BOB BITNER: Another Giant of the Golden Era of Archery Passes Away

Bob Bitner 1939-2026. The first archer to shoot a perfect score in a major competition

Bob Bitner 1937-2026 — Archery Pioneer and Industry Veteran

Bob Bitner with his Root Target Master

Robert M. “Bob” Bitner was a legendary figure in American archery, celebrated for record-breaking performances, decades of competitive excellence, and a decades-long career in the archery industry.

Bob Bitner’s career was marked by extraordinary accomplishments:

He was introduced to archery at age 14 in the Scouts.

From 1957, starting at 20 years old, Bitner worked for major archery manufacturers including Root, Bear, PSE, Ben Pearson, and Hoyt

1958 NAA Target Nationals: Won the Senior  Division, breaking five records — Single York, Double York (by 100 points), 100-yard, 80-yard, and Grand Total. He was 21 years old.

1967: He was the first person to record a perfect 300 score in a major indoor tournament. As a member of The Root Team, he used Root/ Archery Research’s Golden Eagle bow. Bob Bitner scored the first perfect score at the Las Vegas Shoot using the Golden Eagle. He shot that perfect score on the first day while two other members of the Root Archery Team, Les "Jugger" Gervais and Bob Brewer, both using a Golden Eagle, shot perfect scores during the last days of the same tournament.  The first, second, and third perfect scores ever made were shot by members of the Root Archery Team during the same competition, using the Golden Eagle.

Bob Bitner on the Root Archery Team

In the 1980s, he opened Bitner Strings & Things, a specialty archery business.

He also worked with the U.S. Olympic team, including at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.

In 2014, at the Archery Hall of Fame & Museum, he donated his bow and the target that scored the 300 to the AHOF Museum

He dedicated 65 years to the sport of archery through his work with youth programs and the NFAA.

Mr. Bitner donating his bow and target to the Archery Hall of fame. 2014

I never had the chance to meet Mr. Bitner; I will always regret that. I wrote to him when we were putting together our AHOF nomination for Ernie Root. His wife handled most of the communications, but Bob did autograph his photograph holding a Root Bow. As time moves forward, we will continue to lose these important members of the Golden Era of Archery. Let us remember their legacy each time we pick up our vintage bows.