The Bear Whitetail II was marketed and sold in 1986. At the time it was one of the best overall compound bows on the market. With a dual cam system, it came in at 45″ total length, boasted a 65% let-off and IBO speeds under 200 fps. Today that kind of IBO speed would be measured with a sundial compared to current bows on the market. Nevertheless, the Bear Whitetail II was a top bow pick in the 1980s. It was the first bow I ever owned although, at the age of 11, I knew nothing of hunting or archery.
I purchased the bow in 2005 from a co-worker for the honest price of $60.00. John said he hoped it would bring me better luck as he had never taken anything with it. The bow needed a new string, cables and the draw length needed to be adjusted for its new owner. For a new archer who wasn’t sure if he would like it or not, it was a solid purchase.
I took the bow into Evan’s Bow Shop near the intersection of Southland Drive and Nicholasville Road in Lexington, Kentucky. (They have moved since then, just down Southland Drive on Regency Rd.) There they measured my draw length and promised to set the bow up with a custom string and cables.
Luckily, John, who sold me the bow, had kept all the cam modules so they were easily able to accommodate my draw length. I left the bow in their hands and eagerly awaited the call. About two and a half weeks went by and I received my phone call. As soon as I was able to I made my way to their shop. From Walmart, I had already purchased the “finest” archery target I could complete with aluminum arrows, Allen Field Points and Muzzy Broadheads. The target was nothing more than a block of Styrofoam with plastic sheeting around it. But on a shoestring budget, it was all I needed to start my adventure.
Our first home was in the Highland Sub-Division off Georgetown Rd. I had just enough room in my backyard to shoot out to 40 yards. City ordinance at the time didn’t allow the discharge of a firearm within limits, so I was clear to let loose my first arrow. We had a dial-up internet connection and given my excitement, I didn’t bother looking up much on archery. In retrospect, I am not sure if that was a good or bad thing. The pure magic of holding the bow in my hand for the first time, arrow knocked with the release was too much to bear.
I stepped off 10 yards, pulled back, sighted with the peep and let loose. Amazingly, I hit the target. “Oh, this is awesome!” I thought to myself as a little sigh of relief escaped with the excitement. I pulled the arrow out and looked for something to weight down the foam target. That first night I spent several hours in the backyard trying my luck at adjusting the brass pins and getting used to the wire arrow rest. As things progressed, I went from hitting to missing to hitting again until my arm finally had enough.
For the next few months, I practiced almost every night. My proficiency increased and the arrows were grouping so tightly I often broke a nock or damaged fletching. When I picked up more arrows my wife wasn’t as thrilled as I was but to her credit she didn’t complain. I also became good at finding and digging arrows out of the ground as I tested just how far I could push the bow and myself.
Kentucky’s bow season came with added excitement. I had, through the help of John, permission to hunt private ground outside Liberty in Casey County Kentucky. At the time, it was a Zone 1, which meant you could take one antlered deer and as many antlerless deer you had tags for. It also meant you had the longest hunting season. When I finally had a free weekend, I drove down to Liberty in the early morning. I parked the truck and hiked out an old logging road that followed a ridgeline. I chose this section because the ridge was covered in acorns and was heavily traveled by deer.
As I came to the end of the road, the ridge started to drop down with two draws on either side. I found a stump to sit down on. Facing toward where I had hiked from, my back rested against a tree trunk. I had trees in a slight line extending from my left shoulder while the right side was open and clear. As I sat there, I slowly watched either side of me and waited.
About 45 minutes into my hunt, three does came up the ridge from the bottom to my left side. As right-handed bow hunter, this was perfect. I sat on the log looking back toward them. The lead doe dipped her head up and down trying to figure out what I was. Still, as I could be, she finally decided I was no harm and began to move forward while the other two picked along the ground. Making sure the other does were not too young, I set myself on taking a shot. I waited for the trees on the left to block my movement from her view and came to full draw. As she stepped out from behind the last oak tree, I set my 30-yard pin on her and let the arrow fly.
The next few seconds were a blur as she jumped, then bounded off down into the draw. Naturally, I figured I had missed and in my excitement, I popped off the stump startling the other two does as I ran to where I remember seeing her stand seconds before. Quickly, I scanned the ground and saw nothing. Flustered, I went back to the stump, turned around, closed my eyes to see it all in my head again and reopened them. I had to be sure I was looking in the right area. As I walked back to where I remembered her to have been, I decided to drop my bow in the spot and fan out. Upon doing so, I found my arrow lying in the green underbrush a few yards from my bow. As I reached for it the unmistakable site of red blood covering it was now visible and in a few places bubbles.
My arrow found its mark and later confirmed as a double lung shot. Now I would like to say I did the smart thing and waited but that would not be true. Like a newbie, I found a blood trail and began looking immediately. I don’t remember how many times I pushed her but I was finally able to recover her, notch my tag, thank God and pack her out.
From this humble beginning, I have been hooked by archery hunting though it hasn’t come as easily as the first hunt. I spent a good portion of my career involved in product management for handgun holsters and have been on firearm range more than I care to share. So much so that one might think I would feel more at home with a firearm than a bow. It is simply not the case. There is something very special about shooting and hunting with a bow.
To this day, I hunt with Bear Compound Bows. After the Whitetail II, which I still own, my next bow was the Lights Out. Today I own an Agenda and an Arena. People can argue all they want about who has the best bow out there. Maybe there are better, not going to get into that fight. I have been tempted to try products from Prime and Obsession. I have several friends who have had great success with them. What sticks with me is the memory of that first hunt with a Bear in my hands that cannot be replaced. I have found success with what I have and if it’s not broken, why “fix” it?
– L. Yarbrough, Bucks & Beers
