Man shoots at someone he mistook for Bigfoot because ‘if I see something that looks like Bigfoot, I just shoot at it’

'It is of great concern that this individual might think it’s okay to shoot at anything he thinks is Bigfoot,' sheriff says

Mythical beast said to inhabit wilds of America (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

A Montana man has reported being shot at by a gunman – who said he mistook him for Bigfoot.

The 27-year-old, who has not been named, was narrowly missed by a series of bullets as he set up his own shooting targets in a forest area near the state capital of Helena.

When he confronted his assailant, the shooter is said to have told him: “I thought you were Bigfoot. If I see something that looks like Bigfoot, I just shoot at it.”

The gunman – who was sitting in a black Ford F-150 – then reportedly told his victim to wear orange if he did not want to be confused for the mythical beast.

“It seemed like a non-emotional approach to something that’s extremely serious,” Sherriff Leo Dutton told local TV station KTMF.

The alleged victim told dispatchers the incident occurred on Sunday but he did not report it until Monday, reports the Idaho Statesman newspaper. He told police he initially “didn’t think it was necessary”.

The man was not able to provide a description of the alleged gunman or a licence plate number from the truck – but, after reading about the incident, another woman came forward to say she too had been shot at by a man in a black F-150.

“We’re working to find this person,” Sheriff Dutton said. “It is of great concern that this individual might think it’s okay to shoot at anything he thinks is Bigfoot.”

He added that if the reports are proven to be true the gunman could face attempted negligent homicide charges.