"On April 7, 2011 Will "Chief" Compton and G. Fred Asbell were inducted into the Archery Hall of Fame. This prestigious award is in recognition of the contributions that both men have made to archery.
William "Chief" Compton met Dr. Saxton Pope and Ishi at the Museum of Anthropology in San Francisco. They became friends and Compton taught Pope how to build the English longbow, which he used for his entire bowhunting career. Shortly thereafter, Compton met Art Young and introduced him to Dr. Pope and Ishi. The four were inseparable and spent the next year building and shooting bows and hunting in California. Compton went on to mentor other notable archers, while Pope and Young went on to larger game and grand adventures.
Fred Asbell began bowhunting in 1961, and has been involved in bowhunting organizations at all levels, from local and state to national, serving as President of The Pope & Young Club for 18 years and President of Compton Traditional Bowhunters for eight years. From 1977 to 1991 he built custom traditional bows as Bighorn Bowhunting Company in Colorado. His books and video on instinctive shooting and ground hunting should be in every bowhunter's library, and his teaching, leadership, friendship and high moral standards make him a man we have always admired. Please join us in congratulating him on this well-deserved award."
It seems very appropriate to me that Fred and Will Compton were inducted at the same time. Congratulations Fred!! You certainly deserve it!!
-------------------- I think wolves would find me stringy, of high cholesterol, and with an Irish whiskey aftertaste. Posts: 737 | From: Michigan | Registered: Oct 2007
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-------------------- An arrow can only be shot by pulling it backward.So when life is dragging you back with difficulties, it means that it's going to launch you into something great. Posts: 1763 | From: Lac St-Paul,Qc,Canada | Registered: Apr 2009
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Many newcomers to our ranks are not aware of the tremendous influence Fred has had on the resurgence of traditional archery since the 1970s. I remember back in the late 70s when it looked for all the world that traditional archery was about dead and most all the bigger manufacturers had stopped making recurves and longbows that a small ad appeared in Bowhunter magazine for custom built Bighorn recurves. I sent Fred a letter asking for info and received a nice personal reply--his one piece Bighorn Grand Slam could be had for $150. I was just amazed and so happy that somebody was actually taking the plunge and making these type bows that seemingly nobody else was willing to make anymore. Fred's influence from those days to the present has been huge, and he is a very unassuming guy who is still easy to talk with. This honor is well deserved. Posts: 2844 | From: Charleston, WV | Registered: Mar 2003
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Congratultions to Fred, and "Chief", for honors well deserved. Thanks to both of your for your years of contribution.
-------------------- Archery is a family sport, enjoy it with your family. Posts: 705 | From: South Central Kansas | Registered: Feb 2005
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I never owned one of Fred's Bighorns, but had the pleasure of camping and shooting with him years ago at a Bowhunters of Wyoming gathering. At the time, I think he owned what must have been the world's ugliest Chevy Blazer. A great guy, and a credit to the bowhunting world. Congratulations, Fred!
-------------------- Heroes don't wear capes, they wear dogtags. Posts: 2516 | From: WY - East face of the Bighorns | Registered: Oct 2007
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There's some pretty good stories about that old Blazer in his book "Instinctive Shooting".
Posts: 350 | From: Wyoming | Registered: Dec 2008
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G. Fred: Congrats and a big "thank you" for all you've done to promote traditional archery.
Posts: 3060 | From: Texas | Registered: Jan 2004
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Congratulations and Thanks to you Fred I learned quite a bit from your books and video instructions on shooting instinctively...I go back often and re read on problems I may have and try and work on whatever I get hung up on...You made many of us here improve on our instinctive shooting skills I'm certain...God Bless you in all you have done to help us....Keefer's <")))><
Posts: 3342 | From: Hurlock Maryland | Registered: Mar 2006
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congratulations Fred, I have everything you have ever written, I would love to see another video.
Posts: 159 | From: blue mounds, wisconsin | Registered: Jun 2009
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