Big Game Hunter Fred Bear remembers the moment clearly. It was 1933, the first day of the Michigan deer hunting season, and he was deep in the wilds of the Porcupine Mountains. "I crept out onto a creek bank," he recalls, "and about 100 yards upstream stood a deer. I raised my rifle and shot it. That was it; the season was just an hour old, and I already had my limit. Right there I decided to give up gun hunting. It was too darned easy."
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The ability to get close to game remains the essence of all bowhunting today.
How true it is. I am just getting back in to bowhunting after a few years off. (Not much to hunt on an aircraft carrier.) I have yet to get a deer this year, but have seen a couple dozen and a few turkeys to boot. One of my most rewarding seasons yet.
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Fred Bear Instinct 30" Draw 63#
Drop Tine Quick Shot WB
TruGlo Brite Site 3 Pin
Limbsaver S-Coil
Tru-Fire Hurricane Release
RedHead Carbon Supreme Lites w/ Blazers
Here where I live in southeast Va, we have only one archery season. Oct 6 or 7 to Nov. 15 or 16. Then it is all gun until the season isall over. We are pretty much forced to gun hunt if we want to hunt the entire deer season. this includes the use of dogs. we have huge hunt clubs anywhere from 1000 acrs to 25,000 acrs. All of them hunt with dogs including my club. I would rather hunt with a bow, but dog hunting is the norm here and has been for a long time. I enjoy hearing the dogs and the guys are fun to hunt with, but it doesn't come close to bowhunting. What Im saying is, deer go noc-turnal almost instantly if you hunt where dogs are run.. that is how it is...
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The ability to get close to game remains the essence of all bowhunting today.
I met Mr. Fred Bear at Cobo Hall in 1968 while shooting the big Pro-Am & we had about an hour or so visit on his Big Bear hunting. He was a great guy & did so much for our sport.
I won't go so far as to say gun hunting is to easy but I took my 1st Deer in 1958 with my recurve & wood arrow. It was my 2nd year of Bowhunting & I was so thrilled with that deer that I have never purchased a biggame gun tag in all my 51 years of Bowhunting. I have been blessed with MANY Bowhunting experiences & hunts over the years in many places. I still get that excitement when I draw my bow, no matter if a Doe orany other animal. I have taken Whitetail, Mule Deer, Elk, Caribou, Black Bears, wild hogs, & a list of many more. I have also experienced many a Bowhunt where the success was just getting to be in the wilds with family or good friends & nothing in the freezer. I am not a TROPHY hunter though I have a few others might consider better than average. I enjoy the hunt & sharing these things with my children & family, thatis the best.
Gun Hunters, I am sure enjoy their sport just as much as we do & contribute just as much as anyone to the sport of hunting-they just don't get that THRILL of being up close & personal with their prey. Good Luck to all this season.
Vabowman, I was stationed in Norfold for about 10 years of my career. We used to drive out to Cumberland State Forest to hunt deer and turkey. It was quite a drive, but quiet and pleasant.
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Fred Bear Instinct 30" Draw 63#
Drop Tine Quick Shot WB
TruGlo Brite Site 3 Pin
Limbsaver S-Coil
Tru-Fire Hurricane Release
RedHead Carbon Supreme Lites w/ Blazers
Fred Bear, what a guy...
