Bear Archery Super Kodiak Review – Recurve Bow

Bow Name	Length	Bow Weight	Draw Weight	Takedown?
Bear Archery Super Kodiak See on Amazon.com	60 in.	3 lbs. How to: choose arrows, draw weight, and tune your recurve	45, 50, 60 lbs.	No

Pros: - This bow has been in production since 1967 – tried and tested design - Super powerful for hunting - Very comfortable to hold and draw	Cons: - Can’t mount a sight
Also recommended: Best Bear Archery Bows

Super Kodiak Recurve Bow Package Contents

Welcome to my Bear Archery Super Kodiak review. Package contents are standard.

• The Super Kodiak recurve bow
• The Dynaflight 97 Flemish string
• Use and care booklet
• Warranty card (more below)

A stringer is not included and you should definitely get one.

Assembling The Bear Archery Super Kodiak

There is no assembly involved at all as this is a one-piece, not a take-down recurve bow. No need to attach limbs or tighten any screws. Just need to string the bow and you’re ready to go.

How Powerful And Accurate Is The Super Kodiak?

Limb quality and the string included are simply awesome. I’m not exaggerating when I say that a 55# super kodiak shoots just as powerfully as many other recurves with 65# draw weight.  You’ll feel the power the first time you release the string, I guarantee it.

Accuracy, as always, depends greatly on the archer’s skills. I’d say however that the Super Kodiak is very low-maintenance and very easy to tune. Once you figure out your brace height and set the right height for the nock point, everything is up to you. The arrow rest is excellent and really helps achieve perfect clearance.

Is The Bear Super Kodiak Good For Hunting?

The Bear Archery Super Kodiak is great for target practice, but hunting trips is where it truly shines. Limb power and action is awesome, the bow is easy to carry and shoots quietly. It’s also fast enough that your target will have no time to duck or avoid the arrow even if you make a racket releasing the string. Get the 50# version and there’ll be no legal game in North America that you can’t take down.

So far I’ve managed to harvest 2 dear and 1 moose with the Super Kodiak. All three shots were taken from a distance of around 35 yards, using Easton XX75 Jazz arrows with 125 grain expandable broadheads (legal where I live). In all three cases I managed to achieve a full arrow pass-through, going right through the shoulder, piercing the lung, and coming out the other side. They ran 50-100 yards before finally collapsing. A really great hunting bow for intermediate and advanced archers.

Does This Recurve Bow Accept Accessories?

Unfortunately it doesn’t. Bear bows do not come pre-drilled with AMO inserts. These bows are meant to be “traditional” and with as few extras as possible. It’s possible of course to drill your own holes, but this would void your warranty. If you want a recurve bow that accepts a sight and other accessories, take a look at Martin Archery’s or PSE Archery’s bows.

Arrows For The Super Kodiak

My preference lies with the Easton XX75 Jazz arrows with 125 grain tips. If you’re unsure of the type and length of arrows to get, see our guide on choosing arrows for your recurve bow. The exact weight of the arrows will depend on the draw weight of your bow.

How Comfortable Is The Bow To Hold?

As I expected, the Super Kodiak is a very comfortable bow to both hold and aim. I originally had reservations about the rather unusual shape of the grip, but it turned out to be a perfect fit for me. My palm is medium-sized, but I’d guess that those with larger palms will find it even more comfortable to hold.

Materials And Quality (Limbs And Riser)

The riser is made from black Dymondwood. It’s exceptionally well-polished, ergonomic and comfortable to hold. Even if your palm is slightly sweaty you will still maintain a very steady grip at full draw. There are no awkward edges that dig into the palm, as is the case with some cheaper recurve bows. The limbs as well as limb-tips are strengthened with fiberglass. Even after years of heavy use, these limbs are highly unlikely to splinter. The craftsmanship is superb and no bubbles appear beneath the laminate.

As with most of Bear Archery’s recurve bows, the arrow rest is covered with Bear Hair. This arrow rest does not wear down with time and it’s stable enough to help the projectile clear the bow.

What About The String?

The Bear Archery Super Kodiak comes with the Dynaflight 97 Flemish string. Not all recurve bows can accept these strings, however the Kodiak has reinforced tips so it’s not an issue. The break-in period is very smooth and you’ll get used to it very quickly. After 30-40 arrows shot, it’ll be in top working condition. The Dynaflight 97 typically results in faster arrow speeds (as much as 3-4%) than most other strings.

Is The Bear Archery Super Kodiak Heavy?

At 3 pounds, I’d say its weight is pretty average. You’re definitely not going to have trouble aiming it for extended periods of time even with weaker shoulders. If you’ve been using ~2.2 lbs. bows so far, it may take a few weeks to get used to carrying the Super Kodiak around. I’ve used 4+ lbs. bows in the past so this wasn’t an issue for me.

The Bear Archery Warranty

Bear archery warrants its recurve bows to be free of defects for the lifetime of the original owner. The warranty does not cover the string of course. You’ll need to fill out and submit the warranty registration form within 30 days from buying your Super Kodiak. Instructions will be included with the package – nothing fancy and takes just a few minutes.

Bear Archery Super Kodiak Review – Summary

Thanks for taking the time to read my Bear Archery Super Kodiak review. This is a great recurve bow for hunters with enough experience to handle the 45+ lbs. draw weight. More powerful than you’d expect based on the draw weight alone. Great buy for truly traditional archers who love instinctive shooting.  See Today's Amazon.com price on the Bear Archery Super Kodiak. Happy shooting.