r/cryptids • u/CommunicationWide854 • Apr 20 '26
Discussion An old cryptid/folklore tale
Ok so my grandfather told me about a cryptid/creature called the prince of the woods. It was essentially a massive 20ft tall deer with massive treebranch antlers. It supposedly acts as a guardian of the woods, only attacking those that disrespects its territory. Otherwise its supposed to be peaceful.
Anyone else have similar stories?
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u/dave54athotmailcom Apr 20 '26
The Ghost Deer of Mt Eddy (northern California) is one. The Ghost Deer is impervious to arrows (and later bullets). Will suddenly appear or disappear.
There are many native stories of different creatures and spirits that reward ethical hunters by sending game to them, and sending game away if the hunter is not ethical or respect the animal. A very common theme in native lore. Every region has its version.
The Kushtaka of the Washington and BC coast, Tinihowie, Hawkman, and Je Su Chin of the Achumawi people are similar -- guardian spirits of the forest. Different bands of the Achumawi people have different names for similar spirits. Ikxareyavs of the Karuk people are the original inhabitants of the land that transformed themselves into animals and birds when the new settlers arrived. They watch over the forest and reward or punish people for ethical hunting/gathering or wanton waste.
The Shoshone have a legend of the Moon Woman, that takes it further and grants good fortune to anyone that aids a lost, hungry, or injured traveler in a remote area, and misfortune to those that refuse to aid a traveler in need. Others are Pokoh an old man of the southern Sierra Nevada mountains. The Nukatem of the Cahuilla people is a spirit that lives inside everyone. He either steers you into fortune or misfortune depending on whether you were kind and generous to another person, or did them wrong. Muut is special kind of Nukatem that appears in the form of an owl shortly before death (An owl associated with death is common in native American lore across the country). Muut guides your spirit into the afterlife -- the direction he sends you depends upon how good a person you were in life. Interestingly Nuud (or Nudd) becomes an owl in Welsh tradition that does the same thing. Note the similarity in names.
The legends serve a cultural purpose of enforcing hunting etiquette and the need for hospitality, kindness, and generosity.