Over the years I have seen 9 year old take deer with a bow even back when we all used recurves. age is not a factor, It's how educated they are about there equipment, hunting and if they can hit what there aiming at and theirs a responsive adult that can tell them when there ready to hunt. A bow now day are a lot more effective and a 25 lb compound put out more energy than a 30 to 40 lb recurves and there has been lot's of deer taken with light weight recurves. Tuco Here we go again some one telling us whats right and wrong and trying to eliminate hunters who can't live up to there standards. I have seen 9 year old bowhunters that are better hunters than some adults and yes even shoot better.