Fred always seemed to be completely at ease, whether on Fifth Avenue in New York City or in a tar-paper hunting shack on the Alaskan Peninsula. For this shy Pennsylvania farm boy, his list of accomplishments is nothing short of phenomenal. In the '50s and '60s, he appeared frequently on television and became a widely sought after speaker.įred and his company hosted international events and he led parties of intrepid bowhunters on one adventure after another around the world with equipment that he designed and built in his Michigan manufacturing facility - Africa, India, South America, British Columbia and Alaska. Fred taught himself to write and published a widely acclaimed book, Fred Bear's Field Notes. ![]() Being a rather tall man, Fred was instantly recognisable for his distinctively weathered face and trademark felt Borsalino hat. These films, along with features in outdoor magazines and Fred's grass roots kinship with other bowhunters, fuelled an interest in the sport and in Bear Archery products. In 1942, Fred and Detroit Free Press Editor, Jack Van Coevering journeyed to Michigan's Upper Peninsula to produce the first of several films featuring Fred's bowhunting exploits in the wild. He was a regular on the sports show circuit, inspiring experienced bowmen and novices alike with his natural shooting skills.Ī major part of Fred's success however was entirely due to his own promotional genius. An expert marksman, Bear won the state's target archery championship in 1934, 19. Fred was instrumental in promoting a bowhunting season in Michigan in 1936. Part of his success was due to his ability to surround himself with lifelong, supportive friends and bowhunters like Dick Mauch and Bob Munger. With a deeply engaging personality, Fred promoted his business and the sport of archery around the world. He experimented with and found practical applications for materials like fibreglass and machined aluminium that have become the building blocks of modern archery. This self-made man registered archery patents as early as 1937. ![]() Fred was an energetic archery pioneer and inventor. Within six years, the archery business demanded Fred's full time attention and he launched Bear Products Company and archery became his life-long passion. In his spare time, he crafted archery equipment for a growing circle of friends who appreciated his workmanship. They bought a couple of second-hand sewing machines and some other equipment and rented a small garage. In 1933 Fred and his friend, Charles Piper, worked at a tyre company which burned down, putting them out of work in the midst of the Great Depression, but the two decided to pool their savings of $600 and go into business producing advertising material for the car industry. It took him six years to harvest his first deer by bow and arrow.
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