and it needs a place to eat, live and survive. However, if it’s never proven to exist, safety and a protection can’t be set up for them, and they will go extinct. The biggest people opposing what we do are people who haven’t even been in the forest or the woods with the creatures, and they’re also not a part of the families who are dealing with these creatures terrorizing their homes. If they were in that position, they would have a different opinion about it. We’re not out to kill any Bigfoot we find. We have had many opportunities and encounters but are only out to hunt the aggressive male. There are undoubtedly more pro’s to killing than no-kill. The No-Kill side tries to bring to light evidence and photos, but in today’s Photoshop world, photos can’t serve as definitive proof. DNA samples are often contaminated. We need to have a specimen to document and classify, officially.
TFCL: Is there anything you would like to add?
Bobby: Watch the show! Saturday, Feb. 4 at 10/9 central on Destination America. You’ve seen the rest, come see the best. This is how it has to be done.
For more information on Gulf Coast Bigfoot Research Organization, visit gcbro.com.
