Howard Hill Worlds Greatest Archer?

I just saw this on a local hunting site I belong to. I'd give him my vote! Pulling 100+ lb. longbows, WOW! Check this out...............................

The Legend's Story of Howard Hill

HOWARD HILL ACHIEVEMENTS

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...

- Shot exhibitions in 3 world's fairs.
- Produced 23 short subjects for Warner Brothers.
- Filmed "Tembo" in Africa--was shown in 57 countries and in seven different languages--RKO release.
- 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.
- Hunted in 12 countries of the world.
- Took well over 2,000 animals with a bow and arrow.
- First white man to kill an elephant with a bow and arrow.
- Appeared in 5 wild west shows.
- Published two best seller archery books: Hunting the Hard Way and Wild Adventure.
- Appeared in 14 major Sportsman's Shows.
- Toured the United States putting on exhibitions for schools and general public.
- Won 196 Field Archery tournaments in a row.
- Won the Florida State Target Archery tournament in 1928.
- Wrote the first set of archery Golf Rules in 1928.
- Won 7 National Archery Golf Tournaments.
- Set new flight record of 391 yds., 1 ft., 11 in. on Feb. 26, 1928 at Miami, FL.
- 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.)
- 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.
- Won the International Field Meet at Milwaukee, WI in 1942.
- Awarded a plaque by Archery Council of CA in 1959 for his outstanding achievements in archery.
- The Helms Athletic Foundation Hall of Fame in Los Angeles, CA has on displayarrows Hill shot in Robin Hood, his two books, and pictures.
- In January 1962, was elected an Honorary Life Member of the Professional Archery Association.
- In 1971, placed in the Alabama sports Hall of Fame.
- 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

With a bow and arrow record such as this, it is little wonder that Howard Hill is considered the greatest archer-hunter of all time, and has often been referred to as "The Babe Ruth of Archery", "Mr. Archery", "King of the Archers", etc.

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THE ELEPHANT STORY
Howard Hill has been asked many times to tell the facts on bagging an elephant with a bow and arrow.
Following is a list of questions and answers.

- How many elephants did you bag? 3
- How many arrows did it take for all three? 4
- How heavy a bow did you use? 115 lbs.
- Was this a hand drawn bow? Yes
- Did you use an explosive tip or poison on the tip of the arrow? No
- How long an arrow did you use? 41" with a special designed broadhead
- How much did the broadhead weigh? 1700 grains
- How much penetration did you get? 31.5"
- Where is the best place to hit an elephant? Between the ribs into the heart or lungs
- How much did the elephant weigh? 10,000 lbs.

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"WHY I SHOOT THE LONGBOW" by Howard Hill - It must be remembered that the modern glass laminated bows used today are faster than the bow of past years. I have always said and still maintain that no person shoot a bow he cannot draw with ease. Being first of all a hunter, I wanted a bow that would throw a heavy hunting arrow with as little arc as possible. To achieve this end I knew I would have to increase the pounds pull of my bow, and I worked toward this result. I started with a bow that I could pull easily. By practicing constantly and gradually increasing the pull of my bows, I developed, over a period of years, the muscles to pull very heavy bows with no undue strain. For many years I could handle perfectly bows pulling up to 100 pounds at 28 inches, though my favorite weight for hunting was between 80-90 pounds. Few men have ever spent enough time to develop sufficient strength for handling easily such heavy bows as these.

P.S. Even at the age of 62 years he could draw and shoot a 75 lb. hunting bow with ease and comfort. Infact, two or three times each week he would shoot a bow of that weight for 30 to 90 minutes, shooting from 110 to 150 arrows. Howard never liked the use of sights or other paraphernalia on his bows. He considered these to be crutches and felt they took away from the challenge of the bow. Also, he liked his bow clean and free of any encumbrances that would hinder the maneuverability of the bow for moving shots. He considered cable and pulley bows something that detracted from the romance of the ancient sport of archery.

Ever see Byron Ferguson on the Outdoor Channel? He is something else to watch!

Thanks for posting the videos Jerome, great fun! Hill was certainly the master. I enjoy watching ol' Fred Bear hunting videos as well and his books are great reading.

Jerome,Thanks for posting these.I never had seen these and I'm sure a lot of younger members haven't either.

Maybe it is creative editing in Hollywood to give us the drama.....but didn't he shoot 4 times at the elephant in the video? In his account he killed 3 elephants with 4 arrows?....what the hell most hunting shows do the same things today as well. That Hollywood stuff aside he is still one of the best.

I knew the old PH (now deceased too) who accompanied him that Ele hunt! He wasn't too complimentary about bowhunting at all nor of messr Hill.
Hill sure could shoot though! His exhibition shooting was awesome!

Hills PH on that Ele hunt was a guy named Bill Potter. The hunt took place in Mozambique in the 60's. Bill lived in Bulawayo until he died and was a frequenter of Byo Archery club. For those of you that bowhunt, think for a second about why that Ele didn't run from the scene as animals generally do when bow shot!
If those tusks were 8' I need to stop teaching learner hunters coz there's something wrong with our estimation formula!!
I have a nice sign at the door of my pub! : Hunters, Fishermen and other Liars welcome!

Originally Posted by Ole Bally

I have a nice sign at the door of my pub! : Hunters, Fishermen and other Liars welcome!

Couldn't be any more true!!