This cache has spent some time on the Project-GC "What's Hot" list: a list of the top 100 geocaches in the U.S.!
A Credible Sightings Report?
These things that we called skunk apes would come on our property at night and eat mangos, and other fruit. They would also sometimes come to the travel trailer and look in the windows as if they were curious. On one instant they had picked up a 100 lb. hog out of the pen, bit three large bites out of it, and spit it out. It was like he was taking out chunks to get to the liver. That's all he ate of the hog! When they would come around we also noticed that the horses would go crazy! They apparently had come from the everglades looking for food. During this time there had been a large fire that had burned off a very large part of the everglades! We suspected that the lack of cover had driven them into the rural areas in our vicinity and there had been many sightings. I saw the whole family of these creatures at one time! The first one I saw, I thought was a big one. I later realized that this must be the young one. It was about 7 ft. tall and had brown hair. Later, I meet up with "dad". He was huge, about 12 feet tall and had silver-gray hair. The "mom" was 8 to 10 feet tall with brownish-gray hair. They all had long arms, hardly any neck and man can they run fast. They stink real badly, too. We tried hunting these things, but it was like they were playing a game with us. At that time there was a big reward out for one of these things. We spent about a year hunting these things. They are real intelligent. We even shot at them at close range and they would just rub the spot and look at us as if to say "Why did you do that"?. They would just turn and run away. Myself, wife, cousin, and even a police officer witnessed these events and a neighbor. I know this seems far-fetched or unbelievable, but I swear this is the truth! I tried to report this back then, everyone thought that we were crazy! After that year, we didn't see them any more. They probably moved back to the Everglades when it started growing back up. The closest I ever came to one of them was about a foot. I walked up on it! Thing is, they NEVER showed any aggression towards us, even after getting shoot at. We could always hear them outside at night chattering a lot.
About The Cache
Bigfoot is a six-stage multicache. The final is an ammo can. All other stages are micros (bison tubes, preform tubes, and a nano). None of the individual stages are intended to be too difficult to find. None requires tree climbing but at least one stage is a stretch.
Mostly, you will be hiking on the main loop trail (white blazes - formerly orange), but some stages will require going onto side trails and/or bushwhacking. The trail gets wet in many places, especially during the summer and fall. The blazed trails are well-worn, but not always well-maintained, or well-blazed. The trail is also very winding, so it's easy to lose track of direction. Navigating to each stage is more of a challenge than finding the containers. Bring plenty of water and wear sun protection (only a few shady spots on this trail). Group caching is recommended. Make sure your GPS tracklog is on.
Typically a 5 hour roundtrip hike under dry conditions, but you may wish to take longer for sightseeing and exploring.
This cache is rated a 5/5 because that's how it was it was published and remained that way for a decade and a half.
Original description:
This cache is a 6 stage mutli cache (5 nano containers, and 1 ammo box). Nano Containers are more of a Waypoint than a hard hide! The container to the right is what you are looking for. I used these container because they hold up well under harsh conditions. I don't want to scare people into thinking they are looking for really hard Nanos.
Foottrax's original warning in the cache description:
You will walk about 6-8 miles, so bring plenty of water and food with you. You will get wet!
You will see Nature at it's best! This cache is for experienced cachers only! It is very easy to get turned around on the trails out there, so please use your best judgment when hiking the trails. We go hiking all the time, and we did get turned around on the wrong trail out there. Just be cautious when taking a different trail!
Please report if you get a good sighting of BIGFOOT! Have fun! -footTRAX
About Dupuis Wildlife Management Area
The DuPuis Wildlife Management Area is a 21,875 acre multi-use natural area located in northwestern Palm Beach and southwestern Martin Counties. The property is interspersed with numerous ponds, wet prairies, cypress domes, pine flatwoods, and remnant Everglades marsh. The area provides miles of hiking and horseback trails, an equestrian center, graded vehicle roads, backpack and group campsites, and seasonal hunting. DuPuis is owned by the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) and is managed in cooperation with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).
Hiking
The Florida Trail Association (FTA), in cooperation with SFWMD, has developed a network of 35 miles of hiking trails. The trails are part of the Florida Trail system and are arranged to provide hikes of various lengths. There are four loop trails that range from 5 miles in length to nearly 16 miles, and a 7-mile extension from the last loop that connects to the J. W. Corbett Wildlife Management Area hiking trail. This trail system includes a section of the Ocean-to-Lake Trail (OTL) which runs form Lake Okeechobee through Dupuis, Corbett, Hungryland Slough, Loxahatchee Slough, Riverbend Park, and Jonathan Dickinson State Park to Hobe Sound Beach. Rectangular wihte blazes on trees and posts mark the main hiking trail trail. Orange blazes mark the Ocean-to-Lake Trail. Blue blazes mark side trails. Other blazes mark horse trails. Two blazes generally designate an abrupt change in direction. Carefully locate the next blaze before continuing. Remember to carry adequate water with you. A quiet hiker might see deer, wild turkey, bobcats, and wild hogs.
Dogs
As of July 1, 2015, dogs are now allowed in Dupuis WMA, but must be "under physical restraint" (i.e. on a leash) at all times. This is not only a county-wide restriction on dogs on public property, but is especially important in places like Dupuis to keep wildlife safe from your dog and keep your dog safe from wildlife.
Fire
The pine flatwoods in Dupuis are managed with prescribed burns to simulate natural wildlife patterns. Some or all of the property may occasionally be closed for such burns. All stages have been placed in areas that are unlikely to be burned. There are also sugar cane fields on several properties adjacent to Dupuis which are burned after the harvest.
Hunting
Dupuis WMA has an extensive hunting schedule. Per the FWC: "During hunting seasons, with the exception of Small Game and the Wild-Hog Still seasons, access to the area is open only to quota hunt permit holders and through-hikers on the Ocean to Lake Trail." (This cache is NOT on the OTL.) If you hike during one of those two hunting seasons be sure to wear an orange vest and use extra caution. Hunting schedule for 2021:
Turkey: Feb 27-28; March 9-11, 19-21, 26-28
Wild Hog: April 10-18, May 8-16
Archery: September
Muzzleloading Gun: October
General Gun: November
Wild Hog-Still: November/December
Small Game: December/January
You can find the WMA hunting regulation brochures online.
Cache placement approved by SFWMD.