I would really have to say Fred Bear as the pioneer. But it's also really hard to beat Chuck Adams. Yes I know that now he is a celebrity but what made him one? He first took the grand slam with a bow, the first to do that, and then he got famous. Not the other way around. I also think Dan Fitzgerald deserves a spot. He was doing production quality videos before some of the guys hunting on video now were even born. I will also give Michael Waddell his due but it didn't hurt that he got started in the first place with Bill Jordan. The other guys mentioned in this post were hunters who became famous because of their skills and accomplishments. Blessings.......Pastorjim
Thats true, but most people do have access to 1000's of acres. A quick search showed me 1000's of acres of public land within an hours drive of Sparta WI.
Let me rephrase that 1000's of acres they own or lease and control what deer get shot and how many hunters there are :D I guess the point I was trying to make is you could take just about anyone form this site and put them in the same situations as the big name hunters of today and we kill just as many deer. Chuck Adams has killed some great animals but he had to have a butt load of cash to pay for those hunts. So how do you compare him with a guy that doesn't have the $ to go on hunts like that ? ?
Im a michigan boy so Fred Bear and the nuge are obvious but if you really think about it Fred hunted big game out west you will be hard pressed to find a big buck in any of his pictures , and ted has hunted over a bait pile in a cage for 20+ years. I dont want to take anything away from Fred Bear but you have to kill big bucks to get my vote, he was a sales man, alot like matt mcpherson now.
Sorry Howard Hill started it all Fred came next. Howard was awesome! No sights and could shoot quail in flight!
True again...but the question was "greatest bowhunter" not who's the greatest at heard or land management, LOL. Guys who hunt outfitters, leases and private lands shouldnt even be considered for "greatest bowhunter" IMO.
Fred hunted whitetail deer in Michigan, a lot. Ever hear of Grousehaven?? Now onto the comment of no big trophy photo's. All animals are bigger now than they have ever been. You have to consider the time frame he was hunting. Simply harvesting an animal with a bow was a huge feat, let alone a mature buck. Fred, in my opinion, was one of first guys to really push the limits. Going into the unknown and testing what was considered "un-suitable equipment". Filming the entire adventure while doing this.
Gotta go with Shadow on this one. People that lived off the land and used their bows for sustenance are way cooler in my book. They survived without compound bows and had to be able to pull poundages that far exceeded the ones we use now. If I had to go with a modern bowhunter, I'm not sure who I'd choose.
I would have to say for me it would be Ted Nugent. He is a millionare off of Rock and Roll and he still would rather hunt and harvest his own meat. He hunts as much as he can. Its crazy how cool it is to see him hunt. I get excited watching him hunt anything. Thats just my opinion. Maybe I just don't know enough about Mr. Bear. I really need to read up on him. I know he was an important man in our sport but, I just haven't read anything about him. Where is a good place to start researching Fred Bear as in titles of books or anything?
If Ted Nugent is the worlds best bowhunter I have a full head of hair, run the 100 meter dash in 8.9 seconds, and am the lead guitarist for Van Halen. By the way, I found a picture of the world's best bowhunter....
