Some folks were upset with HH's behavior in the filming industry, and understandably so, but no one can take away from his list of archery achievements.
Far as I know he's still the winningest archer ever to attend competitions.
And most any 10 bow hunters combined couldn't put together a list of confirmed kills to parallel his achievements in the field.
Remember, back in these days there were no laws protecting various species like we have today. The man enjoyed hunting and promoted both the sports of bow hunting and competition shooting round the world. Some of the kills listed may seem distasteful today but it was all perfectly acceptable back then, as were the filming methods used. Don't be too harsh on him. Times change, as do methods and tactics. Were he alive and filming and hunting today, you can bet he'd be on the up and up in every regard.
Howard Hill devoted a lifetime to the promotion of archery, and is still considered the greatest archer/hunter of all time. Howard Hill Archery is owned and operated by archers and personal friends of Howard's with whom the company was started back in the 1950's.
Here are some of the events that have, over the past 80 years, made a lasting impression on the people throughout the world concerning Howard Hill and archery....
1. - Shot exhibitions in 3 world's fairs.
2. - Produced 23 short subjects for Warner Brothers.
3. - Filmed "Tembo" in Africa--was shown in 57 countries and in seven different languages--RKO release.
4. - Did all the shooting in the following feature pictures: Robin Hood, Elizabeth & Essex, They Died with Their Boots On, Dodge City, Virginia City, Buffalo Bill, Bandits of Sherwood Forest.
5. - Hunted in 12 countries of the world.
6. - Took well over 2,000 animals with a bow and arrow.
7. - First white man to kill an elephant with a bow and arrow.
8. - Appeared in 5 wild west shows.
9. - Published two best seller archery books: Hunting the Hard Way and Wild Adventure
10. - Appeared in 14 major Sportsman's Shows.
11. - Toured the United States putting on exhibitions for schools and general public.
12. - Won 196 Field Archery tournaments in a row.
13. - Won the Florida State Target Archery tournament in 1928.
14. - Wrote the first set of archery Golf Rules in 1928.
15. - Won 7 National Archery Golf Tournaments.
16. - Set new flight record of 391 yds., 1 ft., 11 in. on Feb. 26, 1928 at Miami, FL.
17. - Pulled 172 lb. bow--heaviest bow pulled by any man on record until recent years. (Items #16 & #17 verified by Dr. R.P. Elmer in Encyclopedia Brittanica, 1932.)
18. - Drew 35,000 spectators in Grants Park, Chicago in 1941, where the crowd tore the shirt off his back, and took his arrows, bow and quiver as souvenirs.
19. - Won the International Field Meet at Milwaukee, WI in 1942.
20. - Awarded a plaque by Archery Council of CA in 1959 for his outstanding achievements in archery.
21. - The Helms Athletic Foundation Hall of Fame in Los Angeles, CA has on displayarrows Hill shot in Robin Hood, his two books, and pictures.
22. - In January 1962, was elected an Honorary Life Member of the Professional Archery Association.
23. - In 1971, placed in the Alabama sports Hall of Fame.
24. - In 1975, A.B.C. Bow Hunter's Hall of Fame.
OFFICIAL ABC GAME RECORDS -- Dec. 1976 Issue
* Lynx - 43 lb.. live weight, taken in Canada by Howard Hill of California.
* Moose - 800 lb.. live weight, taken in Wyoming in late 1940's by Howard Hill of CA.
* Javelina - 66 lb.. live weight, taken in Arizona by Howard Hill of CA in late 1940's.
* Mountain Sheep - Had 11/2 curl of horns. 15 3/4 inches around base of each horn.
* Taken in Wyoming in 1940 by Howard Hill of CA.
* Mountain Goat - 7 inch horns, 300 lb.. live weight. Taken in Wyoming by Howard Hill of CA around 1940.
* Alligator - 90011 score. Measured 9'11" tip to tip. Bowbagged in Florida by Howard Hill in the '30's. Howard lived in Florida then.
Hunting with a bow appealed to Howard much more than did target archery. Consequently, his love of hunting was to take him to all parts of the world following the game trails and pitting his skill against all kinds of game, some that nearly cost him his life. Howard's greatness is probably reflected most in his long list of game taken with bow and arrow, dating back to 1925 when he bagged his first moose and white tail deer while on a hunting trip in Canada. From 1925 until he passed away in 1975, Howard compiled a record of kills that will undoubtedly never be equaled.
The following is a partial list compiled from Howard's field notes showing his BOW & ARROW KILLS:
GAME KILLED IN AFRICA
BIRDS
* Egyptian Goose......1
* Sand Grouse......4
* Guinea Fowl......10
* Lesser Bustard......6
* Greater Bustard......2
* Golden Crested Crane......1
* Marabou Stork......2
* Spur Fowl......6
* Ducks......12
* Hornbill......1
* Buzzard......3
BIG GAME
* Elephant......3
* Buffalo......1
* Lions......2
* Leopard......1
* Zebra......1
* Impala......4
* Wildebeest......2
* Thomson's Gazelle......2
* Hartebeest......1
* Grant's Gazelle......2
* Wart Hog......3
* Forest Hog......1
* Cheetah......2
REPTILES & FISH
* Crocodile......13
* Rock Python......3
* Spotted Cobra......1
* Black Mamba......2
* Horned Viper......12
* Catfish......12
* Captain......1
OTHER ANIMALS
* Jackals......2
* Hyenas......4
* Bat Eared Fox......3
* Mongoose......4
* Spring Hare......6
* True Hare......8
GAME KILLED IN NORTH AMERICA
BIG GAME
* Buffalo......1
* Moose......4
* Elk......3
* Wild Jackass......12
* Black Bear......6
* Grizzly Bear......1
* Mule Deer......27
* White Tail Deer......7
* Dwarf Deer......2
* Black Tail Deer......36
* Pacific Coast Deer......4
* Pronghorn Antelope......4
* Mountain Sheep......3
* Wild Goat......129
* Mountain Goat......2
* Peccary......6
* Wild Boar......101
* Cougar......5
* Jaguar......1
* Lynx Cat......3
* Bobcat......12
* Timber Wolf......1
* Coyote......5
* Bull Hairy Seal......6
* Bull Elephant Seal......1
SMALL GAME
* Badger......6
* Fox......12
* Raccoon......25
* Beaver......3
* Armadillo......3
* Rabbit (estimate)......1500
* Opossum......6
* Gray Squirrel......20
* Red Squirrel......9
* Ground Squirrel......500
* Flying Squirrel......3
* Rock Chuck......7
* Ground Hog......4
* Chipmunk......9
* Marten......2
* Mink......3
* Weasel......6
FISH
* Shark......40
* Sailfish......3
* Black Marlin Swordfish......1
* Salt Water Rock Bass......3
* Tuna......30
* Ray......25
* Swordfish......8
* Sheephead......12
* California Flying Fish......7
* Mango Snapper......30
* Salmon......25
* Royal Chinook......64
* Rainbow Trout......30
* Broadbill Swordfish......2
* Brook Trout......20
* Small Mouth Bass......3
* Large Mouth Bass......50
* Cut Throat Trout......20
* Scissor Bill Gar......250
* Alligator Gar......2
BIRDS
* Eagle......4
* Hawk......17
* Owl......8
* Buzzard......20
* Crow......7
* Raven......3
* Sand Hill Crane......3
* Blue Grouse......26
* Dusky Grouse......18
* Ruffed Grouse......31
* Fool Hen......40
* Partridge......6
* Bittern......1
* Chukar Partridge......8
* Sage Hen......35
* Prairie Chicken......8
* Ducks on the Wing......20
* Other Ducks......30
* Chinese Pheasant......21
* Wild Turkey......4
* Canadian Goose......2
* Woodcock......4
* Wilson Jacksnipe......8
* California Mt. Quail......6
* California Valley Quail......40
REPTILES
* Alligator......8
* Snake......100
* Gila Monster......4
* Iguana......6
* Desert Swift......30
* Fresh Water Turtle......20
* Loggerhead Turtle......6
* Giant Sea Turtle......3