Yowiehunters Forum

Doing a poll to see how many on here do Field Research.

1. Don't go out at all.
2. 1-5 times a year.
3. 5-15 times a year.
4. 15 to 30 times a year.
5. 30+ times a year.
6. Arm chair Researcher.
7. Wish you could but can't.

Let's see what results we get.

Number 5 for me 30+ times a year.

No. 5.

No 5 , go out every week to fortnight

I spend a lot of time in the bush, 3-4 days almost every week, however that is not actively searching for the hairy man. Most of it is spent sitting in hides photographing birds and wildlife, being silent and observing so I do keep some sort of a lookout for our big friend I suppose . So for actual times out in the field its number 5 for me , but as I said thats not setting out with yowie research specifically in mind.

Same 5

Both my wife and I absolutely love being out in the bush.
Up to last year we were out in it (besides living in it) almost every weekend and often during the week as well.
Sadly, the last 12 months this has dropped to once every few weeks or sometimes once every couple of months even (much to our hound's disgust).
In all that time in mostly very 'squatchy' country we have seen naught but one suspicious footprint (which I am still not sure was actually a footprint, although it was the right shape). Not once have we felt 'watched' or our hound reacted strangely (mind you he possibly could react to Yowies like he does to wallabies, goannas, and anything else... racing off after it).
Although sometimes we have been out at night, we have never 'researched' any deeper than wandering about, looking for sign.

I would love to do something 'serious' and stealth camp for at least a week by myself.

I have a couple of 'prime' spots in mind with plenty of water and remote enough that they could yield results but sadly the rent has to be paid.

I would say 4. I would like to get out a bit more due to time constraints its not possible.

6. Arm chair Researcher.

Don't have good eyesight or focal point in left eye so judging and seeing safe travel routes over uneven terrain is impossible

1.Don't go out at all
But I enjoy reading about everyone else's thoughts,findings and experiences.
Keep up the good work those that do put in the hard yards

I'm out at least twice a week so 30 plus.

6 & 7 for me.

Unless you have an end game plan what's the point of pursuing these creatures? If you're a regular bush trekker, I believe they will seek you out if they so desire but you will not find them.

The only end plan for me would be to video Yowies but I very much doubt that will happen because basically, they won't allow it.
























































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yowiedan wrote:Doing a poll to see how many on here do Field Research.

1. Don't go out at all.
2. 1-5 times a year.
3. 5-15 times a year.
4. 15 to 30 times a year.
5. 30+ times a year.
6. Arm chair Researcher.
7. Wish you could but can't.

Let's see what results we get.

Can't really see much difference between 1. and 6. / 7., which unfortunately I am one of.
Some of you seem over-obsessed.

No.5

3 for me.

I think it would also be interesting to poll current forum members about where they sit on the issue. Something like these categories?

Interacted with visual
Seen it
Interacted with audio (no sighting)
Heard it
Believer for other reasons
Not sure
Non believer
etc.

Would people be interested to comment or is this a bit personal?

I spend a lot of time in the bush, both for work (I'm a botanist) and recreation, mainly in Victoria. Some sites I work at are extremely remote. I solo hike for days at a time a lot as well, particularly in the southwest.

I have an interest in the yowie phenomenon but I fall on the sceptic side of the line. So I don't actively look for signs of the hairy folk, but my eyes and ears are always open for new sights and sounds. I've seen a lot over the years.

I would desperately love a close encounter but after 20 years of working, hiking and camping throughout the country, I've never had anything you could interpret as an encounter.

I've spent vast amounts of time in the Otways in particular and seen/heard nothing in the Yowie department that isn't readily explained so far. On that front, in the Otways I've read that yowie researchers consider sticks/branches stuck vertically in the ground as a yowie sign. I've seen first hand that sticks and branches are often shed, by mountain ash especially, particularly in calm weather. If they fall unimpeded they fall heavier end first. These trees can reach up to 80, 90m in the Otways, and by the time that branch or stick reaches the ground they can be clocked at an immense velocity, burying themselves surprisingly deeply into the ground, wonderfully vertical in a lot of instances. Not so wonderful when they fall and stick in the ground only meters from where you're working! I have no doubt being struck by one would be fatal! But it happens with a regularity that surprises/alarms new comers.

So yes, in the bush a hell of a lot (and love it!). But not actively looking for hairy ones.

Interesting post Jim.

Whenever I'm in likely yowie territory it's for reasons other than yowies. Fishing, fossicking or just walking to escape. Never had an encounter but due to my interest in the subject, keep my ears and eyes open.

From all reports I'm more likely to have an encounter stopping on the side of the road for a piss than actively looking for them.

I used to do a lot of bass fishing in the creeks when i was young. In the school holidays when I was old enough to take the kayak out on my own, around 11 or so, I used to be on the water before sunrise and always aim to be back by sunset. Fear of being on the water alone meant I usually timed it pretty well, except for one day I had paddled too far up this system in hopes of a big fish. If youre a fisherman, a classic 'one more cast' situation.
So There I was, way upstream from where I needed to be and it was now dark. I remember being excited by the heightened sense of awareness that being on the water after dark brings. Shadows playing on the water, cicadas hammering away in the trees, lure rhythmically blooping along the surface of the water.
As I made my way back downstream I became aware of an awful, very loud howling/barking sound, but not a dog. It got louder and louder as I paddled and I soon realised it was coming from very close to the creek bank and I was going to have to paddle past it to get home. The noise was unlike anything I had ever heard. In my mind I ran through all the animals that it could be and being northern NSW, the list was pretty short.
At this point the creek bottle necked to a small set of rapids, which I shot and pumped that paddle as hard as I could. I thought for certain whatever it was, was going to grab me and nobody would ever know what happened.
For years I wondered what that noise could have been until years later I met the bloke that owned the property backing onto the creek. He bred Dingos.
Thats the only time I've been scared in the bush.

Off topic but it's fun to reminisce.

Scarts wrote:This is a bullshit poll.

That'll be a No. 6 for me (with special fried rice).

I do enjoy reading the scintillating discussions here, though....and the bullshit polls.

I rate myself as a #6 or #7, but always wishing to become a #2.

I take my hat off to you guys who rate yourselves as #5. That's dedication or obsession...I'm not sure which!

Up until now I've traveled a lot (interstate and overseas) and it's been difficult to plan bush trips. Also, one of my "bases" is in Tas which really doesn't have a history of reports, and the other one is in SA, and ditto for that!

So the closest place to me with a history of reports would be the Otways. But, judging from one contributor (above), one could spend a lot of time there for no result. So, I'm undecided where to spend my (valuable) time.

Cheers,

MA

Id hardly consider myself a researcher but no 5 for me. No 7 for night time stuff..

A bit of an expensive habit. If i left 10 bucks food each time then thats at least 300 bucks just on fruit!

Yeah i agree Scarts. A more specific and thourough poll would be required.

Did you delete my post, yowiebait?

I'll be interviewing a witness, face to face this week, and will be shown a couple of locations. Would someone like to tell me if that qualifies as "field research", or do I need to set up a ridiculous number of trail cameras to meet the grade?

Scarts wrote:Did you delete my post, yowiebait?

No i noticed it was gone but replied anyway .

Yeah, I noticed the person who deleted my post was too gutless to even send me a courtesy PM. Speaks volumes. Let's wander into any old area of bush and call ourselves field researchers!

Scarts wrote:I'll be interviewing a witness, face to face this week, and will be shown a couple of locations. Would someone like to tell me if that qualifies as "field research", or do I need to set up a ridiculous number of trail cameras to meet the grade?

From what i can tell, interviewing witnesses and visiting encounter sites is a big part of yowie research . Unfortunately so is fiming tree stumps and "super yowies" to upload to youtube..

Simon M wrote:

Scarts wrote:This is a bullshit poll.

Scarts, I'm guessing the reason an Admin removed your post is because I interpreted it as being rather disrespectful to the thread poster, and I'd suggest I'm not the only one. It may have not been the message you meant to convey, but in five words, that's how I read it. If you meant to indicate it wasn't detailed enough, or whatever, please remember we are not market research professionals here, just folks interested in various aspects of our specific 'hobby/interest'. Writing a little more to get your message across without upsetting the thread poster may be helpful.

Shazz (not an Admin) but playing devil's advocate

Scarts wrote:I'll be interviewing a witness, face to face this week, and will be shown a couple of locations. Would someone like to tell me if that qualifies as "field research", or do I need to set up a ridiculous number of trail cameras to meet the grade?

Sounds like you're yearning for some acknlowledgement Scarts. You should make a thread about your research, you'll get heaps of attention.

Scarts wrote:Yeah, I noticed the person who deleted my post was too gutless to even send me a courtesy PM.

Want a box of tissues ?

Scarts maybe you should stop bagging other people it gets old real quick. I made the Poll to see how many people are Actually going out doing field research and received some great answers where fellow researchers actually put some time and effort into their answer. Thanks very much to all those who took their time to write positive answers. Common Courtesy goes along way.