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ATA Show Reflects Change, Growth in Bowhunting

The ‘father of bowhunting' would be impressed with the 24th annual archery show.

ATA Show Reflects Change, Growth in Bowhunting

Check back with gameamdfishmag.com for new-product info from the 2020 ATA Show in Indianapolis.

Fred Bear, the often-described father of bowhunting who passed away in April 1988, is remembered by most as a traditional archer. After all, the legendary bow-bender wore a Borsalino hat, shot a 65-pound recurve, and shot wooden arrows at a variety of big game species all over North America and beyond.

As the "greatest bowhunter of all time," there was far more to the Archery Hall-of-Famer than that just that familiar hat.

Bear, the man who started Bear Archery Company as the Great Depression melted into World War II, also was a writer of books and magazine articles, a filmmaking pioneer who recorded on camera many of his stick-and-string hunting adventures all over the world, a man who understood the concepts of marketing, and one intent on listening to customer wants and needs.

ATA Show 2020: See all the new bowhunting gear for 2020

Were he alive today, the hunch here is that Bear would be in Indianapolis, Indiana this week for the 24th edition of the trade show put on each year by the Archery Trade Association. After all, Bear was a man who helped modernize several components of the archer, from broadheads to fiberglass bow backings and to his long-running quest to make the world’s best take-down bow.


Bear’s spirit certainly will be amongst the thousands of exhibitors, buyers, and media members walking the show floor at the Indiana Convention Center this week — more than 600 exhibitors, 9,100+ show attendees, 3,200+ buyers and 400+ media members are expected.

For more on Fred Bear’s life and impact on bowhunting, please read the whole story on Petersen’s Bowhunting.

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