I was just surfing the cable TV and saw Ted Nugent interviewing Ed Bilderback, the man who guided Fred Bear on his famous brown bear hunts, including the one featured in "Kodiak Country". Ed was the captain of the "Valiant Maid" and is known by many old timers as "The man behind the rock." In "Kodiak Country" he was the guy crouching near the big boulder with Fred as the huge brown bruin approached at 20 feet! Ed is a man of many talents.
I saw that too. It was great to hear his story about Fred.
I think the episode will repeat this Sat. (Nov. 7)at 11:00PM. Don't know if that's Eastern or Central time. I was happy to see Ed recalling those golden days while wearing a Brothers of the Bow cap! I designed the logo on the cap:^) Small world. That Ed is something else.
What show? How old is Ed now?
I liked " don't weight this one it will get bigger with time" Fred Bear.
Spirit of the Wild w/Ted Nugent. Yes that is EST time..I think Ted said he was in his 80'eds
Ted Nugents Spirit of the Wild, it is on the Outdoor Channel.
I watched it as well and really enjoyed the segment. I could feel the thrill as Fred drew back and shot that monster brown bear at insanely close range.
Yet another reminder that while Ted is a wild man he is true hunter, a patriot, and his heart is in the right place. He just highlighted trad archery and Fred Bear in a perfect, positive, backstrap tango way that only Ted can.
I had the pleasure of hearing about that bear hunt from Fred himself in the early 80s. I was like a wide-eyed little kid whenever Fred and I got together in Gainesville. He would spin his yarns and I would grin as if I was hearing them for the first time. A very warm and humble man. Ed's name came up a lot; Fred held him in great esteem. Good job on this one Ted.
Here's a photo of Mike Mitten with Ed Bilderback taken last year (I think):
(http://brothersofthebow.com/moments23c.jpg)
I hope this opens. Hit F5 on your keyboard to fresh the page if it doesn't.
Sorry, that was typo. That's MARK Mitten, Mike's brother:^)
Yes this was a very good show i could have listen to that old man talk all day
My brother Mark talked to Ed on video tape several times during the past few years. I hope he will work the interview up for us to read, or we may show them as bonus features in our next film. Ed could not draw his bow for the last 2 or 3 years, but my brother Mark, a chiropractor, made some adjustments to give Ed releife from a pinched nerve in his shoulder. Ed could shoot his bow again right away and has called Mark many times to tell him the treatments is still working and he is continuing to shoot. Ed is quite a guy. Mike
He said he was 82 in the show. It was a good interview.
Would love to see that interview. I have been reading quite a few Fred Bear books lately and Ed's name is all through them.
Sounds like he is a really good shot. Glad he is able to shoot again. That must be a real joy for him.
thanks for the heads up!
QuoteOriginally posted by the real bowdoc:
Hey I was just wondering if Ted was shooting a long bow now ? thanks bd
Nope but it was a excellent segment on Ed and Fred Bear that ANY archer who saw it came away with a small piece of history.
IMO, Ted is a great hunter. I think he came from trad equipment, but is one of those guys who likes to put meat on the table. I have to admit, although I have so far enjoyed the 3 times I went hunting with the trad bow, I had gotten to within range of a good percentange shot 2 of the 3 times-IF I were still using the wheel bow. 45 yds is pretty much a guaranteed with the PSE.
But I haven't even practiced at that range with the Bear recurve. :)
Farmer
QuoteOriginally posted by Drew:
QuoteOriginally posted by the real bowdoc:
Hey I was just wondering if Ted was shooting a long bow now ? thanks bd
Nope but it was a excellent segment on Ed and Fred Bear that ANY archer who saw it came away with a small piece of history. [/b]
I've got video of him giving his band a shooting lesson with his recurve.
Ted started out with a Osage long bow...Why he went to wheeles I don't know that answer.
QuoteOriginally posted by mysticguido:
Ted started out with a Osage long bow...Why he went to wheeles I don't know that answer.
Simple - shooting wheels pays better - and that is Ted's motivation for everything he does. One of the best self promoters I have ever seen.
The interview was great.
You like Ted or you don't... Who cares. How bout y'all bring this back to Ed Bilderback. I didn't even know he was still around. That's one guy I'd love to hear more about. Everytime I read Bob Munger's book I want to read more about Ed.
Herdbull that would be great if you could get that interview printed up.
Com'on brother bowdoc...this is about Ed, not Ted.
"let's bring this back to Ed Bilderback".....thanx Tim
There is a reairing of this show Saturday the 7th on the outdoor channel at 11:00pm EST
This is a heads up for anyone wanting to see it again or for the first time.
Anyone have an update about Ed????
I am just learning more about the man....very cool!
I grew up a huge Ted fan. Saw him talk at a sport show where he described shooting a treed bear and dancing in the crimsom shower. Anyone listening that wasn't a hunter walked away an anti. Darn near turned me into a PETA fan.
We can be our own worst enemy. It's not us vs. the antis, it's who looks more resoanable to the non-hunters that matters. We need to police our own ranks, but guys like Ted think we can justify anything as long as it's legal, like canned hunts. I'm not sure Fred would approve of him today. Leopold and TR surely wouldn't.
Ah... if only I had cable.
When asked, Fred Bear said, Ed Bilderback was the best hunter he knew. :thumbsup:
I particularly liked the clip of him shooting beer bottles out of the air w/ a rifle over the ocean! Things were just different back then and you could put that stuff out there on TV. In these days there would be public outcry (and should be) for the littering aspect. Got to respect the legends though. We are where we are today b/c of them.
QuoteOriginally posted by Drew:
QuoteOriginally posted by the real bowdoc:
[qb] Hey I was just wondering if Ted was shooting a long bow now ? thanks bd [/b]
The Last time I'll watch the show he was shooting a Crossgun.
That would be cool..
Fred Bear said he was the strongest man for his size he had ever seen.
He was the guy shooting bottles out of the air with .30 carbine on that bear hunt right? I had a vhs tape of that hunt.
QuoteOriginally posted by RAU:
He was the guy shooting bottles out of the air with .30 carbine on that bear hunt right? I had a vhs tape of that hunt.
Yep - pretty danged good shooting.
Thanks for posting the pic of Ed. That is one guy I would like to know more about. Has he ever written anything? Or has there ever been anything besides the material that Fred had in his field notes? I enjoyed Fred's writting about him. He sure was resourceful.
C'mon Biggie- Guru said it's about Ed-Let it go!
Mark Mitten also got to go hog hunting in Hawaii with Ed- seems like I heard Ed walked him to death!!! Tough old fella!
Ted Got busted for poaching a spike buck in California. Used to like him but not any more.Poaching is poaching. But Eds is way cool.
Sorry General Marty....I didn't read My Guru's post....didn't mean no harm. How many deer did you mmmmmmiss last week?
I'm with Biggie and Thumper on this one. If it is about Ed then delete the posts that mention Poacher Ted.
I'm sorry to have to relay this message but I got some bad news today. Ed Bilderback had a major stroke yesterday in Cordova, Alaska. The prognosis is not good. He will never be the same. Keep him in your prayers.
Very sorry to hear that...prayers from CO.
Oh man---time is not our friend!
If anyone has Ted Nugent's email address or contact info, you might want to relay this information to him about his friend. Thanks.
Thanks For the update Gene. His in my prayers..
sory to hear that, he was a classic guy. Gene i know ya'll have footage of him and i hope we can see them some day.
I cannot remember the fellow to credit for this photo, but its one of the last taken of the Valiant Maid.
(http://i544.photobucket.com/albums/hh338/spikeknife/misc/valiantmaid.jpg)
I may still have Ted's wife Shemane's email Gene. He used her email the last time he messaged me. I'll see if I can find it.
Be sure and let us know if you find it.......
Biggie, It was on my old computer when I was talking with Ted about Primal Dreams, but didn't get transferred over whenever I bought a new one. I'll see if I can pull it off of the old machine. In the meantime, I bet Cuz Strickland has it if you want to contact him at his Mossy Oak email.
Somewhere I remember something about the Valiant Maid sinking. Does anyone know the story about that? When was that? I remember one story about Ed filling a skiff with water to make the boat list so the hole in the hull would be above the water line.
I believe the Valiant Maid went down off Cordova, Alaska in 2003.
hey guys help me out ? I can not find on this thread anywhere above or below where I posted anything about Ted on this thread ? Drew please help me out.I will be more then happy to remove my post about Ted from this thread if I could find it thanks bd
darn I still can not find a post that I made about Ted shooting a long bow on this thread about Ed.I can not find it in this thread anywhere help me out here bd
I recall seeing itBD. Gone now.
I assume Ed was not the captain when the boat sank. That would have put him in hi 80's. When did he sell the Maid?