[2] The initial focus was on silk-screening and advertising support work for automotive companies.

In 1938 Fred Bear hired Nels Grumley, a woodworker and bowyer, and the company expanded to offer hand-made bows.

The company was not one of the first compound bow manufacturers, but eventually found success with early models like the Whitetail Hunter.

Bear Archery moved manufacturing from Michigan to Gainesville, Florida in 1978.

Over the next three decades Bear Archery changed hands in a series of mergers, acquisitions, and spin-offs from Victor Comptometer to Walter Kidde & Co,[5] Hanson PLC, U.S. Industries,[6] Fenway Partners[7] and the North American Archery Group.