Neat Fred Bear story

[CrookedStick]

Pretty much an all day rain here today so a friend and I headed to the indoor range where we joined up with a wheelbow shooter.

He saw my friend's '66 Tigercat and my B-mag and '59 Griz and started talking about arrows and such from way back when.

Then as we are shooting he recalls back about 1966 when Fred Bear made a visit to a Flint (Michigan) archery club to work with the local youth archery program.  The guy telling us was there with the program as well and told of Fred shooting at some regular target faces from the 20-yard line and doing just 'ok'.

He said some of the kids there started mumbling to each other that Fred wasn't such a great shooter, etc., etc.

Well, in a little bit a mouse ran across the floor downrange and ol' Fred drew and shot--storyteller told us Fred took that mouse right behind the head!

And then Fred told the kids something like 'Moving targets are easier for me to hit...'

Sounds like folklore, but knowing the guy that told me and he being there firsthand, I gotta believe it and had to share it with you folks. Heck, now that I think about it, he even reached his arm around behind his head to point to where the arrow hit the mouse--as we all do when describing a hit!

Have a great rainy day!

Bernie

[JavelinaHink]

Cool story Bernie........thanks for sharing...Hink..  

[bowhunterfrompast]

Thanks for sharing    Great story.

[jcar315]

Love any and all Fred Bear stories. Keep them coming!!!

[69RECURVE]

Fred was my hero along with many other trad gangers I suppose. Like jcar315 said keep them  stories coming.

[Trooper]

Great story; I bet it's true!  I know several trad guys that can't hit a target that well but hardley misses at a live animal.

[Don Stokes]

Ishi couldn't shoot targets worth a flip, unless it was something to eat!

[d. ward]

Great story however I personaly seen Fred's award he won sometime in the 1960's for putting 6 out of 6 arrows into the 10 ring from 40 yards yes 40 yards.I believe its was called 6 golds ?? I've tried many times to do that myself putting 6 of 6 in the 10 ring and have never even come near getting all 6 in the 10 ring.Give it a try.bd

[Charlie Lamb]

Bowdoc... I've always thought that it would be cool to shoot a competitive round against the scores of some of our legends.

Saxton Pope posted both his and Art Young's scores in (?) rounds.

I'm sure a guy could come up with recorded scores of Fred as well.

To do equal to one of them could be very revealing... especially if done with the same weight and style equiptment.

It could also be very humbling.

[Tom I.]

One of my favorite Fred stories involves a hunt with, I think, Bob Munger somewhere in the vast regions of either Alaska or B.C.  I can't remember what they were hunting but they managed to disturb and rile up a cow moose with a calf.
The moose came after them with a rage and intentions of running them out of the country.  The only cover or chance for escape was a lone tree some distance away and a hole in the side of a slight rise not far from the tree.  Fred made a dash for the tree and Munger headed for the hole.  Fred made it up the tree with the moose nipping at his heels.  Bob jumped in hole just as the moose circled the tree and came towards him.  When Bob disappeared from site the moose headed back for Fred.  As the moose was circling Fred's tree, Bob jumped out the hole and the moosed headed his way again.  Back in the hole he went and the moose again went back to harass Fred.  This happened a couple times until finally Fred hollered to Bob and told him to stay in the hole. Bob hollered back..."I can't, There's a BEAR in the hole!"  Eventually the moose gave up on her rampage and headed back to care for her calf and Fred and Bob left the area.  I can imagine the scene and it reminds me of a Keystone Kops movie....Hilarious!  
Tom I.

[johnnyrazorhead]

Tom-I remember reading that story too.Very funny to picture Fred and Bob in that situation.
 I was told a story about Fred from a woman that worked in the leather dept.They were in an area of the plant where some of the offices are simply partitioned walls,no individual rooms.Not much privacy.She was with some other ladies talking shop when the conversation turned to the size of a man's package in relation to the size of his shoes.One of the ladies in the group mentioned the fact that Fred had very large feet(size 14).As they all giggled she said she looked up and there was Fred smiling at her.She was mortified and totally embarrased.The next day they found that Fred had put one of his shoes on the desk in their area.I still laugh when I think of this story and the 80 year old woman telling it to me.Fred had quite a sense of humor.

[Blackhawk]

Yeah, Fred was pretty proud of his size 14's.

 

[The Great Jashu]

At a Michigan Bowhunters banquet 1998. Floyd Eccleston was being honored for his work in Archery. For those of you who dont know him, he was a friend of Fred and had an archery shop in Mt. Pleasant. He was telling a story about hunting with Fred in the 40's. He said it was a slow morning and they met up and were walking back to the car. As they were walking a deer jumped up from a fence row and took off on a dead run. He said with a hint of amazement still in his voice "Fred pulled his bow back and shot that deer". Floyd is gone now too and I feel privelidged to have met him. He signed the cover of the program of the banquet. It simply says- "Fred Bear always said Happy Hunting. Me too! Floyd Eccelston""98"

 

[jcar315]

Great story John!!! Can you imagine?!

[D.Sheppard]

I sure hope there is something on top of that "POLE" ole Fred is squatted on !