Hard Mountain Dew is putting up $1 million for anyone who can prove Bigfoot exists. The alcoholic version of the fizzy drink is running its first-ever “Bigfoot Bounty,” and it wants real evidence, not blurry photos.
The contest opens September 15 and runs until November 30. Anyone aged 21 or older can enter by submitting evidence that meets at least four of seven categories laid out by the company.
What counts as proof
To win the money, entrants must back their submission with an essay and evidence that fits the company’s strict criteria. That includes a footprint measuring 37 to 38.5 inches long, pressed six inches into solid gravel. A documented 13-inch handprint with unusual features also counts.
Thermal imaging showing a seven to nine-foot-tall heat signature moving 20 to 25 mph through dense forest is on the list. So is hair with unknown DNA markers. Other qualifying evidence covers unexplained audio, environmental remnants without signs of machinery or storm damage, and a photo of Bigfoot photobombing the entrant.
Meeting the requirements gets you in the door. Winning the prize requires verified proof that Bigfoot exists.
Who judges the entries
Hard Mountain Dew says the evidence will be judged against standards developed with Bryce Johnson, a Bigfoot researcher who has starred in and produced a docuseries following Sasquatch researchers.
The consolation prize
Even if nobody claims the $1 million, Hard Mountain Dew is offering something else. A total of 100 entrants will receive the cash equivalent of a free 12-pack for submitting their best evidence.
The company’s pitch
“Hard Mountain Dew has always been about chasing bold experiences, and Bigfoot Bounty takes that mindset to the next level,” senior brand director Erica Taylor said.
“Every fall, someone’s got a story of a shape in the trees or a sound they can’t explain. Whether you catch Bigfoot or just catch a good story trying, there’s nothing better than an ice-cold Hard Mountain Dew at the end of the hunt.”
The recent hoax
The challenge arrives weeks after a Maine town was sent into a frenzy over reported Bigfoot sightings. Local police investigated and tracked down the supposed creature sitting on Main Street.
They found a man wearing what police described as a “very convincing costume.”
Key facts
- $1 million prize, available if evidence proves Bigfoot exists
- 100 entrants receive a free 12-pack equivalent
- Open to anyone aged 21 or older
- Entries due by November 30
- Evidence judged using standards developed with Bryce Johnson
The contest launches September 15. Hard Mountain Dew is ready for the evidence.
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