Too young for a " real" bow?
 

My son is 10-1/2 and very much wants to hunt when he is 12. I want to get a bow for him for Christmas, or even his 11th birthday in April. Is it too early to get him a bow that is powerful enough to kill a deer? If not, any recommendations for a good bow that he can shoot and use for many years? I don' t or can' t sink gobs of cash into this either. I started off with a Ben Pearson 50-60# and was able to shoot it at 55# when I was 12. Should I wait until he turns 12? He has a youth Golden Eagle right now and can pull it back without too much problem cranked down to 35# or whatever it is turned all the way up. (This kid can shoot too, which makes me happy.:D) Thanks for any advice.

RE: Too young for a " real" bow?
 

I would look at that package youth bow that Browning offers. Seems to be a great little bow for the money Around $170 to $220 depending on which one you get. They have two models to choose depending on the weight you son is able to pull. The cheaper one has a black riser and less weight and the mo0re expensive one has a camo riser and higher draw weight.

I too have to get my sone one here soon. I' ll most likley be purchasing this one later but for now he has a PSE that my uncle gave to him to use for now. He turns 11 in February and he has to wait until 12 to actually hunt big game here in Colorado. He does come along on an elk hunt every now and then though. He' ll be ready by 12. Heck he kept up with me at 11,000 feet this year.:D

Good luck with your son.

RE: Too young for a " real" bow?
 

My 12 year old has been shooting a Parker Challanger for 3 years. He hunted with it this year at 42 lbs. which will kill any deer walking with the proper shot with a sharp broad head at a resonable range (not over 20 yards). Parker will upgrade the limbs and draw length module for 50.00 and you can ship it to them or have one of their dealers do it. I paied about 250.00 for his bow but am not sure what the cost is this year. The upgrade is a sweet deal if your boy is growing like mine:D. Don

RE: Too young for a " real" bow?
 

I bought my wife the Browning " Micro Midas" (i think) it adjusts for draw length and wt from 35 to 50 lbs. Perfect bow to grow with and will feel and shoot like a " real" bow. It definatly will kill a deer. as mentioned about $200.

He sounds ready to me. It isn' t an age thing but a readyness.

RE: Too young for a " real" bow?
 

I' m a firm believer in starting kids out on a recurve to help them develope the muscles they need first. Then it' s a pretty easy switch to a compound. A lot harder to go about the other way if they decide to go " traditional"

My boys started out on a 25#@28" and went from there.

Just MHO. Your mileage may vary.

Tracy

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It ' aint the arrows, it' s the indian!

RE: Too young for a " real" bow?
 

Shop around, because he is past ready, if he is tugging 35# with ease!:)

Their are several youth friendly bows out there, that can grow with him.
Browning does seem to be the leader in youth bows, and the adjustability, but that' s not to say all the bow manufacturers don' t make quality youth bows. Shop around. Even E-bay works![8D]

RE: Too young for a " real" bow?
 

The way we fit kids of all sizes is to try to fit them with a two cam/post adjustment design. The post adjustment changes the draw weight as you change the draw length. With some models you can change the draw length as much as 8" and the draw weight as much as 30# on the same bow without having to change modules, cams or limbs.

Stop by and we' ll fit them properly.:D

RE: Too young for a " real" bow?
 

I am in ame boat as you and shopped a LOT......

Browning has the best to offer and if you can find it the Micro Adrenalin is a discontinued model I believe. Our local shop has about 5 of themn in right hand ( my son is a lefty) for 180. Its the best bow I have seen by far for a kid... and it adjusts from 21-27" draw, and 35-50 pounds......

They also have the new 2004 line with 2 nice kids bows that are very simular...

Good Luck

RE: Too young for a " real" bow?
 

I' m a PSE guy but for this I' d have to say look at the Bear Badge. My son is going to be 10 in January, and we set him up with a new bow two months ago. I was looking at the Spyders and nothing would work like you wanted, if he could pull it back, the max poundage would be too light to hunt with. I didn' t want to sink $200+ for a bare bow he' d never be able to hunt with.

We went to a pro shop and found the Badge, they took it clear down to about 22 lbs to start him out with. The description says that they the adjustment isn' t that big, but I' d check with your pro shop. They said that it was much more adjustable than the others.

RE: Too young for a " real" bow?
 

I think he's old enough. I grew up with a long bow and a recurve. Just target practicing with my dad and shooting around. Then when I was eleven I got my first compound bow. Started hunting at 12, which is the first year allowed.
I think anything over 40 lbs. will kill a deer with the right shot placement and good broadheads. I shot my first deer just after my 16th birthday pulling about 47 lbs and had a clean pass-through, even breaking two ribs!

RE: Too young for a " real" bow?
 

Bowtech Stalker Lite will do great for that age if the draw isnt to long. My son got his when he was 11 and he is not big for his age and it works great for him. Will go high enough on pounds to shoot deer but down far enough for him to start.

RE: Too young for a " real" bow?
 

My son took his first two whitetails last year at the age of ten using a Browning Micro-Eclipse.This is a single cam bow that was offered for kids and small framed adults.Ryan had complete pass-throughs pulling 38# with shots at 13 and 18 yards.Unfortunately, Browning doesn't offer this bow any longer, but any of their Micro series bows would be great.

RE: Too young for a " real" bow?
 

Don't you know, a 35 lb bow will easily kill any deer. Might not always pass completely through but will easily reach the second ribcage taking out bouth lungs provided that the broadhead is razor sharp (as it should be). Check the state regulations. Hawaii's minimum compound draw weight is 30 lb but I would think it would be more on the mainland with the larger game. I shoot a 45 pound compound and it will easily kill two goats in one shot. 35 pounds will do fine for now.

RE: Too young for a " real" bow?
 

I agree with all of the guys about the Browning Micro lines. My ten year old son shoots one set at 43#. ( He started at about 30# or so) He throws a great arrow, 1916, with 100gr. Muzzys. I never speed tested the bow but even with these slightly heavy arrows, it shoots flat and zips out to 20 yds.

I'd ask around at the local gun shop or bow club since many kids outgrow these youth bows and the parents would love to pass them along to you. In my area, there seems to be a network of youth guns, bows, clothing that when outgrown, is handed off to another parent. Just last week I was going to purchase a larger parka for my son for the rest of the deer and duck season. Then I get a message from a friend that he has two parkas and insulated bibs that he can't wear anymore. The larger of the two fit perfectly and saved me a good amount of cash. Two weeks ago, I passed off two pairs of camo pants to another friend.

I'd ask around.

Greg

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RE: Too young for a " real" bow?
 

I agree with Tracy.