Fred Bear. A local MI connection/ collection

[tzolk]

Today I had the pleasure of visiting with my co-workers father. Keith Forche (Four-Key) owns Gilsons Hardware in Blissfield Michigan. Besides the business being a Do It Best, there is also an archery shop attached to the side. In this shop you will see many Grayling and a couple pre-Grayling Bear bows hanging on the wall among the Elk, Moose and Deer mounts.
Back in 1986-87, Keith was representing his small budding archery business at the bowhunter rendezvous in Michigan when he was presented with a conundrum of spending his last 12 dollars on food for him and his son Sam or buy raffle tickets to win a hunt with Fred at Grouse Haven.

With an "ok" from his son Sam, he went and bought the raffle tickets. Well, luck paid off and Keith won the hunt with Fred.
Here are some pictures of pictures I took today while down at the shop. Keith was presented with the First copy of the First edition of Freds field notes, signed by Fred. Here are those pictures and look for the story above the one with Fred standing along side the two Astronauts who were there also.

   

     

       

       

   

     

     

[tzolk]

   

 The Astronaut in the striped shirt flew a jet up from Texas to Grouse Haven bringing fresh clams as he broke the sound barrier over camp.
 

 
KEITH (Beard) and FRED
 

   

   

   

[crafty]

Thats awesome.

[shick]

tzolk, superb!!
Shick

[lhbandito22]

hey todd be lucky you dont have to see it everyday at work and want everything that is there haha

[tzolk]

Talon,
Aren't you supposed to be working? Lol.

[T-Bowhunter]

Great story thanks for sharing.

[Jerry Russell]

Man that is some cool history right there.

[Caughtandhobble]

Kool... Thanks for sharing

[VictoryHunter]

This is a great story and cool old photos. Thanks for sharing!

[scbowhnter]

Really nice and thanks for sharing.

[Cyclic-Rivers]

I love the pictures,  you can tell everyone was having a genuinely good time.

[Stickbow]

Great pics, thanks for sharing

[Phrogdrvr]

I thoroughly enjoyed this post.

Tom

[Sawpilot 75]

I really enjoyed that. What a lucky guy!

[Bonebuster]

THANK YOU FOR SHARING THIS!!!!

[BDann]

Very cool!

[Hatrick]

Very cool, thanks for sharing.      

[Danny Rowan]

That is a very neat Bear signature bow, never seen on with that color wood.

[Steve O]

Keith really knows his stuff.  I used to work in a factory not far from Gilsons.  I stretched many a lunch break in the sporting goods section.  Great memories!