As a child Bear never had thought he was going to become a famous archer. Actually he never imagined he would be a hunter even as a young adult. As he read in magazines and learned more about the sport he became interested and this is how Bear archery started!
Fred grew up on a farm, with his father and mother. As he became older he was interested in fallowing in his father's footsteps. Although his father was a farmer Fred decided not to take that path and moved to Detroit. There he worked as a pattern maker and ran an advertising silk screen for the automotive trade. In 1927 Fred went to the Adam's Theater in Detroit and saw a film called "Alaskan Adventures" that was about bow hunting. This strongly encouraged Fred to become interested in archery hunting. He then began learning how to make bows, arrows, and bow string in his basement workshop. In 1933 Fred and Charles Piper gathered $600 and started "Bear Products Company". This company mainly made advertising banners for automobiel dealers, but in one corner of the shop Fred built archery equipment for his friends.
Six years later Piper and Bear split their partnership and Fred launched Bear Archery Company. Bear wanted to expand his company and promote bowhunting, so he won Michigan's state bow championship in 1934, 1937, and 1939, and also traveled to sports shows! In 1942 Fred went to Michigan's upper peninsula to make a bowhunting films. Bear continued to produce bowhunting film and hunts to expand the company until he died in 1988 at 86 years of age
Fred grew up on a farm, with his father and mother. As he became older he was interested in fallowing in his father's footsteps. Although his father was a farmer Fred decided not to take that path and moved to Detroit. There he worked as a pattern maker and ran an advertising silk screen for the automotive trade. In 1927 Fred went to the Adam's Theater in Detroit and saw a film called "Alaskan Adventures" that was about bow hunting. This strongly encouraged Fred to become interested in archery hunting. He then began learning how to make bows, arrows, and bow string in his basement workshop. In 1933 Fred and Charles Piper gathered $600 and started "Bear Products Company". This company mainly made advertising banners for automobiel dealers, but in one corner of the shop Fred built archery equipment for his friends.
Six years later Piper and Bear split their partnership and Fred launched Bear Archery Company. Bear wanted to expand his company and promote bowhunting, so he won Michigan's state bow championship in 1934, 1937, and 1939, and also traveled to sports shows! In 1942 Fred went to Michigan's upper peninsula to make a bowhunting films. Bear continued to produce bowhunting film and hunts to expand the company until he died in 1988 at 86 years of age