GG-2026-131
Cisco Grove UFO
- Phenomenon UFOs/UAPs, Physiological & Biological Effects
- Documentation
Rating C
- A — Strong dossier: several independent sources plus primary evidence (original media, records, measurements) a researcher could use without interviewing anyone.
- B — Well documented: multiple independent witnesses with at least some contemporary primary material, or one witness with substantial primary corroboration (photos, recordings, contemporaneous notes, documents).
- C — Multi-source but soft: several witnesses or a long run of reports, but mostly testimony and after-the-fact secondary sources (newspapers, folklore collections, later interviews). Little or no primary physical evidence. Regional legend clusters such as the Bridgewater Triangle land here.
- D — Thin: single witness (or one household), little or no support beyond the account. Normal for a sincere personal experience.
- E — Incomplete or not yet assessed. Every new submission starts here until staff have read it.
- Evidence & media 2 items
- Status Historic
- Location Placer County, California
- Occurred 4 September 1964
Summary
On the night of September 4, 1964, 28-year-old Donald Schrum was bowhunting in the rugged terrain of the Tahoe National Forest near Cisco Grove, California, when he became separated from his hunting companions after dark. After spotting strange, low-flying lights and what appeared to be a dome-shaped craft landing nearby, Schrum climbed high into a pine tree for safety. Over the next twelve hours, Schrum endured an agonizing nighttime siege as three entities—two slender humanoid figures and a metallic, robot-like machine with glowing eyes—surrounded the base of the tree. The entities repeatedly released a thick, nauseating gas that rendered Schrum momentarily unconscious, prompting him to defend himself by firing hunting arrows and improvised ignited flares at the figures. When dawn broke, the entities and their craft vanished, leaving behind a exhausted, traumatized hunter whose physical account was documented by U.S. Forest Service rangers, NICAP investigators, and Air Force officials.
Background
The Separation and Initial Sighting (September 4, 1964)
The Hunt: Donald Schrum and two friends were bowhunting for deer in the dense wilderness of Cisco Grove. As twilight fell, Schrum lost his bearings in the complex terrain and decided to signal his companions by lighting fires and firing signal arrows.
The Landing: Around 9:00 PM, Schrum observed a bright, white light moving in a zigzag pattern through the forest canopy. Initially assuming it was a rescue helicopter, he lit a flare. Instead, a large, silhouetted, dome-shaped object descended and hovered softly above the treeline before landing a short distance away in a clearing.
The Night-Long Siege (Midnight – Dawn, September 5)
Taking Refuge: Fearing wild animals or unknown intruders, Schrum strapped himself into the upper branches of a tall pine tree, roughly 12 feet off the ground, using his bowstring and belt as a harness.
The Entities: Shortly after midnight, two thin, 5-foot-tall silver-suited humanoid figures approached the tree, accompanied by a third, metallic, box-like robot with square glowing eyes and a hinged mouth mechanism.
The Gas Attacks & Defense: The robot entity repeatedly opened its mouth section, releasing a dense, sweet-smelling white mist that drifted up into the branches. Whenever Schrum inhaled the gas, he suffered sudden muscle paralysis and blackouts. To survive, Schrum lit matches, set fire to pieces of his clothing, and dropped them onto the entities. When the figures attempted to climb the tree, Schrum shot his remaining target arrows at them, hitting the metallic robot directly with a loud clang and causing it to tumble backward.
Chronology of the Cisco Grove Incident
├── Sept 4 (18:00): Schrum gets separated from his bowhunting party near Cisco Grove.
├── Sept 4 (21:00): White light zigzags through trees; dome-shaped craft lands nearby.
├── Sept 4 (23:00): Schrum climbs pine tree; three entities emerge and surround the trunk.
├── Sept 5 (00:00–05:00): Entities release paralytic gas; Schrum repels them with flares & arrows.
├── Sept 5 (05:30): Secondary craft arrives; high-density smoke forces a final blackout.
└── Sept 5 (Dawn) : Entities vanish; Schrum descends tree, meets companions, and files reports.
Witness statement
No statement on file.
Investigation timeline
- 2026-10-15 — Historical file submitted.
- 2026-10-16 — Historical file accepted and published.
Research notes
Historical research: Forest Physical Forensics, Target Arrow Recovery, and Air Force De-escalation
Physical Evidence at the Scene: When investigators from NICAP (National Investigations Committee on Aerial Phenomena) and local law enforcement searched the site, they located Schrum’s pine tree, verified broken branches matching his harness setup, and recovered his target arrows—some with bent tips consistent with impacting a hard, metallic surface.
Medical & Physiological Examination: Schrum exhibited severe physical exhaustion, bloodshot eyes, and nausea matching acute inhalation of unknown chemical irritants or high-altitude smoke exposure.
Project Blue Book Analysis: Air Force investigators logged the event under Project Blue Book, ultimately dismissing the prolonged physical confrontation as a combination of night panic, sleep deprivation, and hallucination caused by campfire smoke inhalation, though critics note this fails to explain his companions' independent observations of anomalous lights in the sector.
Historical research: Absurdist Entity Morphology, Defensive Parapsychology, and Alien Siege Archetypes
High-Strangeness Entity Traits: The physical description of the "robot" entity—featuring a boxy torso, hinged jaw, glowing square eyes, and chemical gas dispersal—stands out in ufology. Its mechanical, almost retro-futuristic appearance departs significantly from the classic "Grey" archetype, placing it in a rare class of mechanical entity reports (similar to the 1952 Flattsburg / Flatwoods encounters).
The "Siege" Narrative Archetype: Ufologists analyze Cisco Grove alongside cases like the 1955 Kelly-Hopkinsville Goblin encounter, where witnesses experienced prolonged, defensive combat against physical entities. The case explores open questions about entity intent: whether the standoff represented a deliberate non-lethal capture attempt, an environmental study, or a defensive reaction to an armed human occupant.
Propose evidence & media, a source citation, further reading, a research note, a related case, or a series link. Staff review before anything is added.