Bigfoot Researcher Sets Up Game Cameras in Washington Forests

There's something refreshingly honest about a researcher who doesn't try to sell you on every footprint and broken branch. A recent video from the YouTube channel Steve Searches captures that kind of grounded approach perfectly, taking viewers along on a fall expedition through the Pacific Northwest woods near Mount St. Helens, where the search for Sasquatch continues to draw dedicated folks into the wilderness. The video opens with Steve reflecting on that iconic black-and-white footage that hooked so many of us as kids, the famous Patterson-Gimlin film from 1967. It's a fitting starting point because Steve's whole philosophy seems rooted in that same sense of wonder, but tempered with experience. He's not out there making grand declarations. As he puts it himself, "I don't draw conclusions because it's not my job to tell you that it's a Bigfoot or if it's not a Bigfoot." For anyone who's spent time in this field, that kind of intellectual honesty is worth its weight in gold. One of the more entertaining moments comes early on when Steve stops to ask locals the classic question: "Do you believe in Bigfoot?" The responses are pretty typical for Washington State, where Sasquatch is practically part of the local folklore. One person mentions a Bigfoot cutout near the NAPA store, which honestly sounds like the kind of charming roadside attraction that makes the Pacific Northwest what it is. Another interviewee gives a more skeptical answer, saying they "believe in mythology," which is fair enough. Not everyone has to be a believer, and the research community is better off for including curious skeptics alongside the true believers. The real meat of the video is the exploration itself. Steve heads into some areas he hasn't visited in a while, and the fall setting adds a wonderfully eerie atmosphere. He points out what looks like a path cutting through the forest, places his hat down for scale, and notes the abundance of broken tree falls and heavy disturbance in the area. The way he describes the forest floor as feeling "really spongy" and mentions that "probably plenty of big creatures call this home" is the kind of careful observation that separates serious field researchers from casual hikers. For those unfamiliar with Sasquatch habitat preferences, this kind of terrain checks a lot of boxes. Bigfoot researchers have long noted that these creatures tend to follow game trails, travel near water sources, and favor areas with dense cover but enough openings to move through. The Pacific Northwest, with its old-growth forests, abundant water, and rugged terrain, has been a hotspot for sightings for decades. The area around Mount St. Helens is particularly interesting given the massive ecological disruption from the 1980 eruption, which created a unique environment that wildlife, and possibly Sasquatch, have been recolonizing ever since. Steve also takes a moment to address something that's been on a lot of researchers' minds lately: the state of the Bigfoot research community. He mentions the passing of Dr. Jeff Meldrum, who was one of the most respected academic voices in the field and author of "Sasquatch: Legend Meets Science." Meldrum's work at Idaho State University gave the subject a level of scientific credibility that few others have achieved. Steve notes that since Meldrum's passing, there's been a shift, with more "armchair researchers" speaking at events, and he plans to address this in an upcoming video. It's a topic worth discussing, because the credibility of Sasquatch research depends on maintaining rigorous standards even when the subject invites a lot of speculation. There's also a fun detour involving a surprisingly well-maintained outhouse in the woods, complete with some genuinely hilarious graffiti that Steve reads aloud with perfect comedic timing. It's moments like these that make field research videos so watchable, the unexpected humanity you find in the middle of nowhere. The technical side of the expedition is worth noting too. Steve sets up two game cameras in what he considers a promising location, a radio and app cam positioned within line of sight of the road, and a "mating cam" placed along what appears to be a game trail. For anyone unfamiliar with modern Sasquatch research, game cameras have become one of the most valuable tools in the field. Researchers like the late Dr. Meldrum and organizations like the Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization (BFRO) have long advocated for camera surveillance in high-traffic areas, and some of the most compelling evidence in recent years has come from trail cam footage. The fact that Steve can now check his cameras remotely via an app is a game-changer for efficiency in the field. Steve also shares some personal news: he's planning to relocate to Idaho before the end of the year. For longtime followers, that's a bittersweet announcement. Idaho has its own rich Sasquatch history, with sightings reported throughout the state, particularly in the remote wilderness areas of the Clearwater and Selway-Bitterroot regions. The state has become something of a second frontier for Sasquatch research, and Steve's move could open up entirely new areas for investigation. The video wraps up with Steve showing off some lab-grown sapphires, which is a nice reminder that researchers are people with lives and hobbies beyond the search. It's that human touch that keeps viewers coming back. Overall, this is the kind of video that reminds you why boots-on-the-ground research matters. No dramatic conclusions, no overhyped claims, just a careful observer documenting interesting terrain, setting up equipment, and sharing the experience with the community. For anyone interested in what real field research looks like, this one's absolutely worth the watch.