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There is really not much to consider regarding Methods and Techniques when conducting a Bigfoot investigation. Equipment plays a small part since most of the case will revolve around the witness interview. The report form and witness narrative make up the bulk of this data so it is important to assure that it is accurate and complete. When you sit down to discuss the event allow the witness to speak freely; do not ask leading questions. Let him tell the story without interuption from beginning to end. Take notes on any strong points or areas of discrepancy but don't mention them at this point. Once the witnbess has finished then is the time to go back and ask your questions. Ask those in a manner that requires the witness provide the data, not a yes-no response. For instance, "What color were the eyes?", not "Were the eyes red?" More about how to conduct the interview in the next section.
The main requirement regarding the equipment is knowing how to properly use it. You will want to take multiple pictures of any evidence you find before attempting to disturb it. Take those pictures from various angles and lighting positions as well. Later this allows you to put things in perspective regarding their surroundings. For any in-field audio recording consider the use of directional microphones. These can be positioned to minimize interference from other sources of noise such as traffic or people. The use of a high gain amplifier is advised since these will allow you to clearly hear faint sounds, but be aware that they also amplify extraneous noise. So keep the gain level as low as you can and still hear what you want to pick up. It is also a good idea to record in stereo. This will allow you to hear the sounds in a more realistic manner. You can also get a sense of direction with a dual channel recording. In the cases of any physical evidence there are some factors that must be considered to insure the evidence is untainted and that a trail is provided to prevent any opportunity to hoax the data. In addition, weather or any conditions which may have altered the evidence should be noted and made a part of the investigation data. This should take into account anything from the time of the occurrence up until the time of your field investigation. P> The entire investigation should be logged for tracking purposes. Every person present should initial samples at the time they are sealed. No person should be left alone with the samples at any time until they are sealed. No matter how good the evidence, debunkers will call it a hoax just because the opportunity existed, not because it actually is hoaxed. It's best to have answers when those questions come up. An uninterrupted evidence trail will insure no unanswered questions.
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