I have several custom bows and like them real well but I just bought a 72 Kodiak Mag the other day and really like how quite and smooth it shoots. Not near as fast as other bows I have but there is something about it that make me want to hunt with it next year. Are many guys still useing these older Bear bows as their go to bows?
Tell me about your set-ups.
Been shooting a green Kodiak Hunter since 92 (50# @ 28") and shoot GT 35/55 with 3gpi weight tubes it has always been the bow I grab when things get serious,but I shoot my new 66" Horne's combo as well and have only had it 4 weeks so next year who knows.
I just purchased a 57 Kodiak Special 66" 52#@28 from a Gentleman here on Trad Gang.
Used to own it's little brother 64" 49#@28.
I never hunted lil bro, but think I'm going to give this one a whirl.
I'm so enthused I hate to wait til hunting season.
Every morning when the sun comes over the small rise of the hills, I look out my back door facing South over the creek bed and see an abundance of wildlife.
Guess I'll just have to keep shooting arrows into that haystack until Spring Turkey Opens.
I hunt with a A mag with factory camo limbs and a 4 arrow spring arm quiver.
I am pretty new collecting old bows,but i really like them,they have a special feeling on them,silent accurate easy to tune.Like you I have many custom that I like but can't wait to hunt with my old Bear TD or Super Kodiak.
I take my '66 Kodiak and my '59 Grizzly out every once in awhile.
I am use my 59' Kodiak 99% of the time but just got a 66' Kodiak the will get used this year.
doug77
My Bear Grizzly comes out to play every once and a while since I got a silvertip.It was my go to bow last year.50@28" 58".Shot 30" 2213 with 175 gr Razorheads.
I hunt with a couple of Super Mags (1967 and 1976), a 1970's Black Panther and just picked up a 1966 Tigercat.
The Super Mags are both 50# and I shoot cedars with Zwickey No Mercy heads through them. They also like GT 3555 and GrizzlyStik Sitkas.
The Black Panther is 45# I shoot the GT and lighter cedars.
I haven't got the Tigercat set up yet. I need to get some lighter cedars for it.
Last year's setup was a '56 Kodiak double shelf, 62", 56#@28. Had a tape-on bow quiver, shooting cedars w/ Razorheads/bleeders, and a Bear Western quiver to carry all the extras.
My "Go To" bow has been a Magnesium A with 54# #3 limbs for about 20 years now.
I have drug a couple other bows out, a Martin and a Widow, but otherwise it's been the TD.
'59 Grizzly is the bow I shoot best and enjoy it immensly!!
I've hunted with vintage bear in the past...none in my stable right now but I do have a number of 1960(s) shakespeare and pearson recurves that are excellent shooters. I've gone as far as selling my custom bows and refinishing/shooting nothing but vintage now and loving it.
have fun!
><>
Glenn
I hunt with a 70s model Grizzly and a Black Panther from around the same time. Also have a 1954 Griz that I'll shoot once in a while and a Tamerlane that's on the rack that I haven't shot in decades.
I hunt with a 70s model Grizzly and a Black Panther from around the same time. Also have a 1954 Griz that I'll shoot once in a while and a Tamerlane that's on the rack that I haven't shot in decades.
I haven't, but I'm beginning to feel the itch. I'm keeping my eye out for a good '60's era refinishing candidate and think it would be very cool to hunt with.
Been hunting with a 1973-1974 green kodiak hunter but just got a 1966 kodiak I'll be scaring deer with next fall!
What little hunting I did this past season was with a 1975 SK. 45#@28 and total satisfaction.
Welcome post! I'm been contemplating for about two weeks buying a new Bear TD Supreme (B Handle with 60 inch limbs-- 50#'s). I have 7 recurves; Predators, Fox, Black Widow, Hoyt, Mathews Eagle. I haven't held a Bear TD riser in my hands since my RH shooting days in the early 1980
's. Those of you who have shot both the customs (especially if you have Widow experience) and the supreme, how does the Supreme feel and shoot comparatively? I picked up a new Super Kodiak at Bass Pro Shops yesterday (1-piece) and I didn't like the feel of it at all. I don't want to make a $1,200 mistake.
Thanks
I have hunted with my 65 Kodiak quite a bit. I'm sure it will get plenty of play time over the years.
I took my 1970 Kodiak Hunter (Jon Voight-Deliverance) out a couple years ago on a black bear hunt. First time I had hunted with a recurve in about 15 years (longbow guy).
Hunted with a '72 Kodiak Hunter in 2008 and a '62 Kodiak last year. Don't know what I'll use this year. So many choices in the rack.
I hunted with a 65 grizzly. Used it to kill rabbits, squrrels, tons of frogs, and two whitetail.
I often hunt with a 56 dbl shelf Kodiak with cedar arrows just a great bow, maybe I like it because it was a gift to me and it is the same age as I am.
Because they work.
my go to bow is a 62 kodiak 45# with a leather top quiver and befor that was a 69 kodiak mag 53#
I hunt with my 1952 Static tip Grizzly, 64# @ 28, I found it at a g-sale for $5 and had the Bowdoc pretty her up for me, added a Selway quiver and whooohooo!!
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v212/fliksr/More%20Bows/dscn2741.jpg)
A refinished 1959 Bear Kodiak Special that was with me in the woods this last fall. 53# @28 (about 59# at my draw length). A '59 Grizzly was my 2008 go-to bow. Next year may be my '55 Polar or my new Rose Oak... haven't decided yet.
Many custom boyers now days model their bows after Bear bows. It's not like there is a whole lot of leway anyway, recurves and bows are quite simple when it comes to complexity. One Bear in particular I just love to hog hunt with in the Florida brush is my Bear Kodiak Magnum 50#@28". It was made in 1975 with green limbs and stain with the blue line trough it. It stacks a bit and there is a bit of a pinch but it is light short and packs punch.
Yup. My Super K was my go to bow last year, with a Bear spring-arm 8 arrow bowquiver. I've never hunted with a bow quiver before but figured I'd be hitting a lot of places so it was a good opportunity to change things up a bit and take advantage of the full package. Also, picked up another Super K and it will also be getting exercise this year. Prior to last year my Bear Mag B handled # 2 limbs often filled the go-to position.
Either way, I've had to cut bow weights back to mid 50's, for now. And, last season I was shooting Bear broadheads on Legacy's...the cedars stayed home.
Although I don't hunt with them, I also shoot other vintage bows Bear Tamerlanes, Polars and bows of other manufacture as often as possible. My newer bows I shoot least of all...go figure. Rick.
Yes, have for years, mostly older Bear Kodiaks,and wood handle Bear Custom Takedowns.
(http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f143/4runr/SA400236-1.jpg)
This was last years '59 Grizzly. Hope I have the same success with this years model.
(http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f143/4runr/finished009.jpg)
It used to look like this.
(http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f143/4runr/SA400240-2.jpg)
1957 Bear Kodiak. 60" 52#@28" Shooting Ash arrows with 190grn heads. Setup is good....the hunter needs some work.
I love my 1966 Grizzly and Bear Razor heads !
Just picked up a 1966 K Mag for turkey season.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/1966kodiak/hunting005.jpg)
Bowwild, A friend of mine has a Supreme and it shoots great. It is not the fastest bow out there but it is smooth and comfortable to shoot.
1970 50# Kodiak Hunter. Cedar arrow. 9 1/2 weeks after quad bypass :) Sweet.
I have a mirror image of it in lefty. Always keep an eye out for another. Something special about the 70 Kodiak Hunter.
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y295/jkmolongbow/HPIM1392.jpg)
I took this doe a couple of years back with a 1957 Kodiak Special. The bow is 64" adn 47@28. I shot her at 24 yards and got full penetration quartering away.
(http://www.pixofnature.com/photos/ldb/crockery%20doe.jpg)
I took this Turkey with the same '57 Kodiak Special:
(http://www.pixofnature.com/photos/turkey08/bowturk.jpg)
The first deer I ever took with a bow was a 6 point with a 70's Bear Grizzly. That poor bow delaminated on me the following summer.
I love old bear bows, wish I had more money to start a nice collection :)
Kevin.
(http://i652.photobucket.com/albums/uu247/longbowbob58/DSC01035.jpg) Doe taken last year with my Dad's 1959 Kodiak. In memory of my Dad and 50 yr. annv. for the bow.
Love to be a part of this, but not at 32"+ of draw....... :saywhat:
QuoteOriginally posted by Wapiti Chaser:
I love my 1966 Grizzly and Bear Razor heads !
Just picked up a 1966 K Mag for turkey season.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/1966kodiak/hunting005.jpg)
Yeah, like you are going to get rid of your Morrison..... :biglaugh:
That's my 1955/56 Kodiak Special in the print. I took a KY 4X4 with it last November. Used one of the vintage Bear cedar arrows as well.
(http://logsdonstudios.com/PBSdonation.jpg)
(Note: Hit F5 on your keyboard if the image fails to load.)
(http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t53/kendalltechau/100_2149.jpg) My buck from last year with a 57' Kodiak. I love that print Gary.
I just picked up a '70's grizzly and its the first bow I ever had that I just point and shoot, it feels like I have had it for ever. gonna use it for turkey season and maybe deer season if my BOB LEE and I dont get it together. I now understand what the fuss is over these bows!!!!!!
I picked up a 69 K Mag at Denton Hill last summer, swore Id shoot a deer with it if it killed me. Well I did, I shot a nice 120 class 10pt Nov. 3rd, not bad for a 40 year old!
Pete
QuoteOriginally posted by Peter Smith:
not bad for a 40 year old!
Pete
the bow or the hunter???? :biglaugh: