POLL - Greatest Bowhunter Ever

[Blackhawk]

In your opinion, who do you think best represents the best part of our sport?  In other words, who had the greatest ability, made the most noteworthy accomplishments, had the greatest influence, and made the greatest contribution to traditional bowhunting?

[bayoulongbowman]

Chester Stevenson!!!!!! then Ben pearson ...my favs  :)then that man from Alabama ...uh Hill something ...Howard I think      

[Bob Macioch]

For my generation and me personally it's Barry Wensel.He showed us how to bowhunt,to respect the game and that bowhunting should be fun.He was one of the first hunting video stars.
All time it is Fred Bear.He put bowhunting on the map so to speak.
JMO
Best
Bob

[Widowbender]

Since I didn't see my name on the list I voted for Fred Bear.

               

David

[trapperDave]

where's Negley?

[Blackhawk]

Yes, Negley could have easily been on the list...as many others could.

...maybe even Widowbender.    

Those would be write-in votes.  

[BowHuntingFool]

Fred Bear got my vote, I'm really starting to enjoy the likes of Barry and Gene Wensel, they seem to have fun doing what they do! To me thats what is all about!

[John3]

Great poll. In my opinion the greatest bowhunter of all time is not on the list. He is a modern guy that hunts with a c**pound... I know the answer to the poll is subjective; but in terms of animals and record book animals taken no one is close.
My choice for a true trad type of bowhunter is ISHI. Without his knowledge and willingness to teach Dr. Pope who knows where we would be.
JDS III

[laddy]

I don't wish to rain on anyones choice, but to me 1500 plus rabbits and that photo of Hill with a string full of rabbits and birds is just hard to beat.  Not saying that influences on getting bows in peoples hands isn't important or horns size, but the ability to shoot small game under diverse conditions and that many is the mark of a super shot.

[Buckhammer]

I would have to say Fred Bear followed by Glenn St. Charles.JMO

[CBergeman]

My vote goes to Fred Bear with the Wensel Brothers close behind.

[Dave2old]

Ishi

[WidowEater]

For pure hunting it has to be Howard Hill.  The sheer number of game animals he took and the contributions he made to bowhunting with methods of hunting and shooting were great.

Of course it is probably a combination of all of them (Hill, Bear, Pearson, St. Charles, Zwicky, Wensel, Negley, etc.....

[d. ward]

I voted for Fred because..Bh you know Fred is still paying my bill's..I owe Fred at least that,one vote...I voted from the wallet,not the heart I had to.But you know who influenced me more then any other person ever...yap...Glenn without a dout.I learned more about archery from him then I ever did in all the books I never read or the many fine fine archers I've met over the years.Now from the heart...oh ya Glenn all the way.....bowdoc

[VTer]

I voted for Fred also because I idolized him as a kid but the more I learn about Glenn, the more I realize what a true pioneer of the sport he was. More so than Fred I think.

[leon]

Freds got my vote.

[WESTBROOK]

Dont think you can hang that  title on any one person. Hill, Bear, Pope, Young, St Charles all brought there  unique quality. Take away any one of them and you would see a huge void.

The same same with our generation, LaClair, Wensels, Thomas, Browning. They've all contributed something different but equally important.

Eric

[Hood]

I'm surprised that Saxton Pope didn't make the list. His book "Hunting with the Bow and Arrow" was inspiration to many others (including Fred Bear) to give bowhunting a try.

[Hackbow]

I agree with WESTBROOK. Although I've been guilty of it from time to time, trying to determine who or what is best all the time seems to be just another way of attempting to validate our own perspective at that moment. There are many "great" bowhunters that have contributed so much to the bowhunting community in so many ways, I believe it's impossible to quantify.

IMO, a better question would be; From whom can we learn about shooting, tracking, woodsmanship, mentoring, building skills, survival, charity, character, joy, etc? This list goes on. On a daily basis there are many on this forum who help others in just that way, so I guess my belief is that "the greatest" is not an individual, but the gathering of those around the campfire.
   

[Shawn Leonard]

I voted for Fred, but really not as a bowhunter but for his ability to market the bow. One of his best marketing techniques was telling of his bow hunting stories thru film and th ewritten word. Shawn