Is a .30-06 enough to take down Bigfoot? Oklahoma residents might have a chance to find out.
A state legislator in Oklahoma has filed a bill that would create a new hunting season for the elusive creature. The southeastern part of the state is known for Bigfoot sightings, and the legislation would call on the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission (OWCC) to “promulgate rules establishing a big foot hunting season.”
“The Commission shall set annual season dates and create any necessary specific hunting licenses and fees,” the legislation states.
Republican Rep. Justin Humphrey introduced the bill to promote tourism in his district. Towns in his district already attract tourists by selling Bigfoot souvenirs, and the nearby town of Honobia hosts an annual Bigfoot festival each October
“We’re trying to promote that festival, promote that area, try to get people to come into that area because we believe that if they come to our area, they’re going to want to come back,” Humphrey said in a video posted on Facebook.
Rather than a traditional rifle or bow hunting season, Humphrey wants the Commission to put up a $25,000 bounty for capturing Bigfoot. He stressed that he doesn’t want to see people venturing into the woods looking to shoot Bigfoot.
SEE ALSO: A Renaissance for America’s Greatest Outdoor Pastime
“This is about trapping Bigfoot. This is not about killing Bigfoot. This is not going to be an issue where we should have people running around with guns hunting Bigfoot,” he said. “This is a situation where people who really believe in Bigfoot are out there trying to find evidence of Bigfoot, trying to find whether he really exists. And if they want to, they can try to trap a live Bigfoot and get a live bounty of $25,000 if we’re able to get that kind of legislation passed.”
Humphrey indicated that the current version of the bill is not final.
He told the Oklahoman that he believes he has a 50-50 shot of passing his legislation.
“A lot of that has to do with how the media treats me on this,” Humphrey said. “If I go getting beat up on this, then the legislators are going to be scared to jump on it. If most people understand it as a good tourist attraction, and if it is presented like that, I think most of the legislators understand that.”
It’s unclear why prospective trappers or hunters currently need a license. The OWCC also doesn’t sound open to the idea.
“Here at the department, we use science to make management decisions, and we do not recognize Bigfoot as a wildlife species in Oklahoma,” Micah Holmes, Assistant Chief of the Information and Education Division, told Fox News.
SEE ALSO: Mossberg Announcing New Silver and Gold Reserve Over-Under Shotguns
Still, Humphrey’s bid to attract tourists may already be paying off. His proposal has received national media attention, and he claims he’s been contacted by people hoping to purchase a license just so they can frame it.
For himself, Humphrey doesn’t appear to be a Bigfoot true believer, but he recognizes that many others are.
“I have been in the woods all my life and I have not ever seen any sign of Bigfoot,” Humphrey told the Oklahoman. “I have never heard Bigfoot, but I have some people that I know that are good, solid people who I will guarantee you 100% have said they have had experience with Bigfoot. So, I know there are people out there that you will not convince that Bigfoot doesn’t exist.
“There are a lot of people, who really, really believe in Bigfoot and so it is going to give them the opportunity to come down. We want to make it a real deal. You can have a license. You can get out there and hunt this thing.”