OK guys take it easy on me here... My son and I are going to start bow hunting this year. I bought him a Bear Cub last year and a 3d target and let him shoot, I learned how to shoot a bow when I was younger but its been a long time.
This year I'm upgrading my son's bow to another Bear Cub, this one is a 35-55# pull, I'm not sure about the rest of the stats as Its being given to him from a family member. My son turns 10 this weekend. I also recently bought myself a bow, Last year I shot my grandfathers old Ben Pearson but I've decided to put that bow up as I belive it has a pretty good antique value. The bow I bought for myself is a Hoyt Raider, I belive its an early to mid 90's model. I want to make sure this is something he and I both are going to stick with before I go sinking alot of money into it. We already sink enough money to keep the wife mad into fishing.I've attached a picture of the bow I bought. Now I'd like lots of tips and pointers from you guys. Economical upgrades or additions I should make to mine and his bow, tips on shooting from the ground, we do not own a deer stand and before I can teach him to climb a tree with one I need to learn myself. I've heard alot of horror stories of guys falling out of trees so I'm a little spooked by that. So for now we are going to be shooting from the ground. Any tips you can give me about shooting from the ground will be greatly appreciated. Any info that I probably don't know about the bow I purchased will be greatly appreciated. Anything that we 'have to have' (trust me I know what that means.. I fish) or basically just ANY info you can give us will be VERY appreciated.

Thanks
J

I think I would start with a sight....wait, is that a sight? I can't tell.

I think a new string and then practice for a minimum of 3 months.

Well I'll start..I understand not wanting to sink money in..I do! I started with a bottom end pro-line bow. BUT it was the current years model. By dating yourself back a decade or more you are missing out on the technology. Perhaps this is the technology that will make or break your decision to bow hunt into the future.

This isn't old school hit a haybale and a paper plate stuff. There is no reason that within a few practice sessions you and your son can't be shooting sub 5" groups at 20 yards. That is with modern equipment including a good Bow, release, sight, and peep sight and PROPERLY fitted arrows for your set-up.

Fiberoptic sight,Removeable quiver,dropaway rest,and a wrist strap for starts. Get a good blind that both of you can sit in and are able to draw a bow.When you set it up brush it in. AND -

Yes thats a sight but its damaged and may need 'tweaking'? It was damaged in shipping. I had planned on just replacing it, i've been doing some research and I like the idea/looks of the fiberoptic sights but all I've ever shot were regular pin sights so I don't know a whole lot here.

Don't hold back LOL brands and prices will be greatly appreciated, this bow is what I have to work with right now, next year will probably be a different story but for now this is all I have so what can I do with it besides throw it away like i'm sure alot of you who have been doing this for years will tell me.

J

Hey Dolomite, where are you from? The hunting age here in NJ is 10 also.
DW

brands and prices......it depends on YOUR price range and what fits your bow. Speaking of fitting, you really need to make sure your bow fits you and your kids fits him before anything else. take it to a pro, make sure it fits, then have him tune it up good. then, like journeyman said, practice...a lot.

From middle TN, we actually don't have a hunting age but I don't think there are many 9yr old and younger kids who can pull a 35# bow. At 10 our kids have to have the Hunters Saftey Course certificate. I went through it with my son last year so we are good there,he doesn't need a license until he's 13. I'm not new to deer hunting, just bow hunting. I've been hunting with a rifle since I was 10