OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — An Oklahoma state representative filed legislation this week to establish what he hopes will be a boon for local tourism – a Bigfoot hunting season.
House Bill 1648 would direct the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Division to establish the annual dates of the season and create any necessary specific hunting licenses and fees.
“Tourism is one of the biggest attractions we have in my House district,” Oklahoma State Rep. Justin Humphrey (R-Lane) said. “Establishing an actual hunting season and issuing licenses for people who want to hunt Bigfoot will just draw more people to our already beautiful part of the state. It will be a great way for people to enjoy our area and to have some fun.”
Humphrey said he doesn’t want people to actually kill Bigfoot, so 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 a $25,000 bounty for the first person to trap the mythical creature.
“A lot of people don’t believe in Bigfoot, but a lot of people do,” Humphrey said. “Just like some people like to go deer hunting, while some don’t.”
Humphrey said the town of Honobia already has an annual Bigfoot festival each October, so the hunting season ideally would coincide with that.
“Having a license and a tag would give people a way to prove they participated in the hunt,” Humphrey said. “Again, 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.”
Humphrey said he’s filed numerous pieces of legislation this year on more serious matters, but to him, tourism is just as important to his House district for the amount of dollars it draws.