Bear Montana vs. Howard Hill Bow....Your Thoughts Please...

[Nala]

Hey all,

I am going to Bass Pro over the weekend to try out a Bear Montana longbow.  I have never shot one of the Montana's before but I did own a Great Northern Critter Getter about 8 years ago and shot it often.
The reason I am asking what might look like a dumb question is because a Howard Hill bow is on my list as a possible bow for me as is the Montana.  I would like to know whether they shoot about the same or are they VERY different?  How does the Hill compare to the Montana?  Do you have any other thoughts about these 2 bows?  I'd like to hear them.

Also in looking at the price, you can get one of the Hill bow blanks for not much more than what a new Montana costs and all you need to finish one is a rasp, file and sandpaper.

Thanks for your time and help.

Nala

[SpankyNeal]

No comparison IMVHO!! The Hill is a much better bow especially with a D97 string on it. Faster, smoother, and less (yes I said LESS) handshock! Look around and i'm sure you can find a nice used Hill that will meet all of your needs for about the same as the Montana would cost. I don't have any experience with the blanks, but I have read that they are relatively easy to finish and come out nice. Good luck!!

Spanky

[Capt]

I love my Montana and find little hand shock but it is a "low" cost bow as far as finish etc.

[bgram]

I had a Montana as my first longbow, I can't argue about the price, because it performs very well.  You can usually find a good one cheaper second hand also, actually there were a couple of 55lb ones floating around the classifieds last time i checked, unless you were looking at a different weight.

[laddy]

I have done a number of Hill blanks.  I got a local police officer into trad archery.  he shot my Hill and Hill blanks and my big River bows.  he liked my blanks and my favorite Big River, but he had to trade in his compound to keep his wife happy. he tried the Montana said it was harsh not accurate nothing even close to my bows.  he ended up going for a Sky longbow, which was too long for his draw , but a good shooter.
 On the blanks stay with bamboo cores and try to get Craig to trim them as close as possible to the finished size. I go for 7/16'' finished at the string grooves with  rounded sides and probably narrower in the belly than the standard Hill.  I copy my Schulz Legend.

[cooncrazy]

i have a hiil big five and also a montana the montana is a good bow but does not conpare to the hill bow the hill bow is faster less hand shock and just a lighter weight bow youll shoot good with the montana but a lot better with the hiil  my 2 cents

[Aaron F.]

Surely the debate is interesting.

Bear makes a Montana.  Hill makes bows in Montana.  Hill offers a bare bow blank.  Bears of course live in hills.  The hills of Montana don't have many redmans, cheetahs, or African Big Five game animals, but these bare bows are all found in Montana, but not made by Bear which makes a Montana.  No, there in the hills of Montana Hills are made, none named Montana.  One could hunt bears with these bare bows in the hills of Montana.  Should one in the hills of Montana be confronted with a bear from the hills and not a Bear from Florida, in my opinion, have a Hill.

Aaron

[bayoulongbowman]

There 2 different longbows! choose ur stick....

[Benny Nganabbarru]

I've heard only good things about the craftsmanship of Hill bows; whereas I cannot say the same about the modern Bears.

[Benny Nganabbarru]

Aaron, that's too funny! Thanks for the laugh! You've a real talent, there!

[NativeArcher]

wow, Aaron you intelect is dizzying.
great thread, just to throw a side question in the mix what type strings do you Hill shooters prefer on your bows, (material, style)
thanks... matty

[NorthShoreLB]

I like an 18 strands FF, the one 3Rivers sells

[crazymoose]

For a production bow and reasonably priced, the Bear Montana is a nice long bow.

I've had the opportunity to shoot one a few times and I like it.

[blueslfb]

The Montana is not a bad bow for the price and shoots pretty good.  However, I have shot both Hills and Montanas and I do not plan on buying another Montana but I do plan on buying another Hill.  Try the Montana and if you don't like it upgrade to a Hill.  I am sure you could get rid of the Montana on here or the other auction site for close to what you paid for it.  Decisions, Decisions.

[centaur]

I have a Montana, and I enjoy shooting it. That being said, I have a Northern Mist Baraga that will be sent to me shortly (bought from a TG member), and I have a hunch the Montana will be collecting dust when I get the Baraga. I got the Montana to get back in to longbows after a several year layoff. It has really rekindled my interest, and for the money is a good bow. I don't notice the handshock, but I can't compare it to a Hill, since I haven't shot one. My bow of choice years ago was a Heritage longbow by Rocky Miller, but it now sits idle because I can't handle 68# anymore.

[SpankyNeal]

I like 12 strand D97 with padded loops and .030 Halo serving for my classic nocks. I know a few folks that like TS+ and 450 as well. The D97 really tames the bow and gives much better performance and on my bows, is just as quiet. Just pad the loops and enjoy!

[SpankyNeal]

Centaur you will really enjoy that Baraga! Steve makes a great bow. I have a Shelton and absolutely love it, as well as a Superior on order. Steve is one of the best! Regards.

Spanky

[SCATTERSHOT]

I have several Hills, and I like a 14 strand B-50 string. Craig at HH says that the Hill longbow is OK for fastflight, but he doesn't recommend it since he feels it would shorten the life of the bow.

The Montana is a good entry level bow, but is a little different animal from the Hill, in that the limbs are wider and there is more R/D to them, and the grip is a locator style. You can get that on a Hill, too, but most of them are straight or dished.

The Montana is a good bow, but the Howard Hill is a work of art.

JMHO

[Howattman]

No comparison....The Hill is hands-down the better bow.  The only non-Howatt bow I currently own is a Hill Cheetah.

Howattman

[Adam Keiper]

Hills are great bows.  I have one and wouldn't mind another.  But frankly, I wouldn't shoot a Montana if given one, at least not without first putting a rasp to that 2x4 block of a riser and sculpting something of a grip.