By Tim Binnall
Beverage brand Hard Mountain Dew is offering a whopping $1 million prize to anyone who can prove Bigfoot exists, but the company's "rigorous set of standards" for evidence and official rules make winning the contest rather unlikely. Launched today and running through November 30th, the 'Bigfoot Bounty' calls upon Sasquatch enthusiasts (aged 21 or older) to submit what they believe to be proof that the legendary cryptid is real. Making the contest particularly challenging is that entrants are required to satisfy four out of seven remarkably specific criteria in order to take home the million dollars.
Among the possible pieces of evidence Hard Mountain Dew asks for are "a footprint measuring between 37 and 38.5 inches long, found pressed into dirt," "clearly documented 13-inch handprints displaying distinct shape, proportions, and unusual characteristics suitable for further examination," or "night vision footage showing a seven to nine-foot-tall heat signature moving at 20-25 mph through dense forest." Other criteria include a photo of Sasquatch, audio recordings of "unexplained sounds consistent with reported Bigfoot activity," a tuft of hair containing "unknown DNA markers," and "evidence of debris and/or environmental remnants" suggesting the cryptid's presence.
While the challenge may sound tempting to Bigfoot enthusiasts hoping to collect all the materials needed to win the million, one would be remiss not to mention an unfortunate note tucked away in the official rules of the contest. "The Contest Grand Prize is presented solely for satirical, entertainment, and promotion purposes and is not intended to be awarded," the company states, explaining that the huge cash reward is really just a "humorous element of this promotion celebrating the mythology of Bigfoot/Sasquatch in connection with the Hard Mountain Dew brand." That said, the brand does plan to award 100 participants a $20 prize, equivalent to the retail value of a 12-pack of the malt beverage.