I know everyone has seen the great thread here on Howard Hill bows, its almost like reading a good book.We also have many here that own,collect,and hunt with bear bows, and many of them are even 40 to 50 years old.I would love to see a thread here like the HH one about bear bows,,both old classics and the newer ones.I think it would be great if someone even arranged a hunt of some kind like the Hill hog hunt planned for next Feb.
I would say that more than likely the largest part of us all here started off hunting with a bear recurve and many of us remember as kids looking at advertizments and reading hunting stories of Fred Bear.Thanks to my friend Mud, i have a bear bow that has brought back very fond memories and dreams of my childhood.Lets see some bows and stories from you bear lovers!
Look over on the Trad history/collecting forum
X2 what Tony said.
Although the Hill guys think they are cool, we have our own Forum, they only have 500+ pages of gibberish on this Hill Fad. ;) ;) :p :smileystooges:
A "Bear Hunt" is something my friends and I have talked about, just haven't done yet.
Lol,,,oh i read and drool on the collectors section more than any place here on trad gang.I thought that putting it here might get some others posting that dont normally go there.I have a hill style longbow that i love but i still enjoy my old bear recurves just as much.I shoot equally as bad with my recurves as i do with my longbow too,lol.My wife has a 59 bear alaskan that is really a hibred longbow,when strung the string dont touch the limbs,its quiet like a longbow too,and i have a 59 bear polar that is almost that way too.The limbs are narrower than most recurves too.The polar is beautifull,,looks almost like a new bow, light color wood with a dark rosewood i think, sight window and ibeam and dark maroon glass.It is slim and dainty feeling compared to most recurves too.
I have several Bear recurves and they are great bows. Let's get this thread going to honor the bows that got so many of us started in traditional archery, and that keep so many of us having fun.
Charlie, if you get that "bear hunt" organized, let me know. Maybe we could set up a return to Ray's hog heaven for bear shooters.
Come on Bear aficionados, let's get this going.
Joe
Joe, I would love to. It wont be for a while but it would be great to get down there again.
I thought I would ruffle a few feathers with my comment about Hill bows but seems they either dont care about Bear Bows and have not viewed this thread or they are all thick skinned and know I was just playin.
TTT
learned to shoot on a bear compound when I was seven!
I have an early 70s Hunter, an early 70s Grizzly and a mid-80s Kodiak and I love 'em all. Haven't even shot the old Grizz yet, but if it shoots like the newer one I gave away recently I'm sure my feelings won't change a bit after I do...
A "Bear Hunt", you say? I'm down like a clown! :bigsmyl:
1968 Kodiak Hunter -- showroom condition, like new and a beauty
1971 Grizzly-- 2 dings on the riser, otherwise like new
A-mag TD risers -- 2 of them -- one has been refurbished, one will get the renewal treatment this summer
A-wood TD riser-- from 2004 -- a great bow with Rose Oak limbs -- screaming fast and very stable
B-wood green stripe riser-- with Rose Oak limbs it is a tack driver and shoots with real authority like bows 10 pounds heavier
I also have a few pairs of Grayling limbs in #1 and #2
Old bears are great.
Last year picked up a 2011 model of Bear's Ausable longbow and really like how she shoots (My first R/D).
Here is my part. Let us see some of the oldies to get it going.
(http://i1255.photobucket.com/albums/hh625/922TradBowHunter/dscn0134_0050_0050_600x600.jpg)
(http://i1255.photobucket.com/albums/hh625/922TradBowHunter/dscn0135_0051_0051_600x600.jpg)
(http://i1255.photobucket.com/albums/hh625/922TradBowHunter/dscn0136_0052_0052_600x600.jpg)
(http://i1255.photobucket.com/albums/hh625/922TradBowHunter/dscn0138_0054_0054_600x600.jpg)
(http://i1255.photobucket.com/albums/hh625/922TradBowHunter/dscn0140_0056_0056_600x600.jpg)
Started bow hunting years back with a 1972 Kodiak Mag. Killed my first deer with that bow the next year. It was just a natual for putting an arrow where I looked. Well, I just got a Kodiak Mag from Big Jim on his 2011 close out bows. 52" 45@28. Got it primarily for turkey hunting out of a blind. My Cascade Whitetail Hawk at 56" has been my blind bow, but occasionally it was too long. That new Kodiak Mag shoots like a dream. Puts 2114s right together from 5 to 30 yards and everywhere in between. The black glass on the face and back are perfect for in a blind. Fit and finish on the bow are great. I have seen prettier bows, but this one shoots right with any I own. The mojo from my first Grayling Kodiak Mag years ago carried over to my new Gainseville Model.
Mark,,i havnt seen a pic of the Ausable before,,man that looks good!
I have never shot a bear takedown either but there are plenty enough people that love them i have no dought they are great. And the kodiak mag,,people either hate em or love em,but they have to be one of the sexiest looking short bows of all time.I am not able to post pics right now,,my photobucket is messed up.I wish i could show yall a pic of the kodiak hunter that Mudd sent me.I skinded it with some select ratsnakes i had because i plan on hunting with it and i like the snakes for camo as i ground hunt mostly.My two sons think it is the cats meow too,lol.It is a 1972 model,,the same as my wife and almost as pretty as she is!!
Let's get this back to the top so more Bear aficionados can see it and get this thing going. Kituwa, you owe it to yourself to try a Bear TD at some point, if only to see what all the talk is about. Mark, thanks for the photos. You have a great looking bow there.
Come on guys! Let's get some photos and some real Fred Bear and Bear bows appreciation going.
Joe
I like the bear Grizzly.
Just a good solid working Mans bow that performs great.
Joe, I had a 71 but my uncle has it now :confused: :archer:
Here is my 68. Love this one more.
(http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m637/cjohntalk/Stumpin%20and%20shootin%20fun/1334439024.jpg)
On left
(http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m637/cjohntalk/Stumpin%20and%20shootin%20fun/1334439215.jpg)
Nice shot of my Zipper Charlie... :thumbsup:
A hog hunt at Ray's would be a great idea for bear owners, Have two original takedowns, going to take them out this year with micro flites and bear heads.
I have a 1976 Bear Kodiak Magnum. A friend of mine gave me this bow to kill a turkey with it. So far I haven't gotten a shot but I hope someday I will fill my first archery turkey tag with that bow.
My first real bow as a young teen was a bear.My best friend that hunted with me all the time had a bear too.I think mine was a grizzly the best i remember,,and i believe his was a panther but im not really sure.His bow was shorter than mine was i do remember that.We both had beagle dogs and we spent many an hour with our dogs and bows chasing rabbits.I rememer we had brush knocks, and those 3 pronged silencers and those rubber finger savers on them and later when we started deer hunting with them we both had camo cloth slip overs and we used those clip on kwickie quivers with no hood.We didnt know any better but i dont remember ever getting cut on a broadhead.I used to see the adds in outdoor life of bear kodiaks and wanted one so bad but they where what we called rich mans bows,lol.
Heres my Grizzly with self made woodys.
(http://i1117.photobucket.com/albums/k585/rustic1955/753bc600.jpg)
Looking good, Rustic.
I'm really liking this idea about a Hogs with Bears hunt at Rays Hog Heaven. I am certainly willing to organize it for about 6 months to a year from now (struggling with recovery from a hip replacement surgery and know I won't be strong enough to hunt for another 6 months) -- That will give us time to get it planned well. Modr and Charlie seem to be interested, and I can ask around at my trad club here in NC too, but it might be best to plan a TradGang thread and see who is interested.
If you guys are truly interested, send me a PM. We can start a Hogs with Bears thread after I have talked with Ray.
Let me know.
Joe
Joe, is there a link for hog heaven? I have heard of it but i dont even know what state its in.
Matt
I started with a Bear back in the 60s, I let that one get away, but I'm back. I'm hunting with a 3 year old Super K now. Well sometimes I use my HH LB too. I really do have a soft spot for the Bears.
Frank
Matt, check he sponsors links and also the sponsors classifieds. On the classifieds you may have to go down a bit because he usually fills up fast.
K-Mag and Super K here. Will try to add photos later.
I'd be up for a hog hunt. Will keep on this thread.
Ken
Here's a mid-eighties Kodiak:
(http://i1121.photobucket.com/albums/l502/MrDwood/DSCN1179.jpg)
Early to mid-seventies Kodiak Hunter:
(http://i1121.photobucket.com/albums/l502/MrDwood/DSCN1520.jpg)
(http://i1121.photobucket.com/albums/l502/MrDwood/DSCN1527.jpg)
I have an old Grizzly back in MI, no pics of that yet...
Wooddamon, that hunter looks just like mine,green glass with both silk screens on the belly and a stabilizer bushing.I think one of the silkscreens was moved to the back in 73 and i believe someone said 72 was the first year with the bushing? I love it,60 inches long so works well with a long draw but still a handy size!
Have bear Patriot longbow I really enjoy shooting 55 @28".But what really impresses me is my 1953 grizzly recurve 45 @ 28" ,56 AMO it is so easy for anyone to shoot that picks it up, experience level aside it just seems to know where to put the arrow, not bad for a 59 year old bow. Thanks for the thread.
I've been getting a 1967 Bear Grizzly ready for hogs/deer/turkey.It's 58", 45#@28". I have a bear spring arm quiver on the way from roddo(Thanks Rod!).
I've outfitted some cedar arrows with Bear Greenies, almost ready.
Irv and I could handle a small group(6-8)at our Florida properties.
Please check with Ray Hammond first!!!!(since his business was mentioned above).
I, too am a Bear bow lover. I've owned at least one Bear bow continuously since 1978.
Jim at True South Adventures.
I'd be up for hunt some place but a 2 or 3 hunt is hard for me to do as it's so far to travel
(http://i945.photobucket.com/albums/ad298/doug7759/66KodiakX200Arrows1.jpg)
(http://i945.photobucket.com/albums/ad298/doug7759/Texas20128.jpg)
And my daughter Mattie with her '64 Kodiak #33
(http://i945.photobucket.com/albums/ad298/doug7759/Texas20121.jpg)
Well, the Hogs with Bears idea is beginning to gain some momentum. I like that.
Tarponnut: Yep, Ray's was mentioned first. But now, I have an idea. Maybe we should talk about making Hogs with Bears a tradition that goes to several locations over a series of years. Hmmmmmmm.
Now you got me thinking...........
I must admit, I didn't know what handshock was until I shot my old bear cubs, one is 49# the other is 50#
Dan
(http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t76/dan-45/Hunting/531f9a17.jpg)
Doug
Good looking bows.....stabow
:campfire:
Thanks Boyd, now you know why that BW took a ride.
doug77
That's awesome Doug! Good luck hunting
......Philip
I picked up a tigercat 49@28 62" 1965 recently...haven't owned a Bear recurve since the 70's ....they shoot better than I remember...been having fun with it!
(http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb364/gabedard/tigercatbearbow.jpg)
I picked up a 69 grizzly and it's a good shooting bow, can't wait to hunt with it.
Debating if I should camo dip it or not, any thoughts you all have would be appreciated.
My 2011 K-mag hanging out at Ray's Hog Heaven.
50#@28
(http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/5112/scapril2012hoghunt016.jpg)
Dan
LBShooter2, I reckon leave it as is.
QuoteOriginally posted by Ben Kleinig:
LBShooter2, I reckon leave it as is.
X2
just get limb socks for it.
I love the 69, it was my first :readit:
Igor, I love my Tigercat. It is a really sweet shooting bow. Good thing they are over looked, it means you can get them at a reasonable price yet :thumbsup:
Charlie
I agree with you....its a first for me shooting a tigercat....and it shoots as well as any Bear I've shot in the past (montana/grizzly/kodiak magnum) maybe better (real quiet for a recurve). This one has a great piece of wood for a riser and looks almost new - like you said for the money you can't buy more bow....
><>
Glenn
I just got a Bear Montana longbow and I've fallen in love with it. It's a sweet shooter and really reasonably priced. It's also quiet as a cat on a carpet.
Anyone else have a Montana?
The wife's Bear, 62", 32# she draws almost 25".
(http://i1255.photobucket.com/albums/hh625/922TradBowHunter/dscn0144_0060_0060_600x600.jpg)
(http://i1255.photobucket.com/albums/hh625/922TradBowHunter/dscn0141_0057_0057_600x600.jpg)
(http://i1255.photobucket.com/albums/hh625/922TradBowHunter/dscn0142_0058_0058_600x600.jpg)
Here is my greenstripe TD with Rose Oak limbs and a Bighorn quiver. It is a great bow.
(http://i1246.photobucket.com/albums/gg611/smokinjoepix/DSCF6865.jpg)
Cool picture Joe! :thumbsup:
QuoteOriginally posted by Slim:
Anyone else have a Montana?
I don't have one, but I have shot them & it shot well & hit where I looked. I think they are a pretty good bow.
Frank
My current stable of Bears includes
1958 Kodiak, 1959 Kodiak, 1960 Kodiak, 1961 Kodiak, 1962 Kodiak, 1963 Kodiak, 1964 Kodiak, 1965 Kodiak, 1960 Kodiak Special Deluxe, 1960 Grizzly, 1962 Cub, 1964 Kodiak Magnum, 1968 Super Kodiak, 1966 Tamerlane, 1971 Grizzly, 1975 Super Magnum, 1976 Super Kodiak, 1969 Wooden A Riser, 1970 Wooden B Riser, 1972 Wooden C Riser, A Mag, 2 B Mags, C Mag, and the only Gainesville Bear worth having - the Green Stripe Custom Kodiak take down.
Way too many to picture, but if there is one in particular you'd like to see, I'd more than happy to post up some pics.
Hey, Migra Bill my Bear Ausable takes offense with your Statement in relevant part "and the only Gainesville Bear worth having - the Green Stripe Custom Kodiak take down". I do not though as she shoots and feels Great. Just wondering how many of the Gainesville Bears (models) have you shot given your opinion? I would like for you to post Pic's of your 1960 Kodiak Special Deluxe, if you wouldn't mind. Thanks
Mark - my apologies. I have NEVER shot a longbow. Bear's Gainesville long bows may be the cats meow. Their recurves leave alot to be desired. As far as how many I have shot, obviously not all - but plenty. I couldnt wait to get my hands on the new Grayling Green Super Kodiak that came out last year. Yuck!! Fit, finish, grip all horrible constructed. Then after 10 shots the stress cracks showed up in the limbs - and this was a bow that I so wanted to love. I really think (at least for recurves) the move to Florida killed the quality.
Now... that 60 Kodiak Special Deluxe you wanted to see - you probably picked the prettiest of the bunch. Hold onto your hat...
(http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f255/migrabill/bows/60kodiakdeluxe.jpg)
(http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f255/migrabill/bows/60kodiakdeluxe3.jpg)
(http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f255/migrabill/bows/kodspecdel3.jpg)
(http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f255/migrabill/bows/kodspecdel2.jpg)
(http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f255/migrabill/bows/60kodiakdeluxe2.jpg)
Bill, those are my specs :readit: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: ;)
Just sayin, that's all. :bigsmyl: :dunno:
An absolute stunner....and remember it is a 1960!!
Thanks for the outstanding Pictures of a Beauty Bill, bet she shoots like a dream to. My Ausable hears you. I draw her to 32" smooth with no stack and shoots great, it is my first R/D though. Is the Green Stripe Custom Kodiak take down still worth it's salt? I was wondering about the Kodiak's as I did hear of some lamination problems and herd Bear took care of those customers. I also herd that those bugs were worked out but can not speak from experience. Another of my reasons for asking. I know Bear's Traditional line has been swamped and doing better as of 2011.
The greenstripe is a great bow. It was the last TD the Fred personally supervised, or so I have been told. Mine is an early greenstripe that fits my hand perfectly and shoots like a dream. Remember, Mr. Bear himself could shoot any bow he wanted, and his choice was a TD with a B riser and #1 limbs. I shoot that combination often and it is just great.
I also have a two-tone wood riser from 2006 that is flawless in its workmanship. I have heard lots of complaining about the Bear TDs from that era, but my experience with mine has been completely positive. With 53# Rose Oak #3 limbs, it shoots a 500 gr arrow screaming fast.
Here are three I picked up two weekends ago at the "Rock Shoot" which is put on yearly by Traditional Bowhunters of Washington.
I'm really happy with these 3, as they were particular models I have been looking to find for sometime ... I just wish I had also gotten the
1959 Kodiak Special. However, at 63# it was a bit more than I could shoot comfortably having just torn up my right arm again :banghead: ... But, I'm still considering adding it to my growing collection. ;)
Top: a nice but somewhat used condition "Dual Shelf" 58# 1954 Compass Kodiak.
Middle: a very nice nice [almost new] condition 1954 "dual Shelf" 47# Static Tipped, Grizzly.
Bottom: a beautiful 1964 Kodiak 60" and drawing 50#.
All have great limbs, which are straight, have excellent tiller and show no crazing nor stress lines at all.
(http://i753.photobucket.com/albums/xx177/BrokenArrow-03/2012RockShootandBearbows105.jpg)
I hear a lot of complaints about the Gainesville bows. Back in the mid seventies before Bear Archery moved to Florida they were producing over 350,000 quality bows a year here in Michigan. I'm thinking instead of planning a hunt like suggested at the begining of this thread we organize say just one years production of loyal followers and head to Florida. We could converge on the plant and lob arrows at the building until we forced them back to Grayling. Anybody else in?
I am! :biglaugh:
Mr Carroll, great find! I'd love to find a sweet '64 like yours with the same # spec's? Looks like its got some cool riser wood too!
Jack, I say we mob the arrow factory first, The Bear Factory will take a lot of arrows. :readit:
Even if we did get them back to MI, they would never be the same.... They would be rittled with arrow holes :laughing:
Nice bows Gene. I love the wood grain on your '64 Kodiak.
'59 Kodiak 64" 50#
'60 Kodiak 47#
'62 Kodiak marked 40#@24 48# at my draw
'62 Griz 55#
'64 Tigercat 45#
(http://i1112.photobucket.com/albums/k483/cabeman36/CalebsFirstTradKill002-1.jpg)
First trad kill with my Super Kodiak my father bought me.
Next stop for this bad boy.. Newfoundland Canada.. Moose.
Here is one of my Bear A-mad TD bows with a classic Bear 4-arrow spring-arm quiver. This is a very sweet bow.
(http://i1246.photobucket.com/albums/gg611/smokinjoepix/IMG_0040.jpg)
A-mag -- not A-mad -- typos, geeeez.
I cut my teeth on Bear bows and have owned a bunch over the years. Just picked up a really clean early 70's 52" Kodiak Magnum 45 lber, waiting for it to come in the Big Brown Truck. I love my 66" Omega longbow but it's a tad tall to shoot from a groundblind!
(http://i765.photobucket.com/albums/xx293/dazzafelix/DSCN0115-1.jpg)
I took this young girl to celebrate her birthday at the elder Italian Roving started in 1962.
We had fun and she shot flawless.
Bear Montana longbow here; have alwys loved Bear bows; if I ever start shooting recurves, it will be a Bear; does anyone one know where to buy the 145 grain "green machine" Bear razorheads? my stock of them is extremely low; any help is greatly appreciated.
As for a Bear only hunt, our archery season here in Arkansas runs all the way through Feb 28th, starts on September 15th, no breaks; one can buy a 3 or 7 day trip license and the deer and hogs are PLENTIFUL down south Ark and after Jan 1 the woods are empty; millions of public acres with great campsites; would love to organize a hunt for S. Arkansas with all the Bear bowhunters; 6 deer limit and no limits on hogs; AGFC is begging hunters to help kill hogs; hog numbers are exploting with no end in sight; almost guaranteed kill on hogs even on public ground; it would be a great hunt and the cost is very manageable; let me know if you are interested.
:campfire:
Got two Kodiak Magnums, a 1970 Grizzly, a 1958 or 59 Polar, a 58 or 59 Cub, a Super Mag 48, a Kodiak Hunter and the sweetest shooter of all of em is the 1970 Super Kodiak which is 58 pounds. Love that bow. I don't hunt em nearly enough. Got a bunch of other bows, too but those are the Bears. May have to start thinnin em someday soon.
Love my early 70s Kodiak Hunter. Shoots smooth and quiet. Made quite a bit of meat with it. I really like the sleek, "non-bulky" look. I understand big, weighty risers helping folks to shoot better, but I really like the slick lines on my Hunter and seem to shoot it plenty well enough.
I recently added another K Mag and my first Grizzly to the mix. Both are 45's.
The Arkansas hunt sounds good. Or Ray's, what we need is somebody to step forward and ramrod the event.
Any volunteers?
Ken
Well I'm on a Bear Roll, just traded for a 1965-66 Tamerlane to keep that '71 Kodiak Magnum company on the rack. I'm keeping Big Brown busy....
Started shooting with a Fiberglass Golden Bear..
(http://i516.photobucket.com/albums/u322/0710point/IMG_2975.jpg)