Bear Archery Gainesville

[yukon chuck]

I am interested in hearing from anyone who has recently been to Bear Aarchery in Gainesville. What is there to do or see at the factory relative to traditional bows and anything left from Mr. Bear and the museum?

[Robertfishes]

There is a target range "Bear Proving Grounds" and a Archery "pro Shop"...I havn't been there for 5 months, there were 10 or 15 new trad bows on the rack. there were a couple of old trad bows hanging up on display.. I really liked it when the museum was there..

[Florida lime]

I usually stop there once a year when headed to NC. The Pro shop as Robertfishes mentioned, but it's nothing special, and the traditional stuff is almost hidden in the back of the store.   :confused:

[kill shot]

I haven't been there in a very long time but the museum itself is cool. Don't go there with anyone that wants to rush you thru it. Lots of stuff that I could stare at for more than a short while. Like the bear custom kodiak takedown with the gold hardware. Also the animals killed were taken with trad equipment. Go thru and take it all in.

[kill shot]

Oh ya, don't park in Freds spot.

[Robertfishes]

Kill, they sold the stuff from the Museum 10 years ago. Bass Pro Shops has most or all of it. I think I saw a couple of the mounts in the Orlando Florida  Bass Pro last year??

[DennyK]

They sold the items from Bear's history??

Don't get that one, I've been to the Fred Bear museum in Grayling Mich, it was well worth the trip everytime.

Denny

[randy grider]

Just a small pro shop, mostly compounds. The museum pieces are long gone, as said before, sold to Bass Pro and displayed all over the country. Its sad, but true.

[kill shot]

I'm sick

[finkm1]

They sold the museum to Bass Pro to help them get out of bankruptcy. There was an article in Bowhunter Magazine probably ten years ago. Bear archery was in bad shape. They teamed up with Primos and came out with a couple new Compounds and got back in the game. Then as we all know they came out with some remakes of the traditional line, 59 Kodiak, Grayling Green K-Mag and now the Black Phenolic Super Kodiak. Its great that they are still going strong. Too much history to let go.   Happy Birthday Fred

[beaunaro]

I was lucky enough to have stopped in Gainesville when the museum was still there.

It was awesome and so sad that it is now scattered.

You would think that Bass Pro would have at least kept it all together  in honor of Fred.

As you entered the museum, you could stand under Fred's huge Polar Bear and take a picture.

On the second floor was so much history and a remarkable collection on display.

One could also look down on the production floor, as you took it all in.

Good memories.

I wish I had visited more than once.

[yukon chuck]

Thank you all for your input. Much appreciated.

[Bladepeek]

beaunaro, do you know if, long, long ago, that polar bear stood in a glass case outdoors alongside the highway in Grayling? I think I remember seeing it one year when we made a trip up north. Especially for a young kid, it was HUGE!

[beaunaro]

I couldn't tell you for sure, Ron, but it is a good bet..

I don't think he shot two of them....and yes it is huge.