My early bear memories

[Gpprs]

I've been lurking around here long enough, really enjoying the information and stories that you all share. Thanks a heap! I may as well give it a go. What the heck! I bought my first Bear recurve, a 1966 Grizzly, as a junior in high school, in 1966. I and a couple of buddies had been reading of Fred's hunting exploits in the outdoor magazines. We figured that it looked like great fun and couldn't be that hard. We set out to find a "good deal" on three bows. In Traverse City, MI., there were two hardware stores, about two blocks apart, that both sold Bear bows. Look out salesmen you are about to get into a price war, whether you know it or not. We approached one store and then the other, to start to fulfill our dream of a bargain on a bow, and to start on our adventures as big game hunters. The only problem was that the salesmen didn't quite have the same dream. They wanted the full price, which was $45.00 for a new Grizzly. After a few days and a few different visits, of us explaining that they were selling not one, but three bows, not to mention arrows and accessories, one of the stores had mercy on us young archery enthusists, and gave us a $5.00 discount. We purchased three Grizzly's, 45#, for $40.00 each! One split dozen (half Razorheads and half field tips)of  Bear cedar arrows each, arm guards and shooting gloves completed our arsenal. We were ready to attack the straw bales!Acquiring the straw was much easier, as I grew up on a farm. I remember that my dad thought that I was nuts to "waste my money" on a bow and arrow. Even though he was a life long rifle deer hunter, (And his father before him),the idea of a bow as a serious hunting weapon just didn't make sense. He was a wonderful dad and didn't attempt to stop my adventures, however. After our first shooting session I began to wonder if he was right! Those straw bales were certainly elusive little rascals. It just started to dawn on me that there might be more too this than we had thought! A few sessions and a few missing arrows dampened our enthusium just a little. How could I have known that I had embarked on one of my life long great joys-- Archery hunting--. What a blessing it has been!

[reddogge]

Ahhh, brings back fond memories of buying my first good hunting bow new in 1967, a Grizzly also.  I also bought the dozen cedar arrows, arm guard, glove, bow quiver to go with it.  I lived in an apartment so no shooting until I actually went out to a wooded area and basically stump shot all year.

[shaft slinger]

My first time around was a ben pearson couger, $19.95 and 6 white fiberglass arrows that was spiral wound, don't remember what co. total $26.00 had to "lay away" didn't have that kind of money, took a long time to pay it off , but BOY i was off and running and havn't stopped yet      

[Gpprs]

Looking back, I remember that any wages that I made back in those days were in the $1.00- $1.25 per hour area. So that Grizzly cost me approximately one weeks pay. Plus I didn't have any steady job. I mean for pay; the farm work was pretty steady, and I realize now, very good for me. It taught me how to stick at things that weren't always fun. But a weeks wages for a bow make some of todays prices seem like a bargain! I think I should find some more bows to invest in!

[Jack Shanks]

Great memories Grant. My parents had a cabin not far from Kingsley, Fife Lake. My earliest days of bowhunting took place near there and South Boardman. My sister lives in the area now and owns the grocery store in Fife Lake.