Veteran Researcher Shares 47 Years of Bigfoot Field Experience

Posted Friday, July 24, 2026

By Squatchable.com staff

If you're looking for a deep dive into the world of Sasquatch research straight from someone who's been in the trenches for nearly five decades, there's a fascinating interview circulating on YouTube that's worth your time. Hosted by Dave Scott on Spaced Out Radio, the conversation features veteran researcher William Lunsford from Texarkana, Arkansas, who has spent 47 years tracking evidence and documenting encounters with the elusive creature. Lunsford comes across as incredibly genuine and passionate about his work. He describes himself as a freelance "boots on the ground, boots in the woods" investigator who spends three to five days every week in the field. That's not a hobby, that's a lifestyle dedicated to unraveling one of North America's greatest mysteries. What really stands out is how Lunsford connects the history of these encounters in Arkansas. He mentions that sightings in the region have been documented since 1834, long before Arkansas became a state. The creature known locally as the Fouke Monster has been reported in the area since 1908, and Lunsford had his first encounter back in 1977 when he was just 17 years old. That sighting happened to be the last place he got to hunt and fish with his dad, which adds a deeply personal and emotional layer to his story. After that experience, he couldn't bring himself to return to the area alone. His research has taken him across multiple states including Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Montana, Florida, and Alabama, where he's met countless people who've had their own encounters. Lunsford emphasizes that most folks in the Bigfoot community are honest, good people who simply own the night and aren't giving it back. One interesting pattern he points out is that Bigfoot sightings in Arkansas tend to occur near rivers and waterways. He mentions the Trinity, Sabine, and Sulphur Rivers, noting how similar they look and how sightings cluster along these corridors. Living just five miles south of the Red River gives him prime access to monitor Sasquatch activity in the region. Lunsford claims to have photographed around 100 Bigfoot over the years and has personally seen close to 50. He's already spotted four this year, including one walking across the Sulphur River, though he frustratingly didn't have his phone on him to document it. He also mentions recent sightings at Caddo Lake, the natural lake on the Texas-Louisiana border famous for its own creature known as the Caddo Critter. For anyone wanting to learn more about Lunsford's work, he's written books available on Amazon and has appeared on various television shows discussing his findings. The full interview covers even more ground, including his methodology in the field and the behavioral patterns he's observed in Sasquatch over his decades of research. It's rare to find researchers with that level of sustained field experience willing to share their stories so openly. Definitely worth checking out the full conversation for anyone serious about understanding the depth of evidence being gathered by dedicated investigators in the Sasquatch community.