Comments about Fred Bear Montana Longbow:

Well built, pretty bow.
I see a lot of complaints about the handle/shelf being made out of cheap leather, but mine came in with a felt-like fabric for the handle / shelf / strikeplate.

This material is awesome, and so far seems to be pretty durable.

Cant beat the bow for the price, good job Bear, and thanks 3Rivers.

Comments about Fred Bear Montana Longbow:

This is my first long bow and i am very pleased! Having a short draw of 27 inches i was pleased to find out that this bow pulled at 60 pounds at 27 28 and 29 inches, talk about smooth.

Comments about Fred Bear Montana Longbow:

It starts with great service and fast delivery from 3-Rivers. This is a real bow. It's lite, fast and shoots great. I will be deer hunting with this jewel as soon as the season opens.

Comments about Fred Bear Montana Longbow:

I began shooting with a very high quality and quite
expensive dryad bow, and only bought the montana bow
to use while waiting for a custom to be made. i have been extremely impressed with it as my shooting has
been on the rise since i began using it! For the price it is fantastic!!!

Comments about Fred Bear Montana Longbow:

I just wanted something different from shooting a compound all the time,so I bought the Fred Bear Montana longbow,Wow what a nice Bow,can't put the bow down,shoots great, get good groups and at 50# you don't get worn out.I replaced the handle wrap and rest and side plate when I bought the bow,they was cheap and would not hold up,i would recommend doing that. But I would recommend buying this bow,for the price ,it's a best buy and great deal

Comments about Fred Bear Montana Longbow:

After hearing good things about this bow and reading the reviews I ordered one. The reviews talk about smooth draw and little to no hand shock. I ordered the 50# and found that it draws so smoothly I could have gotten the 55#. This is the first longbow I have owned, usually shoot recurves. It is now my favorite bow. I usually have arrow flight problems when I try and put a bow quiver on a bow. Not with this bow and the quiver makes it almost dead quiet. It almost shoots my cedar shafts with Woodsman broadhead better than the field points. The handshock of longbows I have shot in the past gave me a sore elbow after a shooting them. Not this bow. I ordered by phone on a Friday morning and was shooting it on Tuesday.

Comments about Fred Bear Montana Longbow:

very easy shooting bow. smooth draw,good speed. only small problem rest&strike plate came off after third or fourth shot.

Comments about Fred Bear Montana Longbow:

I've been shooting recurves exclusively for a while now and had planned on upgrading to another recurve, when I decided to try the Montana Longbow, and I must say, WOW (alright, it was more of "try this bow because it's the only one that's light enough for me to draw and left-handed" (I'm female)). The bow was so smooth and accurate that I fell in love with it. No hand-shock to speak of, and with silencers on it, it truly is silent. I do recommend changing the shelf rest and strike plate. I got it home, shot a few target arrows, and it positively ate the arrows; chewed them up and spit them out, ripping vanes off almost every one until I replaced the rest. It's just not wide enough or attached at all well. So plan on spending the cost of the bow, plus [$] and it's an amazing buy!

Comments about Fred Bear Montana Longbow:

I wanted to get into trad archery, and I researched and researched on what bow to buy. I was considering many expensive bows. I wanted something that wasnt just a run of the mill poorly built "cheap" bow, but I didnt want to invest alot of money. I decided on the Montana, and I couldnt be happier. It is super light, super balanced, shoots where you aim, and a pleasure to shoot. Zero! hand shock, and alot nicier in person than in pictures you will find on the web. If you want a nice life long bow that wont break the bank, this is a great bow. Only set back is the grip and shelf/riser pad. I put a Hand stitched new leather grip, and put on a beaver rest and riser I got from 3rivers using Barge Cement. Not a big deal, and it was fun to do. I also like thats its named after one of the best states in the country!

Comments about Fred Bear Montana Longbow:

good quality and high power

Comments about Fred Bear Montana Longbow:

My other main go-to bow was starting to show some cracks in the handle so I bought the Montana as a replacement. The bow I'm replacing is a 1957 Bear Polar so I figured if it made it 53 years, I would stick with Bear! I went with 50 lbs because for me, its light enough to shoot 5 days a week year round, which I often do, yet heavy enough for the game I hunt, but this bow is so smooth drawing, I could have easily went up to 55 lbs. Don't buy it with the impression of it being a starter bow. If taken care of, this is all the bow a person would ever need at a fraction of what a custom bow would cost. I plan on using this bow as my main go-to bow and I hunt deer, rabbit, & Squirrel. I do see where the grip isn't the best, but I'll leave it on there for now and see how long it will last.

Comments about Fred Bear Montana Longbow:

This bow is more than what I expected to come out of the box! First I must compliment the amazing looks of the bow. The finish, laid in "Bear Archery" coin, and beautiful string nocks make this bow stick out. I got it in 50 lbs. pull and I am surprised how smooth of a draw it is. I've never owned a more accurate bow before; I've grouped arrows more consistently since using it. There are only two minor complaints that I have:
1.) very slight small gap in laminate under the grip
2.) the grip is poor quality
I still gave the bow a 5 star rating due to my expectations. Gorgeous, accurate longbow.

Comments about Fred Bear Montana Longbow:

this bow is about one of the best for the price. i got the 55 pound, and its powerfull, and accurate. good bow.

Comments about Fred Bear Montana Longbow:

Construction of bow is excellent,no hand shock, best bow for the money.Leather grip material is not very good, buy the sure grip.

Comments about Fred Bear Montana Longbow:

The bow shoots great! hardly any hand shock and shoots where you look. I can't wait to use it hunting later this year.

Comments about Fred Bear Montana Longbow:

For cost and quality, this bow is a great way to start your traditional journey.

Comments about Fred Bear Montana Longbow:

Great bow for the money!

Comments about Fred Bear Montana Longbow:

This is one of the best longbows you can get. I've had my bow for two years and it has yet to fail me

Comments about Fred Bear Montana Longbow:

After shooting target recurves designed for spot on accracy, I purchased this bow to develop instinctive shooting skills. I have been shooting my Montana daily rain or shine since it's arrival. I am pleased with it's performance and accuracy. The Montana is good, solid and simple. An affordable option for those wanting to explore traditional shooting.

Comments about Fred Bear Montana Longbow:

For the money, your not going to find a better longbow anywhere! I've been shooting mine for 2 years now. I don't shoot as much as some guys, but I still sling between 5000 to 6000 arrows per year, and I've had zero problems with my montana. I would buy another one for sure!!!

Comments about Fred Bear Montana Longbow:

This is my first longbow after shooting recurves for 15 years. The bow is super-accurate....the arrow hits exactly where I look. I was just as accurate "out of the box" with this bow as I am with the recurve I've been shooting for a while. Also has a nice feel in the hands while shooting.

Comments about Fred Bear Montana Longbow:

This is a good deal. Bow shoots as good as any other. It's nice to not worry about getting a scratch on your custom 800 dollar bow. this is a rugged no frills piece of gear. Very silent. As stated the factory grip is worthless, easily fixed for 7 more dollars though.

Comments about Fred Bear Montana Longbow:

I returned two of these bows. The first one because I thought the tiller was off. The second because there was gaps in the laminations hidden underneath the leather grip.

Comments about Fred Bear Montana Longbow:

awesome bow,great looks,easy to draw @ 50 lbs,easy to string,accurate and fast

Comments about Fred Bear Montana Longbow:

I HUNT AND SHOOT 3-D. THE BOW IS SMOOTH, EASY TO DRAW, NO HANDSHOCK. IT SHOOTS WHERE I AM LOOKING. NO BETTER BOW FOR THE MONEY.

Comments about Fred Bear Montana Longbow:

This is my 2nd Montana longbow. I wanted a backup bow and because my other one was so GREAT I bought another one for back up. This is an exellent bow for the money. This bow shoots as good as any high $ bow out there.

Comments about Fred Bear Montana Longbow:

For now I am only target shooting and I love it. It is beautifully constructed, durable, quiet, and accurate.I haven't found anything I don't like about. My father and I have shot together and now he wants one of his own. I can't wait to use it this fall when I am deer hunting.

Comments about Fred Bear Montana Longbow:

I bought this product from 3Rivers and must say that I'm pleased with it. I'm a 3 under shooter with a 30 inch draw and I pull my 45# Montana up to 50#. At first I thought it's a little stiff, but I soon realized it was because I was using a much longer bow until now. In short, it's a great bow that does it's job if I do mine. Got it tuned in minutes without any problems, shoots consistent groups, arrow flight is beautiful, penetration is respectful for a 45# longbow. Grip and arrow rest/strike plate that come with the bow should be replaced ASAP. I used a calf hair rest&strike plate bought at 3 Rivers and a cordovan leather grip i made myself. Excellent combination. Also, the finish seems a bit thin. Think I will wax-polish my bow often, to protect it from the elements.

Comments about Fred Bear Montana Longbow:

I bought the 55# one and love it so far. After reading the other reviews, I went ahead and ordered a new shur grip and immediately put it on. The bow shoots great. It's super quiet and very light. Immediately I was shooting tight groups. Point and shoot....you can't get much better than that. Added a couple of string leeches and the noise was eliminated. I bought the bow to hunt with, so I look forward to using it in the fall. I would definately recommend if you are looking to get the most out of your money. Another great product from Bear Archery.

Comments about Fred Bear Montana Longbow:

After reading the rave reviews on this longbow, I decided to purchase the Montana. Finding one in a 55# was a little difficult because everyone seemed to be sold out of this poundage. Because I needed to pick one up before a hunting trip and still have time to dial in the tuning before the trip, I was forced to buy one at Bass pro and NOT the best place to buy anything that has anything to do with traditional bows. I purchased the bow and went thru the tuning process, which was quite easy. But when I removed the ugly (in my opinion) black leather grip to install a "sure grip" (from 3Rivers) I realized that there were gaps in the laminate on the grip portion of the bow. the stock grip hid this defect. It seems quality control was out to lunch that day. The bow was nice to shoot, and did tune well out of the box, but I expect a little more quality when purchasing a bow, ecspecialy from a company like Bear. They did offer to replace the bow, but there would have been a 3-4 week wait, so I returned it to bass pro.(who knows nothing about traditional bows by the way) Stick to the best when buying a bow.........3Rivers and trust me, they have the best customer service in traditional bows and equip that you will find, Hands down. PS... I'm saving up for a tomahawk longbow....

Comments about Fred Bear Montana Longbow:

This bow is the third longbow I have owned over the many years (over 50) I have hunted and competed with a bow. I used a recurve because they were smoother with no hand shock. I bought this for a backup elk hunting bow. It shot so good my recurve is now the backup. This Montana is 55# of smooth draw. No stack and almost no hand shock.

Comments about Fred Bear Montana Longbow:

I hunt with a recurve and wanted to get into a long bow without going broke. I have spent way more on a custom recurve that doesn't shoot nearly as well. Right out of the package, even without a knock-point, it shot a nice group at 20 yards. The pull is pretty smooth, and there was none of the shock I've felt in a number of other long-bows. The shipping from 3Rivers was prompt and fairly priced. I would recommend this bow to a friend, and could see up-grading the poundage if I fully master this one at longer ranges. I have shot a smoother reflex-deflex long bow, but that was $1000. For the money I am very pleased.

Comments about Fred Bear Montana Longbow:

I love this bow! Smooth & Fast! Added some wool silencers to it and it's extra quiet now. Shoots as good as the high $ customs.

Comments about Fred Bear Montana Longbow:

This is my first longbow after having shot a recurve for some time and I couldn't be happier. It's really easy to shoot and has minimal hand shock- much less discomfort than the Wolf custom and PSE Heritage longbows I tried prior to the Bear. Overall I'm having a great time with it and would recommend it to anyone wanting to get into longbows without breaking the bank. Thanks, Fred!

Comments about Fred Bear Montana Longbow:

This bow is awesome. It really packs a punch compared to my other longbows which have similar draw weight. I own a 60# which is easy to shoot & draw. After months of practicing I am able to hit my target consistently at 20 meters. After so many shots the bow string still looks new. After adding cat whiskers I dont feel hand shock or vibration at all. Some other longbows can't kill vibration completely after adding silencers, but not this Montana Longbow. The craftsmanship is good. A very durable bow which is able to last to pass it down to your kid. Worth buying...trust her!

Comments about Fred Bear Montana Longbow:

First longbow ever. I got it at 55 pounds and its great. Light, smooth and easy to master. I've only had it for a day and already I'm shooting great. I am sure it will do great in deer season.

Comments about Fred Bear Montana Longbow:

I picked up a Montana longbow after more than a decade away from archery in which I shot and hunted successfully with recurves and compounds. I'm in my 60s and recovering from a few health problems as well as working very long hours. I wanted something I could shoot in the backyard and help body and mind. This bow is sweet. It draws smoothly and shoots where your eye looks. When I took it out the first time it was like riding a bicycle. It all came back, and I am enjoying the bejunior out of it. I did replace the factory handle with a Shure-Grip sleeve and the rest with a Bear Hair rest and plate. This bow is a beauty to look at and shoots even prettier -- smooth, quiet, fast and straight with my Gamegetter 2018's. Although I got a smokin' deal on the bow new on e-bay, I have bought all my other gear and 3Rivers. These people rock.

Comments about Fred Bear Montana Longbow:

Realy nice bow. Shot a guy's [bow] at the club, and hit almost all my targets in the lungs from 20 yards. I plan to snag one for my birthday. 50-55 pounds will be good for just about anything.

Comments about Fred Bear Montana Longbow:

I purchased a 45# bow which is about 54# at my draw length (31"). I shoot instinctively with a glove and three fingers under and the distance at which I practice and compete hardly ever exceeds 30 yards. This is an easy drawing bow that is very consistant and a great pleasure to shoot - a real work horse that can take a lot of punishment.

Comments about Fred Bear Montana Longbow:

I've seen longbows that cost much more but aren't noticeably better - this is a really nice longbow. It shoots sweet - no hand shock. And the draw is very smooth - no stacking at all. I used to have a 50 lb. recurve that required a lot of effort to draw and hold. I have the 45 lb. version of the Montana, and the difference is amazing. Even though it's only 5 lbs. lighter, it feels alot easier to draw - because the draw is so smooth. I feel like I can shoot it all afternoon. A real pleasure to shoot. It's very close to center-shot, too - so it's been a much easier to tune than my recurve was. I'm able to be much more accurate with this bow. I'm VERY happy with the purchase."

Comments about Fred Bear Montana Longbow:

Haven't bought it yet, but I shot a friends and i was impressed. It was #55, and I didn't think I could pull it,but I did. It pulled extremly smooth and shot like a dream. The shelf is cut in deep and its good for beginners. Since I don't own one yet, and only shot it once I am giving it four stars. I seems perfect for hunting, and I am definitely going to get one for my birthday.

Comments about Fred Bear Montana Longbow:

I love this bow. light weight, smooth draw, accurate, and good looking! The only down side is the synthetic grip, plate, and arrow rest material. These came off after the second day of use, i ordered a shure grip with my bow after reading the reviews. Glad I did.

Comments about Fred Bear Montana Longbow:

Having shot wooden longbows since I was a kid, moving to glass bows was an easy move to make. Made even easier by the quality of the Montana. With the price range of a bit over [$], I honestly wasn't expecting too much from the bow, but thus far it has exceeded almost all the of expectations I set for it. It draws smoothly and shoots just as smoothly, and with the correct brace height, there is virtually no handshock, letting me shoot arrow after arrow without problems. My only beef with the Montana is the handle - black suede leather wrapped around the handle and held there only with glue. After a two-three months of practice the suede handle started flapping and almost fell off by itself.

Comments about Fred Bear Montana Longbow:

This is my first traditional bow after several years of compound archery experience. The best advice I received was to go with the 45# bow--a lower weight than what I would have chosen on my own. The Montana longbow is easy to draw and shoot, comfortable with my 3 under style and 29" draw length, accurate at the hunting distances I need (inside of 30 yards) and has done a yeoman's job on whitetail and turkey. A friend has taken a few elk cows and spike bulls with the 45# montana longbow, so I shouldn't have worried about insufficient power. I am able to practice continuously for 30-45 minutes without undo fatigue.

Comments about Fred Bear Montana Longbow:

I purchased this bow when I read all the reviews on it. They were right. Its a great bow for the money. No hand shock and draws very easy, no stacking. The recomended brace height is 7 1/2 to 8 1/2 inches. I set this to about 7 7/8" and it shoots great. A great bow for the money.The handle and arrow shelf material are not great, but they are easy to replace.

Comments about Fred Bear Montana Longbow:

This is a great bow, it lacks a little in quality, but for the money you simply can't beat it! I used to shoot recurves so it took a little while to get used to the broom-handle style grip, but that's probably because I'd never shot a longbow. It does not come with the tan leather grip like in the picture, the one on it is a black suede material and it can come off easily. I bought the materials from here and put a leather grip on myself, not hard, first look at leather grip material, watch the video and go grom there.
I've been practicing and plan on killing a deer or two this fall.
Bakes

Comments about Fred Bear Montana Longbow:

For the money-you cant beat it.

Comments about Fred Bear Montana Longbow:

I bought this bow becuase I'd heard nothing but great things about it. and I wasn't dissapointed about the only thing I'd have to say is as soon as you get it out of the box take off the little leather arrow rest and leather handle and replace it with a good bear hair rest or some other and a good quality leather grip... other than that the bow is smoothe quiet and powerful I cant wait to get it in the woods this fall...once again bear has outdone themselves for a gentle price.

Comments about Fred Bear Montana Longbow:

The best value bow for the money. I recommend getting the 50 or 55 lb for overall hunting situations. The only draw back is the shelf. Add a shelf and arrow plate with your order, you will remember these words if you don't. Other than that - what can I say Awesome buy!

Comments about Fred Bear Montana Longbow:

This bow is the quietest, and smoothest drawing bow I have ever used. The only bad part is the rest and the grip. I removed both and used the grip material to make a rest and it works great.

Comments about Fred Bear Montana Longbow:

Couldn't be happier with this bow. Thought about going more expensive, and now I am glad I didn't. This bow can do everything the more expensive bows can do for a fraction of the price. Very happy with this decision.

Comments about Fred Bear Montana Longbow:

I got the bow I ordered and there were some lines in the limbs, didn't know if they were cosmetic or stress related. Called 3Rivers and sent the bow back, had a new one a few days later. Great Service. The second bow is beautiful, shoots great and so far is very durable.

Comments about Fred Bear Montana Longbow:

This bow is a pleasure. It draws smoothly to my 29" and shoots quietly with negligible shock. It's practically center-shot. I got some good groups the first time out. It seems less forgiving of release/grip flaws than my cheap TD recurve, but I expected that of a longbow. Plus, I'm just starting with it and haven't tuned at all. I love its simple elegance, and it weighs nothing. There are a couple of character marks in the maple lams but I like that wabi-sabi. I can't stop admiring this bow, and got compliments at the range too. The grip material doesn't grab me (heh), but it's serviceable and looks fine. It's thin black suede with a skinny strip running across the shelf and up the window as a rest, but thats easy to upgrade.This bow is beautiful and shoots nice at a good price.

Comments about Fred Bear Montana Longbow:

It just doesn't get any better for the price. It compares to bows costing two or three times as much. The Fast Flight string doesn't stretch one bit all day and keeps flinging arrows consistently.

Comments about Fred Bear Montana Longbow:

THIS BOW COULD USE A BETTER GRIP OTHER THEN THAT IT'S A GREAT BOW.

Comments about Fred Bear Montana Longbow:

Buy one, you will never be sorry. The grip and shelf can easily be replaced for very little money. This is a smooth and accurate bow that is tough enough to use as a walking stick in the mountains. Shoot Straight.

Comments about Fred Bear Montana Longbow:

Good bow for the money. Not lightining fast, But powerful. I got the 60# model. I do wish that they would offer it up to 70#'s though.
I did notice that the lower limb reflex pulled out just a little. But I consider that fine as the bottom limb is more stressed that the upper limb.

Comments about Fred Bear Montana Longbow:

Bow fell off my jeep roof when I pulled away from hunting. I backed up and picked it up,[still strung up]. It had a few scratches on it but it still shoots as good as the day i got it.

Comments about Fred Bear Montana Longbow:

After one week of practice took it hunting and connected on three of six shots on feral hogs. Great little bow.

Comments about Fred Bear Montana Longbow:

This bow has made archery fun again, the use of K.I.S.S "keep it simple stupid" has never looked better. This bow has brought me back to were I started 25 years ago. Now I love shooting again. Can,t wait till hunting season.

Comments about Fred Bear Montana Longbow:

I'm tough on my bows. I will go out and shoot in the rain, I never use a stringer, I throw this bow around, I even attacked this thing with a band saw to shorten the limb tips.... Basically I can never own an expensive bow because I would worry about it getting beat up. Luckily, everything I could ever need can be found in this tough tank of a bow. I'm a lanky guy and I draw this thing to 31". It pounds out an arrow so hard that I need twice as much spiral flu just to keep 'em in the neighborhood. I'm quite happy with what this delivers in all conditions.

Comments about Fred Bear Montana Longbow:

Easy to set up, adjust and put into use. A good quality bow at an affordable price.

Comments about Fred Bear Montana Longbow:

The best quality longbow for the money period. The construction, quality, feel, look and accuracy are excellent. for anyone w/ a mortgace, car payments, child's tuition this is a great choice. Made in the good old USA!

Comments about Fred Bear Montana Longbow:

After shooting Bear recurves for about 5 years, I wanted to try a longbow and bought this one after hearing some good reviews. I got it the day before a big shoot. I only took a dozen practice shots out of the box, and took 1st place for longbow in the shoot. It shoots great and is very forgiving. The only problem I had was that the leather shelf started to pull off one of my fletchings, but that was fixed by a cheap new shelf. I'd recommend this bow for anyone who wants to shoot traditional.

Comments about Fred Bear Montana Longbow:

When I use this bow I shoot at about 50 yards. The only thing I don't like is I can't walk pass it with out shooting. It's difficult to use just means it's not a good starters bow.

Comments about Fred Bear Montana Longbow:

I am a fan of Bear bows and the Montana lives up to the Bear reputation. One of my favorite bows, a lot of fun to shoot and as all Bear bows a classic design.

Comments about Fred Bear Montana Longbow:

Great bow. Shoots good and isn't that expensive. It looks great too!

Comments about Fred Bear Montana Longbow:

Love It!!

Comments about Fred Bear Montana Longbow:

I feel that this bow is an exceptional deal for the price. The draw is smooth and the bow really sends the arrows out there. The only thing I would improve on the bow is I might get a 50# because I bought a 60# and even though I can fully draw it it is forcing me to shoot more of an instinctive draw and release style and I would like a little more ease in my draw. So really, the only flaw is I need to either work out more or have chosen a lighter pull, hehe.

Comments about Fred Bear Montana Longbow:

This is a bow that fits the bill for the serious hunter who does't want to scratch up an expensive custom bow while hunting. The durability of this bow is second to none. It shoots equally as well as most customs for less than half the price. Fred would have definitely given his blessing on this one for sure. It's not the fastest bow out there, but it makes up for that with its smoothness and accurate shooting characteristics. It's the best buy out there for a quality longbow!

Comments about Fred Bear Montana Longbow:

I am a bowhunter first and this bow stands up to the elements and abuse of stalking through woods, fields, thickets, and streams. Its accuracy and power are always there in any condition or shooting position. I could not be happier with my decision to purchase this bow. Good Hunting and Good Shooting.

Comments about Fred Bear Montana Longbow:

Very smooth, hits where you look, slim graceful limbs.

Comments about Fred Bear Montana Longbow:

If there was ever a reason to love Fred Bear for everything he did for Archery, this would be it. A longbow is intended to shoot where you point it naturally. This bow does and then some. Accuracy issues can only be blamed on yourself once you've picked up one of these. It's absolutely beautiful, and just sinks into your hand when you pick it up. Draws like a dream, doesn't stack, and emits a soft pleasant thunk without throwing your hand around when fired. Can't say enough!

Comments about Fred Bear Montana Longbow:

I've tried a bunch of bows and this one is incredible. All my friends tried mine and bought one of their own. Mine has over 10,000 shots and still going strong. Cheap enough that I got a spare one too! Buy it.

Comments about Fred Bear Montana Longbow:

You really wont find a better bow for the money. The bow that I own is 50#@28" but it handles extremely well with my 30+" draw. This is definetaly a bow that puts errors on my shoulders instead of the bow.

Comments about Fred Bear Montana Longbow:

I never dreamed switching over from a compound was this easy. Smooth draw with no stacking. Beautiful bow!

Comments about Fred Bear Montana Longbow:

This is a great bow