What would you think about today's trad archery if you were Fred Bear. I have to believe he wold be very surprised how the sport has returned to such popularity and would be very pleased to see how many of his bows, now 50 years old, are still functioning and so much in demand. I think his story is under appreciated.

Interesting question but it would be hard to say because I'm not Fred Bear. But taking a guess I'd say he would properly be happy that traditional archery has made a come back and how bowhunting has grown through the years, and all the opportunities we have now.

I agree with everything you said accept the under appreciated story part. I see many folks in my circle any ways appreciate it. Good post there Sipsey.

If I was Fred Bear I'd be trying to get out of that casket.lol

I think he would be pleased also, him and a few others got bowhunting on the books under much opposition from fellow gun hunters. ten or so years later..the compound all but sunk tradbows. now we are back from close to extinction.

I'd like to think Mr Bear would be pleased with archery today. I think he would be proud of Bear Archery and especially his recurve and longbow line. But I also think he would be troubled by archers putting down other archers/hunters for their equipment choices.

Think he would be smiling...except knowing that Crossbows are now allowed during archery season in some states.

Think he would be smiling...except knowing that Crossbows are now allowed during archery season in some states.

Wow, this trad thing has people seeing Fred as a trad sorta guy. He was a business man and from the way he talked he shot recurve only because a compounds let-off thru his sighting off so couldn't shoot them.The way he talked he coulda cared less what type bow or gun a person chose to use, including crossbows. I think if he saw archery today he'd smile n wish it had been so popular back when he started his company. As for old bows, I think he'd have to be proud but also he'd know that every old used bow sold takes a new bow sale. Fred was just a man and business person. He was a helluva smart man and a good person, but a man. He'd be embarrassed with all this attention. He'd prolly say ,WHATEVER IT TAKES TO GET PEOPLE INTO THE WOODS.

You know some of them followed the Benjamins and started making x bows and upright bows.LOL

Fred would have still been for the entire sport of archery. He was a businessman and a sportsman and would not have the bias that is often displayed here. I'm sure he would be happy with the way it is now, and if still involved in the retail side of it, he would be at every NFAA and IBO shoot that he could get to promoting his wares.

What George and GLF said. He would have been promoting all aspects of the sport. Not just one facet. Folks have a difficult time understanding that Fred Bear, Ben Pearson, the Wilson brothers, Howard Hill and the like weren't 1 dimensional archers.

I think he'd be proud that Frisky uses one of his bows and raves about it. He'd probably invite Joe to Grousehaven.

I thought the question was only about what he would think about trad archery. If we are talking about all forms of archery then I agree Fred Bear was a business man first.

"Traditional archery" in my mind is a misnomer. Traditional archery is just archery and really nothing more. At least that's my perspective. I understand that for some to say they are a "traditional archer" is like badge of honor, but it's all just bows and arrows.

If fred didnt care what bow he shot then he could have just put a sight on a compound if the letoff messed with his snap shooting. I recall that he did do that to finish a hunt with a Alaskan compound because of that reason but he didnt keep using it, he used a recurve.

KyPhil, I can relate to that. I've been shooting recurves and longbows since 1969. I never owned a compound. But I did shoot a couple compounds in the 1980s that my brother owned. I have nothing against compound bows but they just weren't for me.

He might have mass produced the crossbow

He'd have been happy with the traditional but whoring anything that sold to the masses.

Fred wouldn't have been "whoring" anything. Freds living was made in the archery business. He would have been intelligently marketing products that would produce a profit. He also had the responsibility of ensuring a reasonable amount of security for his employees. There isn't always room for romanticism in business.

What would you think about today's trad archery if you were Fred Bear?

I'd probably outsource all of the accessories that I could, then sing the blues about Asian products being available directly to consumers from overseas.

I think old Fred would be pleased to know that he's still well respected and remembered by so many. The best a man can hope for is to be remembered in a positive light long after his passing- the ultimate reward for good deeds and a life well lived. JayInOz

If any aspect of modern bowhunting dismayed him it would probably be the state of hunting videos. Fred had an abiding respect for the game we pursue. Not sure what he'd make of food plots and 'horn porn'.

Well said, DanaC, Fred would have been appalled at the lack of respect for the game animals displayed on most cable hunting shows. An embarrassment to any true sportsman.

I think he would be busy developing a new take down bow with a machined aluminum riser, titanium latches and carbon fiber limbs, in Grayling Green of course and 3 choices of rubber grip, and his signature would be on a special line of carbon arrows being sold in fancy plastic arrow boxes with a replaceable blade broad head screwed into them at Bass Pro Shops. Quivers would be laser cut from carbon fiber and assembled with a new proprietary laser welding process and would be 500 dollars, But they would re-invent the springarm attachment so you could still put one on your 1971 Super K. That's what I think.

Archery websites like Leatherwall, bowhunting.net and archerytalk are basically like an electronic campfire you can join 24/7 anywhere you have intenet access. In other words you can be on a ranch in Texas or in a skyscraper in NYC and with the click of a few buttons you can join other archers from all over to talk archery.

I don’t think Fred would be surprised by the equipment and tackle at all, but I do think he would love the fact that he could instantly reach millions with his videos, writing and photos. But I also think he be perplexed by the amount of time The younger generation plays video games and watches tv. That would bother him and I think he would work even harder to get the next generation outdoors. We have seen that Hunting isn’t being passed generation to generation like it used to be.

I think Fred would have loved the instant access to millions but i also think he would work hard to promote the outdoors. Remember we only had three tv stations and no video games most of his later life. I think Fred would have expected better materials and better gear but not the amount of video games and technology that keeps people inside.

My two cents. I knew him and i think that would have been his reaction to today.

Frank

If I was Fred I'd still be jk.

If I was Fred, I would be dead. If he were alive, being a businessman, he would probably be hawking crossbows.

I think if Fred were still alive Bear would have put out an ILF riser by now.

Freeman I think so I would of love to see one of his

"YOU PAID $300.00 BUCKS FOR A FIFTY YEAR OLD WHAT?...." Lol JeffW

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