11 Best States for Bigfoot to Live

Whether you believe in Bigfoot or not, the furry biped has been spotted in every U.S. state except Hawaii. Rather than debate if it’s a massive hoax or the most incredible game of hide-and-seek ever, we asked, “What are the best U.S. states for Sasquatch to live?”

Points were given for wilderness area and forest cover, protective laws, likelihood of deer roadkill (a favorite food), Bigfoot enthusiasm by locals, and frequency of sightings. Points were taken away for high population density, local bounties, laws allowing hunting of Bigfoot, and the number of reports of locals claiming to have shot one. In the end, Estately determined these 11 states provided the best habitat for Bigfoot to hide out and make occasional appearances in grainy photos and videos.

1. Washington State

According to the Bigfoot Field Reseachers Organization (BFRO), the Evergreen State has far and away the most “credible sightings” of any other state with 537. It really is the best state for Bigfoot to see and be seen. Heavily forested and with the fifth most designated wilderness acreage in the country, Washington State provides exceptional habitat and a Bigfoot-positive culture. The only downside is it also has the most reported Bigfoot shootings with 24, and locally-produced Olympia Beer is offering a $1 million reward for the safe capture of Bigfoot. Despite the threat of murder and kidnapping, Washington is the only state with a law on the books forbidding the hunting of Bigfoot (in Skamania County), and the state is home to the Sasquatch Music Festival, independent publisher Sasquatch Books, and it was the location for the classic Bigfoot film Harry and the Hendersons. It even used the Sasquatch as the mascot for its now vanished NBA team—the Seattle SuperSonics.

2. California

With over 428 sightings, California has the second highest number in the United States. The state has over 15 million acres of designated wilderness, as well as Bigfoot museums in Felton and Willow Creek. There are numerous organized groups searching high and low for them, including North America Bigfoot Search and Southern California Amateur Bigfooters (SCAB). The species is honored in the names of dozens of California businesses, including The Bigfoot Lodge in Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Truth be told, California gets the #2 slot because when Bigfoot finally comes out of the woods to reveal its existence, it’s going to want to hire an agent, purchase some laser hair removal, and take its talents to Hollywood.

3. Oregon

Oregon is the unfortunate home to the world’s only Bigfoot trap in the Siskiyou National Forest, but the state still exhibits the many features this hairy being craves. There is plenty of fog and dark forests to hide in, plus there’s over 2 million acres of wilderness and a hippie vibe that’s tolerant of infrequent bathing. The Sasquatch Brewing Company honors the beast with its Hairy Knuckles Stout, and there’s even a festival called the Sasquatch Brew Fest. Also, Bigfoot traditionally takes his water unflouridated, just like Portland, Oregon does.

4. Ohio

Being a bashful Bigfoot makes dating hard, especially for any Bigfoot longing to meet eligible humans. Luckily, Ohio’s residents take an unusually enthusiastic interest in the legend of Sasquatch, who’s been spotted in Ohio 234 times—more than all but three other states. The state hosts the annual Ohio Bigfoot Festival and the Ohio Bigfoot Conference, and there are numerous groups of squatch hunters in the state.

5. Texas

Texas so Bigfoot should feel right at home in the Lone Star State. Still, the hairy one should be on the lookout for hunters because it’s completely legal to plug a Sasquatch in Texas, provided it’s on private property and with permission of the owner. Also, Texas is home to the dreaded Chupacabra so it’s possible they battle over territory.

While local Bigfoot enthusiasts gather for the Texas Bigfoot Conference, Sasquatch can wander the Sam Houston National Forest and feast on the exotic wildlife stocked at neighboring hunting ranches. It’s nice to add some antelope and ibex to the standard diet of deer and berries.

6. Idaho

With a small human population, plenty of wilderness, and millions of acres of rugged forest, Idaho is the kind of place even Bigfoot could get lost in. The only downside is the state is crawling with skilled hunters who have a keen eye for wildlife. Also, there’s an Idaho State University professor cooking up a plan to utilize drones with thermal imaging equipment to spot Sasquatch from the sky. Hard to find privacy.

7. Tennessee

Tennessee gets the nod over neighboring Kentucky because Bigfoot is still angry over Daniel Boone’s claim that he shot the first Sasquatch in the Bluegrass State. Also, nearly 58% of Tennessee is forested, and there are over 9,000 cozy caves to live in, the most in the country. As a special treat, Tennessee is home to 15 varieties of turtles, a healthy Bigfoot snack that’s both crunchy on the outside and chewy in the middle.

8. Michigan

According to BFRO, Michigan has 173 sightings—8th most in the nation. There are various local groups who study the elusive bipeds, including the Michigan Bigfoot Information Center and Michigan Bigfoot. Most importantly, Michigan is a culinary wonderland for ol’ Bigfoot thanks to extensive apple orchards and the fifth highest frequency of roadkill deer. Plus, with nearly 13,000 state parks there are excellent opportunities to steal picnic baskets from campers. Many Bigfoot sightings include witnessing the creature stealing apples, snatching deer carcasses off the road, and raiding campsites. As if that’s not enough food, there’s a local woman who claims to feed blueberry bagels to the numerous Bigfoot who live in the woods behind her house.

9. Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania tends to shoot first and ask questions later when they come in contact with a Bigfoot, but perhaps that’s because the fuzzy rascal is allegedly prone to vandalizing RVs? All the same, the Keystone State is 66% forested habitat, with Bigfoot sightings frequently occurring in the Michaux State Forest. The state also has an enthusiastic fan club in the Pennsylvania Bigfoot Society. Pennsylvania is also home to the Houdini Museum, and surely Bigfoot is an admirer of the late performer’s skill in escaping.

10. North Carolina

While the rest of the country bad mouths Bigfoot’s horrible stench (like a skunk + rotten cabbage), North Carolina’s hill people speak lovingly of its “beautiful hair.”Besides this welcome praise, the rugged terrain of the Great Smokies and Blue Ridge Mountains provide ideal habitat, and the warmer climate provides ideal weather for mating season, apparently March through April. Many in North Carolina, such as Carolina Bigfoot Field Research, are working diligently to protect these allegedly non-existent creatures.

11. West Virginia

West Virginia is the #1 state for roadkill deer, providing a virtual roadside buffet for the hungry Bigfoot. And to wash it down, moonshiner shacks still dot the hills so Sasquatch can sneak a little swig now and then. In addition, 81% of the mountainous state is forested, it’s sparsely populated, and there are plenty of caves—ideal for a reclusive Bigfoot. However, the West Virginia Bigfoot Research Organization is fast on their over-sized heels, frequently searching the region for the elusive Sasquatch.

The 5 Worst States for Bigfoot to Live

46. New Jersey: Share the woods with the Jersey Devil? No way.

47. North Dakota: Nowhere to hide in a state that’s only 2.6% forested.

48. Louisiana: Humidity wreaks havoc on hair so just imagine if your entire body was covered in it.

49. Hawaii:  It would be awful lonely living in state devoid of any other Bigfoot.

50. Florida: Around these parts, Bigfoot gets called a Skunk Ape, which is unflattering. Also, Florida has the fifth highest recorded incidents of people shooting a Bigfoot. And there’s a Florida-based online store selling fake Bigfoot urine in glass specimen bottles.