Bigfoot Investigators Explore Wyoming County's Hatfield-McCoy Trail

If you've been craving a good old-fashioned woods investigation with all the trimmings—footprint analysis, gifting stations, generational family stories, and even a kid sighting—this latest drop from Small Town Monsters is going to hit the spot. The crew heads down to Wyoming County, West Virginia, their farthest southern point in the state so far, to meet up with a local investigator who knows the area like the back of her hand. The star of this one is Beth Duncan, a researcher who's been digging into the phenomenon since 2016 after a personal encounter near a graveyard just up the hill from her family's property. And when I say family, I mean it—this is generational stuff. Beth's whole family has stories, and her property has been a hotbed of activity for years. The crew meets up with her to place audio recorders and glow sticks (smart move, since Beth mentions there are two bears roaming the county, so food-based offerings are a no-go). Now, let's talk about the Hatfield-McCoy Trail. For those who don't know, this is one of the most famous off-road trail systems in the country, stretching across southern West Virginia and into Kentucky. It's named after the legendary feuding families of the late 1800s, but these days it's known for ATV riding, hiking, and apparently... sightings. Beth mentions that out-of-state riders have actually called the state police after seeing something unexplained on the trails, and she's found footprints out there herself. The crew plans to hike the trail the next day to look for evidence, which is exactly the kind of boots-on-the-ground work we love to see. One of the most fascinating parts of this investigation is the gifting station Beth has set up on her property. If you're new to the concept, gifting stations are offerings left for Sasquatch—things like tobacco, beads, herbs, or food. Beth wraps her gifts (dried mullein smudge, suckers, etc.) in big leaves like poplar because, as she puts it, the subjects don't seem to like plastic. And here's where it gets really interesting: the last offerings she left were taken, but one sucker had its paper carefully pulled off—not chewed—and the stems were placed back on the log. Nothing was left of the sucker itself. Beth questions whether any animal would behave that way, and honestly, it's a fair point. Animals tend to tear, chew, and destroy. Carefully unwrapping something and returning the stems? That's a different kind of behavior. Then there's the footprint analysis, which is honestly one of the most educational moments in the video. Beth shows the crew some bear tracks and explains how bears will sometimes double-step, with their front paw landing slightly behind their back paw, creating a print that can look eerily similar to a Sasquatch track. The giveaway? A V-shape at the front of the print. The crew finds another print on the property that initially looks promising—no midtarsal break visible, round heel—but upon closer inspection, they spot tread lines and realize it's actually a boot track. It's a great reminder of why you always get down on your hands and knees and really study these things before jumping to conclusions. But the moment that really got me was Beth's daughter Cece's sighting. The little girl was getting ready to leave the property when she froze, unable to find her words. When her mom finally got her to speak, she described seeing a "bear walking on two feet" that was brown and moving quickly. Beth emphasizes that she doesn't tell her daughter how these subjects walk or move, which adds a lot of credibility to the account. Kids don't have the same filters adults do—they report what they see, plain and simple. And a bipedal bear-colored figure moving through the woods? That's not exactly a common misidentification. The crew also touches on the culture of the area, with Beth mentioning that strangers wandering onto private property is rare for good reason—around there, you're likely to meet "God and the gun." It's a reminder that these rural communities are tight-knit, and when sightings happen, they're often witnessed by people who know the land intimately and have no reason to make things up. If you're into methodical investigations, footprint analysis, gifting station results, and family-based generational encounters, this one is absolutely worth your time. Small Town Monsters continues to deliver the kind of grounded, respectful fieldwork that this subject deserves. Grab some popcorn, settle in, and enjoy the ride to Wineberry.