Hunting is ingrained in our very blood. From as far back as people have existed, they have hunted in some way or another. They had to do it to survive in times where foraging or growing crops was simply not an option. To this day, people continue to hunt so they can enjoy the meat, despite it being sold at stores as well.
Hunting is also extremely controversial. Some claim that since there is already ample food at the store, there is no reason to hunt a wild animal, though some hunters know it’s more complicated than that. Trophy hunting, however, is a whole different animal, no pun intended. Some find it cruel.
Trophy hunting is all about hunting the biggest, baddest animals on Earth for no other reason than the bragging rights. The irony is that there’s usually very little skill involved since trackers and guides do most the work. If there was one beast who would make the biggest and baddest trophy, what would it be? Bigfoot.
It may feel ridiculous to think about, but Bigfoot would certainly make for an impressive trophy for any hunter. The elusive creature is among the many fantastic beasts that humans have mythologized. People claim to have seen bigfoot, and some have even allegedly taken pictures and video, but despite all of our great technology, no certifiable proof has ever been found. At this point, it is safe to say that Bigfoot isn’t real, or at the very least, he hasn’t been alive for a long time.
That hasn’t stopped people from obsessing over the mythological creature. People actively hunt and study the creature to this very day. That’s why one lawmaker from Oklahoma is pushing for an official hunting season for Bigfood. Have people lost their minds, or is this just a bit of fun that’s gone all the way to the courts?
Before you ask why anyone would want to kill Bigfoot, don’t worry. They aren’t planning on that at all. Justin Humphrey is a Republican state rep who is responsible for the bill. He talked to The Oklahoman about how this isn’t about killing Bigfoot. “I want to be really clear that we are not going to kill Bigfoot. We are going to trap a live Bigfoot. We are not promoting killing Bigfoot. We are promoting hunting Bigfoot, trying to find evidence of Bigfoot.”
Although that’s what Justin Humphrey claims, the bill itself doesn’t talk about that, though it does point to the rules, feed, and dates of the season. His plan is to offer a bounty of $25,000 for anyone who can trap the ancient beast. The Wildlife commission is not too interested in any of this.
Micah Holmes of the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation thinks the biggest hurdle is the fact that Bigfoot isn’t real. “We use science-driven research, and we don’t recognize Bigfoot in the state of Oklahoma.” Humphrey, however, believes this is something that could help boost tourism.
But Humphrey said it would be great for tourism and outdoor recreation. “Having a license and a tag would give people a way to prove they participated in the hunt. Again, the overall goal is to get people to our area to enjoy the natural beauty and to have a great time, and if they find Bigfoot while they’re at it, well hey, that’s just an even bigger prize.” Humphrey has been in the news for other headline-worthy bills before, including a situation where he claimed to like the term “host” for pregnant women.
