I saw this article about Fred Bear and thought i would like to tell it if anyone hasn' t seen it already. Its in the Peterson' s Bowhunting Mag.

Tribune: Remembering Fred Bear by Myron R. Fischer

He was speaking on a subject that riveted my attention. Fred Bear said " Having first-hand experience with a wide variety of big game, i believe an exceptional whitetail buck to be the most difficult trophy to take with a bow and arrow. A bowhunter who can consistently bag mature whitetail bucks can achieve success with any other big game." He continued. " Initially, my equipment was primitive by today' s standards, and it took me six years to bag my first bow-killed whitetail."
It was the summer of 1969, and my family and i have traveled from our home in southern Indiana to Grayling, Michigan. I was on the article assignment to interview Fred Bear for a story on his archery museum there. Fred has long been an idol of mine. In the early 1950s I had started compling a scrapbook on him and his bowhunting exploits, never dreaming that we have a connection with destiny.
In 1960 i was with the Indiana National Guard on summer training at Camp Grayling, Mich. While reading a Detroit newspaper, i saw a news photo of Fred and a huge brown bear he' d taken with bow and arrow. Saving it for my scrapbook, I decided to visit the Bear Archery Factory on my weekend furlough. As i arrived there, fate brought us face to face. Fred was just leaving the plant and explained that he was late for an appointment and that no one was there to give me a tour. He invited me to come again at a later time. Learning that i was not a bowhunter, he said " Why don' t you give it a try?" I did, and in 1963 I began outdoor writing. At that chance meeting i was impressed with Fred' s taking time to talk to me and his warm friendliness.

The Foundation:

Which brings us to 1969 and the interviews i did with Fred. Sitting behind his desk in his office, Fred appeared as much as home as when in the deer woods. I began asking him questions, and he responded with his trademark smile. In 1927 Fred saw a bowhunting movie titled Alaskan Adventures, featuring Art Young. It impressed him so, it changed his focus on his future. Later he met Art Young, shooting with him and learning from him. He was soon making archery tackle for his personal use. In 1929 Fred began bowhunting and traveling the road that formed him into an archery legend. In 1933 Fred went into partnership in a small shop in Detroit. The mainstay was silk-screening and ad work for automakers. A small corner was devoted to building archery tackle and experimenting. Gifted with an inventive, inquisitive mind, he soon headed to the right direction. By 1940 archery was the business focal point, and Bear Archery Company was born. Fred dreamed of a plant in Grayling, Mich; it stuck him as the ideal location. That dream was moved to a new plant in Grayling.
Early on, Fred realized that in order for bowhunting to grow, he would have to promote the sport. So, arguably, he became the father of modern bowhunting through his ceasless efforts in manufacturing innovations, publicity and influening legislation affecting hunting and conservation pratices. Looking back on that area, it becomes apparent that Fred Bear was a genius in numberous respects. For instance, he tought himself to write so well that the public eagerly red stories of his hunts and the books he authored. It appears fame was his destiny.

Passionate Hunter:

At the forefront of the legend Fred Bear was his lifelong passion to bowhunting. As we talked about his hunting, I asked him what animals were his greatest trophies. He paused, then replied " Three come to mind. My stone sheep is probably my finest trophy. That was just a lucky hunt." A rare ram of record class, the stone sheep was brought down by what Bear described as his best shot ever, taken on his first trip to British Columbia. Relating the sheep hunt, Fred said " On Sept 10, 1957, my guide, Charles Quock, and I were headed up Conner Creek looking for stone sheep. While eating, we spotted a white object off in a draw on a mountain. We almost dismissed it, thinking it was a goat. Through the spotting scope, we determinded it was a flat rock reflecting the sky. But nearly laid this big stone ram, which we wouldn' t have seen because he blended into the shale. Making a mental note of his position, we began a stalk. As we got near him, he spooted us and took off. Trying for a long shot, i missed. He bounded up the mountain. stopping at the top. The guide took off after it; i followed, but the ram was always one ridge away. Finally we topped a ridge, and the ram didn' t run. The guide yelled " shoot!" But all i could see was the ram' s head. To avoid hitting the ram' s head, i short-drew and lobbed the arrow over the ridge, then sat down to rest as the guide dissapeared over the ridge. Minutes later he appeared with a big smile on his face. The arrow had hut just above the front legs. It was the luckiest shot i ever made."

Tales of Adventure:

" My african lion hunt produced another great trophy," Fred said " Art Young had taken a lion in the 1920s and I longed to match that feat. Finding good lion sign, we built a blind. We shot a waterbuck for bait. A lion showed the first even just as the light faded. he saw me rise to shoot and dispeared. We moved to a another location. Finding a good sign, we used a wildebeest carass as bait, preparing to spend the night in our blind. Near dark, we heard the loud cracking of bones at the bait. We hadn' t seen or heard anything, yet the lion was only 18 yards away. Picking up my bow, i eased into shooting postion, then saw that there was two males feeding on the wildebeest carass. They saw me instantly, staring at the blind. I chose the closest one, loosing my arrow for a spot behind his shoulder. Light was too dim to follow my arrow, but we knew the lion was hit by his hair-raising roar. " Both lionss exploded into action. The fartherst one ran to the left in long bounds. The one i' d aimed for closed in on the blind fast. Swerving when we hwas just a few yards away, he streaked past us just a few feet. Then we heard a tremendous roar in the darkness. For about 10 minutes all was quiet. Just as our nerves began to calm, there was a loud roar from no more then 20 yards away, a hair-raising experience in total darkness. my guides had their safeties off their rifles. No one kne what would take place. Periodically, the roaring continued so we spent a nerve-wracking wait. Finally we chanced a race to our vehicle and hurried to camp. The following morning we located the blood trail of the lion i hit. Trailing it for some 200 yards, we found a magnificent full-grown male with heavy mane. He pegged out an even 10 feet and weighed 460 pounds. It was certainly was a hair-raising hunt. In that respect, that lion was a greatest trophy."
Cape Buffalo are rated as one of Africa' s most dangerous game. " For sheer meaness, the Cape Buffalo takes first place." Fred said. Fred took two Cape Buffalo with bow and arrow. The first encounter was a harrowing experience. While scouting, two bulls burst from cover, charging the moving vehicle. The driver tried to avoid them. One slammed into the vehicle, knocking it sideways. In the ensuing action, Fred jumped from the vehicle and nocked an arrow, sending it into the bull' s ribs at 35 yards. Luckily, the buffalo kept going away. Finding it, they discovered a prize trophy that had paint on its horns. Fred, wanting film action, decided to try for another buffalo. Locating some good bulls, he and his guide stalk within 45 yards, then stepped out of cover. The bull he chose defiantly raised his head, giving Fred a challenging stare. Hearing the camera, Fred released an arrow, burying it between the bull' s ribs. Through not the trophy of the first, it was still a satisfactory bull. Fred had the filmed action he desired.

Loaded For Bear

I questioned Fred regarding his bear experiences. He said " Each species offers its own challenge. I' d say the polar bear hunts were the most exciting. After two tries that failed, i succeeded in taking one without the guide' s bullet hole in its pelt. It was taking with a single arrow after six weeks on the ice pack." He continued, " Bowhunting any animal isnt easy. I rate the polar bear as most likely to come for the hunter if given the chance. You could be the first human he' encountered. For that reason, he wont respect you."
At my asking during that 1969 interview, Fred Bear said he' d taken his 100th personal big-game trophy three years earlier. " I' ve taken 12-15 more since." he said. Its unknown to me just how many trophy animals he took in his lifetime.
Fred Bear shot strictly instinctively, and his favorite bow was a recurve. For the most of his big-game hunting, he used a 65 to 67-pound draw weight. He advocated that when hunting with traditional tackle, the hunter use the heaviest draw weight he can handle efficiently.
In later years, commenting on the compound bow, Fred said " They' re interesting and fun to shoot. But they are just no compatible with my particular shooting style."

The Personable Papa

Later, my family and I accompanied Fred Bear to the Bear Archery Museum for a photo session and personal tour. I remember him as being very interested in our children, talking to them and my wife. His interest in children was reinforced when a small boy came up to him, tugging on his pant leg. He pointed to an African elephant trophy head on the wall and saying " Did you really shoot that elephant with bow and arrow?" Fred replied " I sure did." The boy' s amused parents stood nearby, smiling. Then Fred explained that the Bear Archery Museum had been built to house his trophies because there was just no room for them at the plant.
Before departure, I showed Fred a clipping I' d found in an old, faded newspaper. Looking at it, his face lit up. It pictured some bowhunters with old-style clothing and bows, holding some rabbits they' d shot. " I know and shot with some of these fellows." he said. He asked if he could copy the clipping. I offered a trade it for a photo i' d seen of him riding riding a horse while on a western elk hunt. He grinned replying, " its a deal." Several weeks after i returned home, the autographed photo arrived. Later, he send more photos and placed me on his Christmas card list.
The year prior to my interview (1968), Fred sold Bear Archery Company to Victor Comptometer to remain competitive on a worldwide basis. Fred remained president for 10 additional years. In 1978, operation were moved to Gainesville, Florida. The Fred Bear Museum was also moved there in 1984. Its billed as " a lesson in natural history." Its located on Archer Road, just off the I-75 in Gainesville, near where Bear bows are made.
Fred Bear remained active in the company, promoting it and the sport until his death on April 27, 1988, at the age of 86. He had received numberous prestigious awards, had the various patents to his credit and was in great demand as a public speaker. He filmed hunts, on for continents, remain for posterity. He left many friends, including me, with cherished memories. He was a humble, sincere and likeable person. He' d left an indelible mark on sportsmen and conservation. Fred Bear' s been given various labels, but the father of modern Bowhunting probably fits him best. He remains a lasting inspiration and an archery icon.