Australian Yowie Research Archives: 2017 sighting at Owens Creek, 40 km west of Mackay, Queensland

The witness, “W.B.” contacted the AYR on 12 December 2019.

“I hunt feral pigs. It’s strange up here… out of the corner of my eye I caught a small guava tree about 20 metres away, going from side to side ... then I saw this thing beside the tree, whopping it from side to side, while looking at me. I was riding a quad bike with a hunting spotlight, so it was well lit up.

“It wasn’t much taller than me but was easily three times as wide (with) huge shoulders. It could have been 200 kg, possibly more. Long, messy hair all over. Its hands and face had shorter hair, while the rest of the body was shaggy and knotted from head to toe, a dirty, dark brown with a red tinge.

Sketch by “W.B.’

“It had gripped the tree about halfway up and was whipping it – the top of the tree was beating the ground from side to side. It was doing it to get my attention, I think. Maybe I was near its family, and it was trying to draw my attention away. It wasn’t trying to hide.

“We looked at each other for what seemed like three minutes, then it took off, lightning fast, knocking trees over as it ran. Then I could hear him coming back around behind me, doing a big loop, and that’s when I felt a fear like I’ve never known… I consider myself a very experienced hunter, but I was pretty shaken up – really fearing for my life.”