It was a close encounter.
What Eric and Tim Vogel — who will be at this weekend’s Springfield Sportsmen’s Show to tell their story — saw and heard while on a fishing trip at an isolated pond in the Adirondacks was both troubling and scary.
“We came upon a beaver dam, and I cast a line over it into a pen-like area created by the dam where fish were being blocked from passing. The minute I cast my line and began collecting fish, two trees began shaking violently as if in a snow globe. It was accompanied by the sounds of loud roaring like you’ve never heard before that went on for 10 minutes as rocks and stones were flying toward us. At first, we thought it might be a bear fight, so we paddled away,” said Tim Vogel in an interview with The Republican.
They soon became convinced that what they actually encountered was the elusive Bigfoot, a towering bipedal ape-like hairy creature said to inhabit forests in North America.
“What we believe is that we came upon a family of Bigfoots who were walking downstream to have lunch at the dam, and that they became enraged once I cast my line and began catching some of the fish,” Vogel said.
Today, the brothers run the Cobble Mountain Critter Project which investigates Bigfoot, mountain lion and cougar sightings across New England. They have investigated Bigfoot reports for large national groups like the BFRO — or Bigfoot Field Research Organization — for over a decade, as well as working with or assisting other groups.
They have led and co-led Bigfoot expeditions throughout the Northeast, with a focus on Western Massachusetts, over the years. Visitors attending the Springfield Sportsmen’s Show this weekend can hear their stories and see Bigfoot casts they have made of unusually large footprints believed to be those of the Sasquatch — another name for Bigfoot.
The Springfield Sportsmen’s Show, which opens Friday for three days on the grounds of the Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield, features sporting vendors from all over the country selling the latest in hunting, fishing, and outdoor gear. Those attending can also meet and talk turkey with hunting and fishing celebrities, industry experts and participate in seminars to further their knowledge.
“People who walk into our show are happy because they are able to talk with like-minded people who enjoy and like to be outdoors. And I am happy that we have a great assortment of outfitters and guides to book their next outdoor adventure along with vendors selling a wide variety of fishing, hunting, and outdoor gear to complete their experience,” said Doug Sousa of the Outdoor Sports Expo Group, Inc., organizers of the show.
Among the “celebrity sportsmen” attending this year’s show will be striper fisherman David Pickering, Capt. Michelle Bancewicz of National Geographic’s “Wicked Tuna” series, Randy Flannery, often referred to as “Duke of the Noth Woods,” fly fisherman Matt Tempesta, turkey hunter Joe Judd, bear hunter Tom Kelly, and others.
If you are fascinated by sharks, Chris Stefanou, known as the Long Island Sharkman, is a must stop at his booth where you can book private land-based shark fishing charters.
“I tag and release sharks from the beach for research all over the East Coast and by doing this I help the ecology of our oceans because we can figure out where sharks are congregating and laying their pups. As a result, we can help to limit things like commercial fishing boats and windmills because they harm the ecology of our oceans,” Stefanou said.
“These windmills placed into the oceanic floor create immense vibrations and that disturbs the habitat down there and rattles the internals of mammals by actually making them bleed out from the inside. So, tagging these sharks can help us limit certain things that are creating havoc for these sharks and other marine life,” he added.
The 29-year-old catch and release fisherman came to prominence on his action-packed social media pages where he began sharing his fishing experiences at age 18. He caught his first shark 14 years ago in Long Island while fishing for a striper, and today has more than 2.3 million YouTube subscribers, more than 500,000 followers on Instagram, and 1.3 million followers on TikTok.
“I’m using my platform to attract the younger generation to the great outdoors because a lot of them are just sitting indoors behind their video games. Introducing them to catching a shark might introduce them to other fishing experiences which might lead to hunting and being outdoors once again and away from the television,” Stefanou said.
“He’s a lot of fun, a nice guy, and a man of action,” Sousa said about Stefanou.
For young sportsmen attending the show, there will be plenty of activities, including the Hillbilly Magic Show with Tackle Box Pete and Shotgun Chris; Animal Adventures with special live presentations featuring all types of critters; and the opportunity to catch a live fish at the Trout Pond.
Representatives from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs will also be attending the show to meet with military veterans and their family members to assist them in connecting with VA benefits Additionally, there will be a special $3 military discount on Sunday for those with a proper ID.
The Massachusetts Environmental Police also will be onsite registering ATVs, snowmobiles and boats at the show.
“Don’t forget when you come through the doors to register for a chance to win some great door prizes we have lined up for this year,” Sousa said.
Among the many prizes include a fly-fishing trip from Tempco Fly Fishing, a Napier Truck-Tent, HiDow Pro Touch Tens System, and more.
Show hours in the Better Living Center are Friday from noon to 8 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Admission is $18 for adults, $5 for kids 6 to 12, and free for those under age 6.
Advance tickets are available online at osegsportsmens.com or in-person at the door.
