Through The Hunter's Scope

Editor’s Note: This is a guest post by Tom Fonner. He has been exploring the backcountry of Arizona for over 30 years. He enjoys the solitude and peace of the outdoors with a passion for wildlife, nature, and landscape photography, tracking, hiking, camping, and fishing. You can visit his blog at swbri.blogspot.com.

Months of preparation and a lifetime of experience will play out in a single moment, a split second decision, that will define my place in the record books forever. I have thought of every possible scenario that would dictate my every move for the next two weeks. Each possible mistake has been considered with an alternate plan of action that will still guarantee my quest to dispatch an adult male Sasquatch. This one moment will lay to rest all the questions and speculation of its existence.

The extensive plans would begin with a selected drop zone for the helicopter to leave three of us in a remote region of the northwest. This location is twelve miles from the area chosen for the hunt. Our research left little doubt of where I would have the most success. Two of my closest friends would set up a base camp approximately three miles from the ridge line I had selected for observation. After leaving my two friends behind, there would be no communication until the hunt was completed. I was confident and ready to venture out for the most exhilarating few days of my life.

Two days had passed on this remote ridge with no sightings of Sasquatch. My focus on the task at hand could not have been stronger. I was not the type of person that would give up or believed in failure. On the morning of the third day I caught my first glimpse of Sasquatch. This was not the one I wanted. It appeared to be a male but it was much smaller than I expected. This was just like a young deer foraging ahead of the more mature an seasoned trophy buck. This individual had no idea of my presence, and I knew that with patience I would eventually see an adult male.

Just before dusk on the third day I saw movement near a small rock formation. I had to rely on the quality glass of my scope and the hope for a few more minutes of light. The sight was quite unexpected. I was privileged to observe a baby Sasquatch. In another place, and another time, I would think I was watching a baby gorilla or chimpanzee. In this very brief moment I saw the innocence of life, and I was bothered by the overwhelming human like qualities of this baby. The night fell quickly and I was hard pressed to sleep. What I had seen placed me at odds with my drive for fame and my deep seated moral beliefs. This had become much more than an elaborate hunting trip and a quest for a trophy. I did not see a Sasquatch, I saw a baby.

The next morning began with the drive to continue on and to complete the hunt. I had reasoned away my moral character and placed the images from the previous night into the deep recesses of my mind. It was late afternoon when I had my next sighting. This time it was definitely a female and close behind her was the baby. I quickly put down the scope and again tried to reason with my sanity. Regardless of the species I would never dispatch a female or hurt the baby. It made no difference if it was a bear or a Sasquatch. I assured myself that I was not in the wrong and continued on. The day quickly passed and I spent another night without much sleep. I was plagued with dreams of guilt for an act I had not yet done.

This was my last day before I had to check in with base camp. It was late in the day when I finally saw the trophy of my dreams. This was a massive creature. The adult male must have been seven plus feet in height and the weight I could not even guess. My hands began to sweat and I felt the nerves of a young hunter. All the hard work, the time, the money, and the dreams were culminating in this one very brief moment. The crosshairs were centered and I began to control my breathing. What happened next no one will ever believe. This magnificent creature slowly turned and stared at me as if it knew I was there. When I saw its eyes I no longer saw a trophy. I saw thought, concern, caring, and life itself. I became aware of my moral obligations and my true nature as a human being. I thought of the baby, its needs, the family structure, and in many ways I was blessed by this one time experience. The scope was lowered and a choice was made. Life became precious beyond reason that very moment for one. Maybe there is hope for others, and the quest for trophies, or a moment of fame, will succumb to the desire for preserving the existence of a rare and remarkable creature.