Veteran Idaho Hunter Shares 1989 Bigfoot Encounter After 34 Years

Dale Birch, a retired diesel mechanic from Orofino, Idaho, shares a long-held Bigfoot encounter story from November 1989 in the Clearwater country of north-central Idaho. With over 200 days logged in that specific drainage since age 17, Birch emphasizes his deep familiarity with the terrain and his credibility as an experienced hunter and observer. He was accompanied by Glen Hobson, a skilled mechanic and wilderness expert, along with brothers Roy and Leroy Stites from Kamiah — collectively bringing around 130 years of elk hunting experience to the trip. Birch sets the stage by describing his lifelong connection to the mountains, his father's legacy, and the character of the men he hunted with. The story centers on a tense moment on a ridge above the North Fork, where Birch stepped in front of Glen's rifle as it tracked something to the left. After holding the story for over 34 years, Birch is now sharing it at Glen's request, as Glen — now 79 and in declining health — felt it was time to release it, especially since two of the other men have since passed away.