Fred Bear was probably the greatest known bowhunter ever. He pioneered the sport, and founded target shooting in Michigan and the rest of the United States. Art Young taught Bear to make bows, arrows and handmade Irish linen bow strings. During the Great Depression Bear and Charles Piper saved $600 and started Bear Products Company. They sold silk-screen banners and flyers for Chrystler, but on the side he sold handmade bows to the growing number of archers and bowhunters. Eventually his archery sales were able to support him alone. At this point Bear Archery was born, which still produces quality bowhunting and archery equipment. During his lifetime of pursuing his dream, bowhunting, he became known as The Gentlemen Woodsman. .
Saxon Pope and Arthur Young were two of the worlds foremost known hunters. They founded the Pope & Young Club, which is still used today, back in the early 1900's. Their film Alaskan Adventures inspired Fred Bear to begin bowhunting. Arthur Young learned his skills from an old Indian named Ishi. People say that this Indian was the very last primitive Indian, who came out of hiding in 1911. .
Bow Companies and Designs .
In 1931 Earl Hoyt Sr. formed a partnership with his son Earl Hoyt Jr. to begin Hoyt Archery. They began making wooden arrows and ran their first ad in the old Ye Sullivan Archery in Corvallis, Oregon. They engineered using plastics in bows, the first overdraw, dynamic balance, equal length bow limbs, and the first semi pistol grip. They designed the deflex-reflex principle, which all bows use. Hoyt engineered the first stabilizer that introduced a new dimension in accuracy, they also produced the first adjustable arrow rest. In 1972 they developed a bow limb take-down system that accurately aligned the limbs and the riser. They called it the Pro Medalist T/D (take-down), and two were in the 1972 Olympics, both won gold medals. During the next four Olympics Hoyt won gold, silver, and bronze medals.