Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Bowhunting A blast from the past

I stopped by the archery shop the other day to look for a good crossbow case. A guy was on the shooting line, playing around with several different bows. He pulls out an old Fred Bear Whitetail Hunter. This was one of the early compounds-a six wheel bow. One of my buddies used to hunt with one. Boy, the technology has sure come a long ways when you look at where we started from, compared to where the bows are and how they work today.

I started bowhunting in 1977 with a Bear Whitetail hunter. I believe I paid $50 for it and actually killed a deer with it.
For sure, technology have come light years from that bow.

My hunting buddy has a couple old recurves that we're converted to compounds, and an old PSE that he hunted with until about 5 years ago. He ordered it directly from Pete Shepley when the company first opened. The sport has come a long way tech wise.

I hunted for about 20 years with an old PSE Phaser. I literally wore the thing out. Heart conditions have me shooting a cross bow now. Sure is neat to see some of the older gear from my youth still whacking and stacking.

My first bow was a Whitetail Hunter. Killed a couple deer with it and missed literally dozens. My Dad could hear the aluminum arrows bouncing threw the trees from his stand. Said find them, he wasn't buying me any more

Remember the Jennings Model T? It was one of the first 2-wheelers. That was my first compound....probably 1970 or so :-)

I had one of the Whitetail Hunters as well. That was around 1975-76 time frame.

If you had lots money they had the polar bear hunter (I think that was the name of it)

I had several Model T's and a Jenning's Arrowstar....the Arrowstar was my favorite bow.

Doc

Started with a Martin Warthog myself ~ 1984. Pretty wood riser with gold cams - then the rattle can camo job......far cry from the Carbon Defiant I shoot today.

Got a Whitetail Hunter hanging up in the shop. I've thought several times about having it tuned up and using it again. Killed a couple deer with it 35+ years ago.

First bow was a Bear Whitetail II 1985

Polar LTD, laminated limb model. Same riser type, brackets and wheels as Whitetail.
Whitetail brown, Polar LTD grey/black hammertone.

I had a Mini Magnum compound as a kid. First deer capable compound was PSE Phaser.

Have a soft spot for Oneidas.
LFM or BE are expensive nowadays.............but can shoot 'em fingers.
Aerfoforce is cool, but heavy.
Screaming Eagles.............never cared for the large pylon models like that, but the riser was thinner.
There is aftermaket support for customizing them, not cheap.

I got a Golden Eagle wood riser roundhweeler for bowfishing. Decent shape (1986) and I refinished the riser.
Now it's too nice to go out and beat up slaying carp.

The witch wants me to hang it on the wall.

I have a 1972 Blackwidow HF1225 (skeleton riser take down recurve).
1965 factory camo Bear Kodiak recurve
1986 Golden Eagle wood laminate riser compound
2017 PSE Infinity compound


dump the PSE and get a new Blackwidow.
Add an Oneida compound........


be a pretty cool mini collection of crap LOL

A Polar LTD indeed I have though about..............just for a 70's filler

a 91 PSE still kills as well as anything I've shot so far.

As does an old brackenbury built for a great mentor and friend that passed away a few years ago after we cut him out of his truck that was t boned.

I had bought the bow from him when he could no longer use it, as he was in his 80s at that time. The bow was built by the original owner. Fit me to a T. I had to have the nephew or someone that took over after the owner drowned build a new set of limbs for me.

But it still kills great.

I remember those old bear bows with many wheels. They were cheap but they worked.

Kind of partial to the old stuff for bows. Not fond of shots past 15 or so steps either so my old stuff flat works, rarely misses.

Grew up on PSE from a teenager on. They never had done me wrong. I suspect if I buy a new one ever, with wheels, it'll be one of them.

My first was a whitetail hunter as well. Many moons ago.

You make me feel old.........

My first bow was a 45# Ben Pearson Collegian, killed my first head of big game with it in 1971. A lonely yearling doe........

My second bow was a pinching azz 55# Bear Grizzly. Killed my second ever elk with that one.

My current bow is a 56# Black Widow MA I bought in 1990. I still use it today............

Casey

Yup, I started with a whitetail hunter in 77. Have owned many bows since and am still a fanatic bowhunter.
Wish I had kept that whitetail hunter.
I killed my first archery deer with it.

My first hunting bow was a Browning Explorer...stick and string. But, I'm older than most of you young pups.

Mine was a Damon Howatt Hunter recurve I bought in 1973. Bought a 2 wheel Browning Compound 4 or 5 years later and didn't care much for it. Sold the Browning and still have the Howatt, mostly for old times sake.

Had 25 compounds and 29 recurves.
Some I liked better than others.
Will be content with my old HF1225 widow and a new PCH

i still have my whitetail hunter. My first bow a a Bear Kodiak magnum.

I used my father's fiberglass longbow for several years before I got one of my own. It too was a Bear. A 35lbs recurve with which I took several deer before my school decided every kid had to take a mandatory Phys ed course (archery) .
It was 20yard shooting with 25lb recurve.
They wouldn't listen when I told them this was useless, and so I brought my bow, second day, and tested out with a few broken shafts stacked too tight. (They finally agreed they couldn't teach me anything I didn't already know.)
My dad was so proud, he bought me a compound for my 16th birthday present. An Indian Stalker 45-55lb, I still use. In fact, I now have a second set up for a guest with a loop for a release (I've never used one).
The guest bow has sights, unlike my own. I shoot instinctive, and differently than most folks. I've never really understood the drive for the latest and greatest (gun/bow/crossbow/knife) They are just tools of the craftsman.
That tool that was "top shelf" then, is still quality, even if the bar has been raised. I'm appalled sometimes, by the casting off of last year's model, in favor for this year's marvel.
(Case in point):....."So the switchback was way ahead of its competitors. The halon is maybe not "ahead" as much as it is perfection of past advancements in technology.
I have said this on many other threads, it is flat out the most perfect compound bow made to date by any manufacturer. Not to say some of the other bows this year aren't awesome as well."....(from reviews of talon vs mathews switchback 2016).
They all work well enough to do the job. Even a bent sapling and a bootlace will throw an arrow well enough to kill deer. It worked 30 years ago, it will work now.
The rest is up to the archer.

I remember buying am oneida eagle when they first came out. It was so much faster than anything else. 240 fps. lol.

Oneidas are quick. But string overtravel means hefty spine needed, which slows em down.
Did shove a log pretty well though

I had a Screaming Eagle, Strike Eagle and two Aeroforces. Fun rigs, def like the smaller pylon stuff better, but grip too fat.
Later timing wheels of the Aero nicer than the Strike.

Like to try a LFM.

Same here.

Hey Hookeye, I remember buying those "fluted arrows" that were stiffer than the normal aluminum arrows......lol. The old eagles looked delicate but they were pretty tough. 48 inches tip to tip........

I remember those fluted aluminums (X caliber ?)........they still got bent......weren't fun on a straightener (dial indicator LOL).
Also remember the Graphlex fiberglass shafts...........rough bastids.
Actually got some with a used Superdiablo recurve purchase.

I ran XX75, Jim Dougherty naturals and supernaturals.
Tried making woodies for my Blackwidow MA2...........screwed up and discovered a "bleed crest". Looked cool w white dip and fletch combo. Couple yrs later I see that offered LOL (bleed crest).

Had a super dozen, and broke 3 stumping...........so sold all my arrow making stuff. No more cedars.

I run Goldtip carbons on wheels or trad anymore, have since 2002.

On old classics running TM hunter style rests (like maybe a PSE Mach 4)...........larger OD arrows gave more space between fletching. Not a bad thing.

5/16 carbons (yeah they make larger dia versions).........not as forgiving IMHO.
Eh, run a drop away if shooting wheels n release.

Too bad the new Oneida Osprey only goes to 50#. If they went 60# I'd proly have one.

Anyone remember the original Keller Pendulum sight? I had one when they first came out and it worked great Lol. I shot a bunch of deer with that sight. It was way ahead of all the other pendulum sights......

Brother in law still has one on his PSE.

Remember Keller's ad where he had all those mounts and a Blackwidow recurve?
Or when he teamed with Indian (Xi) later and they had the Myles Keller Legend Magnum bow (actually was decent).