NEWS: Oklahoma is Considering an Open Season on Bigfoot - Should Montana Do The Same?
Oklahoma state representative Justin Humphrey has made waves in the Bigfoot community by introducing a bill that would allow for an open season on sasquatch. Like any other hunting season, it would involve licenses and fees.
Of course, can you hunt an animal that many people don't believe exists? And will people pay for the right to do so?
In a press release that Rep. Humphrey released, he comments that "A lot of people don't believe in Bigfoot, but a lot of people do... Just like some people like to go deer hunting, while some don't." Even so, most people will agree that deer exist.
But perhaps the point of the bill wouldn't be to actually kill or catch a Bigfoot, but to increase tourist dollars in the area. As Humphrey points out, "the overall goal is to get people to our area to enjoy the natural beauty and to have a great time, and if they find Bigfoot while they’re at it, well hey, that’s just an even bigger prize."
It is also worth pointing out that the notion of hunting Bigfoot is a controversial one in the world of Bigfoot adherents. A vocal minority maintains that the best way to prove the existence of the hulking humanoid would be to kill one and present the body as evidence. But others feel that, if Bigfoot exists, he (or she - the subject of the famous "Patterson-Gimlin film" is often theorized to be female owing to what appear to be large breasts) is close enough to human that it should be allowed basic human rights, meaning that killing one would be murder.
Humphrey has considered this as well: according to the same press release, the state representative says "he will be working with the state wildlife and tourism departments to craft final language for his bill that specifies only the trapping of Bigfoot. He also hopes to secure at least $25,000 that can be used as a bounty for the first person to trap the creature."
Well, the editorial staff of Distinctly Montana humbly submits that if Bigfoot is supposed to be roaming the backwoods of Oklahoma, he's twice as likely to be in Montana, where the vast open spaces, rugged terrain and craggy mountains would serve as an even better hiding space. And indeed, Bigfoot has long been sighted (and heard!) in Montana. So should Montana consider an open season on Bigfoot as well?
Or will that just result in a dangerous surplus of homemade traps in the backcountry? And an increased likelihood of tall hikers being mistakenly shot?
What do you think, Montana?
