Bigfoot Researchers Find Footprints and Trail Markers in Shawnee Forest

The Shawnee National Forest in southern Illinois has long been whispered about among those who spend their nights deep in the woods. With over 300,000 acres of rugged terrain—flatlands, swamps, wetlands, steep hills, valleys, and bluffs—it's the kind of place where something could easily remain hidden from the general public. A recent video I came across dives deep into this very wilderness, following a team of dedicated researchers on what can only be described as a serious expedition into Sasquatch country. The investigation brought together some heavy hitters in the field. Daniel Benois, founder of the East Coast Bigfoot Researchers Organization (ECBRRO), which has been around since 2010, joined forces with Stacy Coughlin, an occult researcher with the Southern Illinois Monster Hunters based out of Louisiana. They converged at Jackson Falls State Park, setting up base camp before pushing into the backcountry. What makes this footage compelling is the methodology on display. Stacy brought his dowsing rods and pendulum to the table—tools he's been working with for about four years. Originally introduced to him by his father for treasure hunting, Stacy pivoted to using these techniques to track cryptids. His approach involves map dowsing, where he uses a pendulum over maps to identify areas of interest, then follows up with physical dowsing rods in the field. As he puts it in the video, "You can run but you can't hide. Bigfoot can move but he can't hide from you." It's a fascinating intersection of the paranormal and cryptozoological investigation, and while mainstream science may scoff at such techniques, many longtime researchers swear by them. The team documented several intriguing finds along their trek. They followed what appeared to be a main trail, marked by bent trees and what looked like deliberate X-shaped markings on tree trunks—potential trail markers left by an intelligent hominid. The researchers took careful measurements of footprint impressions, with one particular track estimated at around 14 inches in length, showing clear heel and big toe definition. They also noted the track appeared to be a left foot. One of the more fascinating discoveries was a possible kill site featuring a deer carcass, along with tree structures and what the team interpreted as "breaks" high up in the trees. The terrain itself tells a story—creeks winding through the landscape, caves that could provide shelter, and timber so thick that visibility drops to 20 yards or less once the canopy fills in. As one researcher noted, a large creature could easily live here undetected. The atmosphere captured in the footage adds another layer. Nighttime in the hammock brought uneasy feelings and unexplained sounds off to the right. A long row of trees that "just doesn't sit right" with one of the team members. The kind of primal unease that comes when you're deep in Sasquatch territory and the campfire dies down. The Shawnee National Forest remains one of those under-the-radar hotspots that deserves more attention from the research community. Its sheer size, varied terrain, and relative remoteness make it prime habitat. The footage is worth checking out for anyone interested in fieldwork, alternative investigative methods, or just seeing what dedicated researchers are doing in the field right now.