posted
My wife's friend came by today to show me some of her moms archery gear from back in the 30's.
Her mom used to shoot traditional archery with Fred Bear and Ned Grumley back in Detroit. While going through some of the stuff we came across this. According to her mom (who is still around at 94) The day Fred Bear got "Bow and Arrow" hunting legalized in MI the three of them (Fred, Ned and her mom age 19) went out and bought hunting licenses and deer tags. Fred got number one, Ned number two, and her number three. Assuming Fred and Ned filled their tags that year this may be the oldest archery tag around?
What do you think?
There are many other items including the number three 1939 license, osage bows, broadheads, arrows etc. She left it all at my house for a few weeks so I could check it out. I'll post more pictures in a bit.
posted
Cody, Its older then any in my Michigan collection of Back & Kill tags, nice to see.
In 1939 there were 499 Bowhunters and 6 deer were taken.
Look forward to future post, thanks for taking the time. Hink
-------------------- A TRUE FRIEND ALWAYS THINKS YOU ARE A GOOD EGG EVEN IF YOU ARE SLIGHTLY CRACKED. Posts: 581 | From: Ida, Michigan | Registered: Jan 2009
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posted
1937 was the first year of Bow tags,186 hunters and 3 deer taken. The first season was 14 days long and only in two counties in Michigan ,Newaygo and Iosco. Bucks only and hunters could buy either bow or gun licence but not both in the season. Bow(Nov.1-14) Gun(Nov.15-30) Hink
-------------------- A TRUE FRIEND ALWAYS THINKS YOU ARE A GOOD EGG EVEN IF YOU ARE SLIGHTLY CRACKED. Posts: 581 | From: Ida, Michigan | Registered: Jan 2009
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I'd sure appreciate it if you could thank your wife's friend and also let her mom know that there are still people around that are interested in, and admire what she did.
Terry
-------------------- TGMM Family of the Bow Posts: 567 | From: Savage, MN | Registered: Mar 2003
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Ray Lyon
Charter Member - Contributor 2013
Member # 35
posted
That's very cool. We lost one of our great connections to the past up here in Northern MI a few years back when John Grumley passed. I was fortunate to live about 20 minutes from him and listening to him talk about his dad's bows and hanging out in his shop was an incredible experience every time. You have been blessed with a rare window to the past-congratulations.
-------------------- Shrewhaven Lodge co-chef Posts: 2557 | From: Traverse City, MI | Registered: Mar 2003
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The text and images below comprise the first of several posts from that thread...
In 1937 Michigan held its first special Bow and Arrow only deer season from November 1-14. Previously, bowmen could hunt deer only during Michigan’s regular firearm deer season. The 1937 archery only season was open exclusively for two counties, Iosco and Newaygo. The 1937 license cost $2.25 and permitted a bowman to take one bear and one male deer with antlers extending not less than three inches above the skull.
On November 6, 1937 William VanVorst of Lowell, Michigan took the first deer of this special season with a single arrow. Like many bowmen of the 1930s era, VanVorst handmade his own tackle including his self yew bow. VanVorst’s tackle is well documented in photographs from the 1937 hunt.
The broadhead VanVorst used features a sloped shoulder blade with an easily sharpened convex cutting edge. The head is 2.2” long and 1.2” wide. The slotted blade is soldered to a tapered ferrule, making it one of the earliest tapered ferrule heads produced for sport hunting in the US.
The antlers from that buck, the broken arrow with broadhead that was used to kill the buck are shown with VanVorst's license, coupon and back tag which are still in excellent condition. VanVorst inscribed the broken wooden arrow, “Wm VanVorst, Lowell, Mich, 11-6-37, Biteley, Mich, License #262, Spike Horn, 126#.”
VanVorst’s 1937 license, coupon, back tag, bow, arrow, broadhead, quiver, 1937 antlers and many other artifacts from Michigan’s 1937 Bow and Arrow Deer season, will be on display during the 2009 Compton Rendezvous in Berrien Springs, Michigan.
For the serious Michigan Hunting License Collectors, this 1937 license, coupon and back tag are truly the holy grail of the Archery Licenses.
In 1937, a total of 186 bowmen purchased licenses for Michigan’s first special Bow and Arrow Only Season. However, only three deer were taken in this order…
1. William VanVorst 2. Nelson Grumley 3. Leo Lang
Shown below are Nels Grumley’s 1937 spike deer antlers, an original 1937 photograph, and an original 1937 Newspaper article of Grumley’s first bow and arrow deer. Also shown in photograph is one of Grumley’s very rare 1930s branded bows, made before he became Fred Bear’s bowyer. Nels killed 7 deer during Michigan’s first 10 seasons and was regarded by his peers as the best bow and arrow deer hunter in Michigan. During the years following the 1937 season, Grumley went on to become the most respected bowyer of his era.
-------------------- "Real Sportsmanship is Fair Play" - Art Young Posts: 1860 | From: Nebraska | Registered: Jan 2005
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The broadhead VanVorst used features a sloped shoulder blade with an easily sharpened convex cutting edge. The head is 2.2” long and 1.2” wide. The slotted blade is soldered to a tapered ferrule, making it one of the earliest tapered ferrule heads produced for sport hunting in the US.
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