Quick Info
On the night of September 4, 1964, in Cisco Grove, California, bow hunter Don Shrum was separated from his friends and trapped overnight in a tall pine tree by a large glowing UFO and multiple robotic entities. Small silver robots and taller humanoid beings in silver suits approached the tree, emitted paralyzing gas, and attempted to climb up to him. Shrum used fire arrows and burning clothing to survive until dawn.
This is one of the most terrifying and detailed close encounters with robotic beings and UFOs on record, a lone hunter in the fight of his life against non-human entities in the wilderness.
Timeline of Events – September 4, 1964
Reconstructed from Don Shrum’s detailed testimony, polygraph results, witness statements from his hunting party, and researcher interviews.
- Afternoon, September 4, 1964 Don Shrum, a bow hunter, is separated from his hunting party in the Cisco Grove area of Plumas National Forest, California. He climbs a tall pine tree to spend the night safely. His friends camp elsewhere and do not witness the events.
- Evening around 8:00 p.m. Shrum sees a large glowing object descending toward his tree. It is oval-shaped, metallic, with bright lights. The object hovers near the tree, then lands nearby. Small silver robotic beings emerge from the craft and begin approaching his position.
- Night – early encounters The robots (about 3 feet tall, metallic, glowing eyes) and taller humanoid beings in silver suits (5–6 feet tall, smooth faces) circle the tree. They emit a paralyzing gas that makes Shrum feel weak and drowsy. He lights a fire on the branch to stay awake and fight off the effects.
- Overnight – repeated attacks The beings attempt to climb the tree multiple times. Shrum shoots fire arrows and burns pieces of his clothing to create smoke and light, keeping them at bay. The robots use tools or devices to try to reach him. The UFO hovers above, shining lights down. Shrum stays conscious through sheer willpower.
- Dawn, September 5, 1964 As morning light appears, the beings retreat. The UFO rises and flies away. Shrum climbs down, exhausted and traumatized, and reunites with his friends. He reports the encounter to authorities.
- Aftermath & investigation Shrum undergoes polygraph tests (passes strongly). The case is investigated by NICAP and UFO researchers. No physical evidence (debris, traces) is found. Shrum sticks to his story for the rest of his life. The incident remains unexplained.
What Don Shrum Experienced
Don Shrum was an experienced bow hunter in his 30s. He described the events with calm detail in interviews. The UFO was large (estimated 30–50 feet), oval or cigar-shaped, metallic, with bright lights. It landed softly nearby. Small robots (3 feet tall, silver, mechanical limbs, glowing eyes) and taller humanoids (5–6 feet, silver suits, smooth featureless faces) emerged. The beings approached the tree, emitted a gas that caused drowsiness and paralysis.
Don lit fires and shot flaming arrows to keep them away. The robots used tools to climb or probe the tree. The taller beings watched silently. The UFO hovered above, shining lights down. Shrum stayed awake all night, terrified but determined to survive. At dawn, the beings retreated, the craft left, and he climbed down.
"They were small, silver, like robots with glowing eyes. They kept coming up the tree. I lit fires on the branches and shot arrows with burning cloth to keep them back. The gas made me sleepy, but I stayed awake. The big craft hovered above the whole time, shining lights down."
– Don Shrum (interviews with NICAP and researchers)
Shrum’s description of the gas and the robots’ persistence is terrifying. He was alone, weaponless except for his bow, and fighting to stay conscious. The fact that he survived until dawn and still described everything clearly shows remarkable strength.
"The taller ones were in silver suits, no faces I could see. They didn’t climb, they just watched. The robots were mechanical, no emotion. They used some kind of device to try to reach me. I burned everything I could to keep them off."
– Don Shrum (detailed testimony)
The distinction between the small robots and taller humanoids is consistent in every retelling. The robots were active and aggressive, the taller beings passive observers. The UFO never landed again, it stayed overhead, as if directing the encounter.
Don talks about the event in this video from @EyesOnCinema
Watch more from @EyesOnCinema on YouTube
The Official Response & Investigation
Shrum reported the encounter to local authorities and later to NICAP (National Investigations Committee on Aerial Phenomena). He passed multiple polygraph tests with flying colors. NICAP investigated but found no physical evidence (debris, traces) in the tree or field. The U.S. Air Force did not officially investigate (Project Blue Book dismissed most cases by 1964). No follow-up jets or military teams were sent. The case was largely ignored by authorities.
Researchers later interviewed Shrum repeatedly, he never changed his story. The incident remains unexplained and is considered one of the most terrifying close encounters involving robotic beings.
Legacy in 2026
What a great story. More than 60 years later, the Cisco Grove encounter remains one of the most terrifying and credible close encounters with robotic and humanoid entities on record. Don Shrum survived a night of siege by small robots and taller beings, using only fire and arrows.
Don's story has never wavered. Polygraphs seem to confirm his truthfulness. The event at Cisco Grove is seen as powerful evidence of non-human intelligence capable of deploying robotic units and conducting direct interactions with humans. The fact that Don fought for his life and lived to tell the tale makes it unforgettable once you hear it.
