Allen, longbows can vary as much, or even more, than recurves. The Howard Hill Longbow company still exists, and as far as I know is going strong. The style bows they produce are not my favorite. Many, many other bowyers also produce "Hill Style" bows.

What bow depends on a lot of different factors. The length can be from 56" to over 70", depending on his draw length and the design. There are no "one size fits all" if you want to get the best performance. Speed, forgiveness, handshock, and looks (some barely pass off as a longbow) vary greatly. 40#, generally speaking, is fairly light; but it's pretty heavy for some folks. Most any 40# bow will be enough for deer with accurate shooting and a proper setup. Draw length is a consideration here--does the law state 40@28, or 40# at his draw length?

There are also a lot of variables when choosing arrows. First you will have to figure out what style bow, the draw length, draw weight, then get a ball-park figure and fine tune it from there.

Prices can vary a lot--from $200 or less to well over $1,000. Personally, I have not shot a real cheap longbow that I cared for. On the other hand, I have shot some very expensive bows that I didn't care a bit more for than the cheap ones. You won't have to spend a fortune to get a good bow, and even if you do it won't guarantee that you are getting the best for your son.

It's really tough (obviously) to pick a bow for someone else. If you have questions you rather not post, feel free to send me an e-mail at [email protected] . I'll be happy to give my opinions if you want, and may be able to help find a good used bow at a good price.

Chad