Fav-o-rite bowhunter and why??

[Mike Bolin]

As far as as a favorite...tough to say as I have great respect for many of them. Ron LaClair, G Fred, Fred Eichler, Gene & Barry, Paul Shafer, Fred Bearand so many of the tradgang members...the list goes on and on. BUT I'd have to put MONTY BROWNING at or near the top of the list.

[tim roberts]

Just sitting here thinking through a long list of good folks who have helped me, and while there are a few that really belong at the top of my list, I would have to say Neil Jacobson.  Besides being a very good bowyer, a successfull hunter, he has been a huge help in helping not only myself but many of his other customers be successful with traditional equipment.  There have been times when I have called and I know he is busy as all get out, and he always has time to answer a "dumb question".  A first class person, and a true asset to Traditional Bowhunting.

>>>>Tim------->

[ozarkcherrybow1]

/The list is very long of "great" bowhunters of the past. The ones that come to my mind is the Thompsons' (Maurice and Will) from the "witchery of archery". Of course, they were able to hunt in ways that we may only dream about these days. They are my favorite because the writings in that little book set up traditional archery as a great past time and a way of life for some of us.
 Their hunts have inspired many of the all time greats of the bowhunting world and should be recognized for that.
 As for "today" , one that comes to me is Curtis Kellar aka Little Feather. I have never met him, but he does alot for all of us, setting up the hunts, telling us the great stories,  and giving opportunities to hunt that we may not have otherwise. Someday I will make it on one of his hunts with some of the greats from this site.  

[shaft slinger]

WHAT!!!!! no one votes for smiley  oh the shame of it !!!!!

[Gary Kellar]

Who’s my favorite Bowhunter?

Well, he’s the average working guy that’s out there everyday, selflessly giving of himself, his skills, talents, craft and experience to help others to achieve and enjoy the sport of Bowhunting as much as he has, and does.

He’s the one that tirelessly strives to promote the sport he loves, the contagious passion he possesses, the dream he’s cultivated, the dedication he exhibits and his intense desire for you and I to thoroughly share in it all.

He’s the supportive mentor, the excited listener, the leader by example, the one who never attempts to elevate himself by demeaning another, he respects your opinion and status in life, and will give more than you’d ever imagine without expecting a thing in return.

He’s as proud of the trophies you take as he is in his own, he enjoys listening to your stories as much as he enjoys telling his own, and will hold all things in nature with respect and honor.
Who is this person?

If you’ve read this and seen anything familiar in what I’ve described, I’ve no doubt but what it’s YOU!  You’re all my heros.

[John3]

All time with no question there are a few. Pope, Young and Ishi for starting it all.

Modern day it is Chuck Adams.

Qualifications for "my" list are simple. Would I walk across a crowded room to have a conversation?  Yes for the above.

John III

[Frenchymanny]

For me it's Bart Schleyer, and my dad.

Love you dad,
F-Manny

[notdodger]

Tough question. Hmmm. Ok this is probably biased. My all time favorite is The one... the only... Fred Bear. I believe all of the above mentioned are great. The native's had to hunt to survive. Unlike today. I like watching the fella on Easton bowhunting Tv. Fred E. Have all of his tapes. Oh , I dig Chuck Adams too. Even though I have not seen him with a stick.

[Danny Rowan]

Anyone who takes stick and string in hand and gives of themself,not counting a kill as success but just the experience of being afield with bow in hand. Holding nature to heart and respecting it all.

Danny

[Tom Leemans]

Dianne Lotz!

[Gerry]

Fred Bear and no explanation is needed.

[SteveMcD]

Originally posted by Ray Hammond:
I think my favorite is....well, ME. That's it..I am my own favorite bowhunter.

Yup! Ditto! No explanation needed.  

[Jeff Holchin]

For bowhunters I have only read about or met once or twice, it is a tie between Bart Schleyer and Monty Browning because of their adventurous spirit, as well as humble nature and attitude. I know that Monty is a Christian too, which means a lot to me.  My favorite bowhunter that I've spent time with is Bill Allard (aka BB or Bugling Billy) from Utah, because of his obvious love of bowhunting, adventure and nature, and his humble manner and respect for others.  My favorite Tradgang bowhunter is RC - that man can shoot and hunt, and is very successful on public land which is not easy!  Like the others I respect, he is humble and helpful, plus he is not afraid to show his love of God anywhere, anytime.  The first time I hunted with RC and Mudfeather, we went to lunch at a local diner and they both bowed their heads and offered a prayer of thanksgiving, as natural as can be because it came from their hearts.  That impressed me more that their considerable bowhunting skills.

[NorthShoreLB]

CHESTER STEVENSEN, wish I had being there to walk his trails.

[Ray Hammond]

on the serious side, I feel as NSLB does...I really was blown away by the way Chester Stevenson hunted- got a map, a compass, a pot and a fork, a bow, some arrows, and a groundcloth, hopped on a train, jumped off in the middle of nowhere and hunted his way out two weeks later!

how many of us would have the courage for something like that, nowadays?

[SteveMcD]

In all fairness. I am of the same opinion as Dakota Kid and Danny Rowan. As archers and bowhunters it is all as highly individualistic as the type and design of bow we shoot, to the design of arrows we use.

[Izzy]

What Mr.Kellar, uh... I mean Gary said.

[TRB]

For me it`s Fred Bear. Don`t know if he was the best or not, but he had a great influence on me.

[pseman]

Hard to narrow it down to just one. I have only read about most of the famous ones but of them Barry Wensel would be close to the top. He was one of the first guys that I saw hunting with a recurve(October Whitetails) and really got my interest in trad archery going. It was many years before I made the switch but he and that video went a long way toward influencing my decision.

[AnointedArcher]

I know it's already been said as there are so many to choose from and I have several favorites from years gone by, plus some great men and women that are still very much a big part of our tradition today as already mentioned.

However one of the more modern trad hunters I really like is Fred Eichler.  He get's so excited no matter what animal he is hunting and he truly seems to enjoy what he is doing as well as he has no problem laughing at himself when he messes up.  Even though he shoots a mechcanical bow on ocassion, he brings joy and excitement to camp no matter what the conditions.