INVESTIGATION KIT CONTENTS
By Mike Bankston
South East Bigfoot Researchers Association (S.E.B.R.A.)

As I thought about addressing the subject of assembling a field investigation kit, I realized that there is much more to this topic than I first thought. Assembling a field investigation kit not only involves knowing what implements you need to have to investigate a sighting but also what you need to carry with you in the field. To make this information easier to digest, I've broken it down into three topics: 1: Investigation 2: Essentials 3: Extras.

Investigation

If you want to be an effective researcher, first you must find accurate information on how to properly handle evidence. You must know how to properly document and package any possible evidence in order to preserve it for future study. You must be familiar with which tools to use in each situation and what to carry with you in your evidence collection kit. Here are a few basics to get you started.

First off, you need a good supply of Latex gloves. This keeps finger oils and contaminants on the hand from soiling evidence. You can purchase these cheaply at several outlets, including Wal-Mart and Lowes. Next, I recommend a good pair of tweezers. The ones I personally use are a long version which I purchased at Wal-Mart. These are used for handling hair samples.

A small, clean garden trowel is a good thing to carry also. You don't want to handle feces samples even with rubber gloves. Use the trowel for this. There can be some pretty nasty germs and diseases hiding in feces.

After use, clean the trowel with water and a paper towel. I also carry a small spray bottle of alcohol which I spray the trowel with before putting it back in the pack.

When handling evidence, it is also a good idea to wear a good dust mask over your nose and mouth. Not only does this protect the evidence from possible contamination from sneezes, but protects you from the possible airborne nasties that might be in feces.

Next is storage. Paper or plastic? On hair samples, you want to use a paper envelope for storage. I do recommend this; once placed in the paper envelope, place the envelope in a Ziploc. Why? To help fight against dreaded moisture contamination. When you are in the field, you'll often encounter sudden precipitation. You'll also encounter creek crossings and a lot of other ways to get moisture into your stuff.

This brings up the most important thing you should have in your pack--Ziploc bags. I carry an assortment of sizes. I store evidence, lenses and personal items in them to keep all moisture out. Ziplocs are your friend.

For feces storage, I recommend small Tupperware containers. And don't forget to bring a good brand of box tape. Why is this important? After sealing the feces in the container, use the tape to run around the edge to protect it even further. The last thing you need is a container containing feces to pop open in your pack! Also the box tape is designed so you can write on it. On all evidence, bags, Ziplocs and Tupperware, place a piece of tape somewhere on the seal. Date it, put the time on it, and initial it. This will protect the integrity of everything you collect.

Next on the list is optics. I recommend that you carry a good camera, good film, a good lens or two, and a good supply of batteries. I don’t recommend one brand camera over another, but I do recommend a set of good lenses. I personally use a 300mm lens as well as a 600mm lens. I keep the lens that I am not using capped and in a Ziploc bag. I also keep all extra film in a Ziploc. The rolls that are used up, I place back in the canister. I then use the box tape to mark the canister with the date and time, etc. Also, in the field, the camera is never off. It's always ready. Make sure before you remove and bag any evidence that you photograph the area and make a note in your note pad as to what picture number and film canister the evidence corresponds with.

Video cameras. I personally only use them at night because of their night-shot capacity. You can use a video camera during the day to film an area of investigation, but one thing to remember is that on distant shots, the auto-focus can tend to cause weird pixilation in some cases.

I carry also a good digital voice recorder with eight hour continuous memory and with five file capability. Along with the recorder I have a parabolic microphone. These are perfect to use for recording during call blasting or knocking experiments.

The next thing you need is casting material. This takes some experimentation by the researcher to perfect the technique. There are several different casting agents. One I don’t recommend is Plaster of Paris because it dries delicate and can break easily.

The last thing I recommend for a good investigation pack is a couple of good notebooks, pens, maps (topography a plus), rubber bands, a magnifying glass, binoculars, and a good pocket knife.

ESSENTIALS

Essentials are things you need just to be out in the field. You may wind up in some pretty remote areas so you always want to be prepared.

First you need a compass. I can’t stress that enough. A handheld GPS unit is good, but it is electronic and has a possibility of failure. Nothing can beat a good old-fashioned compass.

Next, bring a good flashlight. I carry three. One is a Turbo Torch LED, I keep in my pocket. Second is a miners light I can wear on my head around my hat. Third is a spotlight. You need everything fully charged and with extra batteries. Remember to store the batteries in a Ziploc.

Canteens are a must. I carry two. Water is essential not only for survival but for casting agents. I also carry a water purification kit for emergencies.

A good first aid Kit is also essential. There are some good portable kits on the market. I have a 270 piece kit. I did add a few extra things though; Benedryl, Imodium Ad, BC headache and sinus relief powder, small spray bottle of alcohol, liquid Band-Aid, snakebite kit, and some fortified vitamins. You always need to be prepared for survival and surviving injury is key in the wilderness. The kit fits neatly in my day pack.

I carry a couple of MREs (meals ready to eat) from my local surplus store. I also have some jerky and trail bars in my pack. I have a small plastic box with fishing line (20lb test), and hooks.

Dry socks! This is important. Keep them in Ziplocs. If your feet get wet, change your socks. This keeps you from getting sick and from developing blisters. I always have two pairs.

I also carry the Army Survival manual with me for referencing. No better book unless you can get a Boy Scout field manual. I believe in National Geographic field manuals for reference also. They are small and extremely informative.

EXTRAS

There are a few things I carry extra with me. A charged cell phone, matches, light sticks, an extra knife, 20ft of rope, and rain gear.

I separate all my things into two carrying bags. I have a good size daypack I carry and a roomy canvas shoulder bag. Most of the survival stuff is stored in the pack and most of the investigation items are tucked away in the shoulder bag or in cargo pockets. You can also personalize how you carry your items. In addition, I carry a few animal calls with me; deer grunt, owl, crow, and doe bleat, to help cover my presence. I also like to use a cover scent made with hot water and vanilla extract I put in a spray bottle.

Your pack contents can vary, but I do advise you to keep the investigative supplies very similar to what I have described here.

Last but not least, always remember to thoroughly research where you are going and let someone know where you will be in case of emergency.

END