Bear Montana Thoughts

[DesertDude]

I have been at this for to long to remember, I have owed (like most) every bow I could just to see how they shoot.  As I get older, I find myself looking for simpler times.  So how does the Bear Montana stack up?  Just looking for a simple, good bow the won't break the bank...

Thanks in advance for you thoughts.. It will be used for hunting first and foremost.

[newhouse114]

The bear Montana in 60 lb was my go-to bow until I got one of Dan Toelke's whips. I still shoot the Montana and it shoots as well as the Toelke, just a few FPS slower, and it starts to stack a bit at full draw.

[Msturm]

The Montana is a great bow.

[joe vt]

I really like my Montana. It draws smooth (28"), has a slight bump in the hand, has good performance, and is very quiet. I rounded the grip a little. The limbs are narrow and its strings up to a slight r/d profile. The limb tips have changed and some say the newer ones are better because they are smaller. My Montana is the older style and the tips looks very nice. I really like the looks of it, its a stealthy looking longbow. I've owned a bunch of bows; still own around 18 and I can't see myself ever selling it.


I bought mine used and I recommend you try to find one used also. It makes for a great valued purchase.

[ron w]

I have had several, one of the most under rated bows of all times. Smooth, certainly fast enough and all most silent with just wool puffs. A dealer I knew told me when I bought my first that I would never need a haul line to my stand, I asked why and he said you can just throw it from the tree stand and not hurt it. It's just a good solid hunting bow.

[KyStickbow]

Montana’s are great bows! I have hunted with one for quite some time now...and have no complaints. Some gripe about the grip being blocky...but I find it quite comfortable. And the narrow limbs of the Montana make it a very very quiet bow!

I don’t think you could go wrong picking up a Montana!

[chase perry]

Hey Mark,

I have a 64” Montana that you’re welcome to try for a while if you’d like.  50# @ 28”.  As it was a gift I’m not looking to sell the bow, but you can certainly find out if you’d like to buy one.  

Let me know, Chase

[varmint101]

For me I didn’t care for it.  I couldn’t stand the stock grip and the glue lines were not good.  Other than that it was a fairly smooth pull. I can’t remember who it was, but think it was Rob D. Changed the grip on his and did well for him.  I didn’t want to do all that so just sent it down the road.

[Krex1010]

The Montana is a solid bow. It’s not a performance stick but it’s certainly a smooth, quiet shooter. The grip is so so  in my opinion but plenty of people get along with it just fine. I liked mine better after I removed the leather wrap.

[KyStickbow]

Originally posted by Krex1010:
The Montana is a solid bow. It’s not a performance stick but it’s certainly a smooth, quiet shooter. The grip is so so  in my opinion but plenty of people get along with it just fine. I liked mine better after I removed the leather wrap.

I removed the leather grip and strike plate as well on mine...along with the stock string. Added a sur-grip, velcro for rest, and a 10 strand TenRing string. After that you have got yourself a fine shooting huntin bow. Killed lots of whitetails with mine.

[Butch Speer]

Got one in a trade. Was pleased with it.

[Dodger]

Whilst I have very limited experience of bows, I have been using mine on and off since October 2010 and have absolutely no complaints. It is easy to draw (50# @ 28"), doesn't stack at 28" and sends a 652 grain arrow (13 gpp) fairly quickly. I haven't chrono'd it but as per Stu Miller's calculator it should be doing 163.8 ft./sec.. It is also a quiet bow.

The block'ish grip has received complaints but I am fine with it. However, it does not locate the bow hand as consistently as say, a Hill straight and wedged/tear drop type grip.

The quality of the leather grip wrap, arrow shelf and strike plate is poor and best replaced. The string that came with the bow is average.

However, what really concerned me, initially, was that the limb core laminations did not run continuously from nock to nock. However, any initial concern has proved unfounded.

The changes I have made to the bow:
1) Added a Shur grip on top of the leather wrap.
2) Replaced the arrow shelf and plate with a Bear Hair Rest and Plate.
3) Replaced the factory string with a SBD 8-strand string, with a trimmed Cat Whisker from each nock end. I suppose I must have done this to remove a faint string buzz.
4) Added a rubber limb tip protector on the bottom nock.

All in all, I am satisfied with it and am contemplating buying another in a higher poundage.