The best thing to do is to find an adult who hunts that you can trust. Also remember, whatever weapon you choose to hunt with, you can't be a good hunter, if you are not a good shooter. You are young enough that you could spend a year or two just practicing shooting, without even moving into actual hunting if you wanted to.

Many states don't allow hunting with a bow with a draw weight of less than 30 lb, but the previous poststating 40-45 lb as a good weight is pretty accurate.

It can be easier to start out as a gun hunter, and move into bow hunting, but youcan really go with what you feel on that. Agun is easier to shoot more consistently and accurately for a less experienced person, thus building confidence more easily.

Hunting books, magazines (and forums) can be helpful too. Just keep in mind that they will have many different opinions on the same topics, and there may be a lot of bull in them too. This means that an experienced, ethical, trustworthy person who hunts is a better source of information.

Good luck, and hopefully this can be a good place for you to get information. Welcome to the club.