Wyoming Camper Fires at Towering Creature During Midnight Tent Attack

A solo camper in Wyoming had one of the most heart-pounding close encounters imaginable when a massive Sasquatch decided to investigate his tent in the middle of the night. The story, shared on a recent episode of the Bigfoot Terror in the Woods podcast, comes from Paul Fleshman, a seasoned outdoorsman who regularly spends five to seven days alone in the wilderness as his way of "clearing the slate." Paul had set up camp on the outskirts of Shoshone National Forest, one of the most pristine and rugged wilderness areas in the country. The Shoshone, established in 1891, covers over 2.4 million acres in northwestern Wyoming and includes parts of the Wind River Range. It's the kind of remote, untouched terrain that any researcher would consider prime Sasquatch habitat. Paul had chosen to arrive three days before the full moon, a time he finds "enchanting" for forest camping, and on this particular night, everything aligned for an encounter he would never forget. It was around 1:00 a.m. Paul was lying in his tent with the flaps open, his bare feet resting on a bedroll, warmed by a fire about eight feet away. The full moon was high, and combined with the firelight, his entire tent glowed with a soft greenish hue. He had just stoked the fire when a shadow began moving across the side of his tent. There was no wind, no swaying branches, nothing that could explain it. Paul slowly rolled over and grabbed his .357. By the time he turned back, the shadow was directly next to him. What he saw next would freeze the blood of anyone. A large hand, fingers and all, was feeling the outside of his tent. The shadow of the body attached to that hand appeared ragged and shaggy, like a massive unkempt hound with hair protruding in every direction. Heavy breathing filled the night air. The end of his tent was wide open, just feet from where this towering figure now stood. Paul's mind raced through his options in an instant. Shoot through the tent. Jump out firing. Or wait and see if it would leave. The creature grew more aggressive, pushing harder against the top and sides of the tent, letting out a low, deep grunt. Paul pictured himself running barefoot through the woods and made his decision. He slapped the creature's hand with his backhand as he leaped out of the open end of the tent, turning and firing as he moved. The creature dropped to the ground instantly. Paul grabbed his first boot, but before he could get it on, the massive Sasquatch sprang to its feet with a hop, skip, and a jump and vanished into the woods. Paul squeezed off two more rounds into the darkness. The figure, Paul estimated, stood at least twice the height of his tent and was as wide as a sheet of plywood. It was covered in long, shaggy, dark brown hair from head to toe, including its face. When the firelight caught it, the skin on its face was black as coal, eyes included. Paul stood guard until daylight, never daring to sleep, and saw nothing more. After a sleepless night, he packed up and hiked out. What makes this account stand out is the level of detail Paul provided, especially the behavioral observations. He noted that over his many years of solo camping, he's had plenty of critters come alongside his tent at night, but they always move along the lower portion while sniffing. This was completely different. The Sasquatch was working the top of the tent with its hands, gliding along before eventually pushing down. Paul reasoned that if the tent had collapsed around him, he would have been totally incapacitated and unable to defend himself, which is exactly why he acted when he did. He also mentioned something interesting about the famous Sasquatch odor. Despite all the stories about the overwhelming stench that witnesses often describe, Paul said he smelled nothing unusual, only what he described as the normal smell of a large animal. That's a notable detail, because many researchers have noted that the strong odor often reported may be situational, possibly related to stress, territorial marking, or seasonal factors rather than a constant characteristic. The hosts of the podcast had plenty to say about Paul's choices, with one noting that even if the figure had been human, anyone sneaking around a sleeping camper's tent at night, sliding their hands along the fabric and pressing down, deserves whatever response comes. The other host mentioned he's planning his own solo camping trip this summer in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, which is also well-documented Sasquatch territory with numerous historical sightings. This is one of those encounters that really sticks with you. The combination of the full moon setting, the close proximity, the detailed physical description, and Paul's calm but terrified reasoning make it a compelling account. The video is definitely worth watching for anyone interested in Sasquatch encounters, especially the discussion afterward where the hosts break down Paul's decision-making and what it tells us about how these creatures behave when they approach a human camp.