Sportsman Channel to Debut Hour-long Special: Fred Bear – The Father of Bowhunting
OutdoorHub 06.18.13
In the burrows of Detroit rose up a young man with a passion for bowhunting, and specifically bow craftsmanship, who quickly ignited the industry with his eye to detail, unique designs and desire for the best. Sportsman Channel, the leader in outdoor TV for the American Sportsman, is proud to premiere the hour-long special Fred Bear: The Father of Bowhunting presented by Bear Archery on Friday, June 21 from 7 to 8 pm ET. This film was produced in association with Rusted Roosted Productions and Sportsman Channel. Watch a sneak peak preview here: http://www.thesportsmanchannel.com/programming/descriptions/description.php?ID=607
Over the last 80 years, Bear Archery, behind the leadership of Fred Bear, literally created the archery industry. This special will have interviews from Realtree’s Bill Jordan and David Blanton; former employee and Ripcord Arrow Rest Marketing Manager Don Dvoroznak ; Whitetail Properties’ Dan Perez; Bear President Jack Bowman; Major League Bowhunter’s Jeff Danker and current Bear employees Dan Massimillo and Neil Byce. Through their stories and recollections they talk about their time with Fred and explain why and how he meant so much to the company, but also to the sport of bowhunting. Viewers will get a chance to see historic film footage, never-before-seen photos and untold stories about the legendary Fred Bear.
“Fred Bear’s name is synonymous with bowhunting. And Sportsman Channel is the official destination for viewers longing for the best bowhunting content available. It’s a privilege to celebrate Bear archery’s 80th anniversary through this unique tribute to the man who forever changed the hunting world,” said Graig Hale, VP of Business Development.
“Mr. Bear paved the way for each one of us today, had it not been for his dedication to our sport, we probably wouldn’t be where we are today. We are proud to celebrate the life of this great man, his work and the 80 year anniversary of Bear Archery, “ stated Jason Pickerill, Marketing Manager of Bear Archery.
Fred Bear was born in Waynesboro, Pennsylvania, on March 5, 1902. He left the family farm at age 21 to pursue opportunities in Detroit’s growing auto industry. A documentary on the bowhunting adventures of Art Young ignited a fire in Fred’s imagination. Soon he was learning to craft his own bows, arrows, and bowstrings under the tutelage of Young himself.
In time, the archery business demanded Fred’s fulltime attention and he launched Bear Archery Company. Fred Bear started Bear Archery during the Great Depression, but the company flourished with his passion for bowhunting and bow craftsmanship.
Fred’s grassroots kinship with other bowhunters fueled an interest in the sport and in Bear Archery products. Fred was instantly recognizable for his distinctively weathered face and trademark felt Borsalino hat.
Bear Archery production moved to Grayling, Michigan, in 1947. Over the next two decades, Fred traveled the world on bowhunting and filmmaking expeditions. On one outing, radio and television personality Arthur Godfrey witnessed Fred down an African bull elephant. Godfrey later recounted the experience for his international radio audience. Such publicity, as well as a feature in Life Magazine, enhanced Fred Bear’s international stature.
