Dirt2

I'm just getting my nephew, aged 10, into archery. We're doing a weekly shoot where the local bow shop loans out a bow for the kids. I'm trying to put together a bow-buying strategy that covers him until he's 18 (and can buy his own bows) but minimizes the number of new bows I have to keep buying. I'm hoping for some feedback from people with experience with kids and bows.

I'm hoping to buy him a basic bow now, then at around 14, when he's ready to do some actual bowhunting, to put him into a second bow that could hopefully fill his needs for several years. Can we get it done with just two bow purchases, or am I going to be buying him another bow every other year?

Right now, of course, I'm more concerned about the first bow, which he can use for a few years to really cement his bow form and safety ethic. The bow shop is pushing the bow he is borrowing right now, which is a PSE recurve ($99). I know only compound bows, but I'm open to starting him with a recurve.

I'll try to focus this vague ramble with a couple of questions in closing:

1) Between age 10 and age 18, how many bows is he likely going to need? One? Two? Five?

2) What bow should I start him with?

3) What else do I need to be thinking about in raising up a bowhunter?

Thanks.

justhunt

Sounds like you need to get a Genesis. http://www.genesisbow.com/genbow/

Bob H in NH

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My personal opinion from teaching lots of kids is to stay away from a Genesis for a single person. Unless they have changed it and it now has a draw stop, then it might be a decent option. What I found is that it was very hard for kids to develop a solid anchor with no back wall, it was also very hard to teach them to pull through the shot for the same reason. Like I said, if this problem has been changed, it might be a good choice.

I would move towards one of the youth bows, Browning micro-midas and PSE Spyder are two good choices. Both have draw lengths that adjust on the cam for several inches. My 14 year old has had a spyder for several years and is just now out grown it.

--Bob

IL Rancher

I want to say Parker has an exchange policy in which you can upgrade your limbs and drawlength as you you go with two of their Bows. The Buck Shot and the Challenger. You have to return the bow to Parker but for 50 bucks or something like that they will upgrade the limbs and modules to fit a growing person... Don't know anyone who has ever shot either of them but something to consider...

pdq 5oh

You might want to look at the BowTech Miranda. At 32 1/2" at with 8 1/4" brace height, it should fit him well, and be forgiving. Draw is adjustable from 23-28". You can get 40, 50, and 60# limbs. You should be able to turn the draw weight down to about 30#, with 40# limbs. As he gets bigger, you could change draw modules and go to heavier limbs when he can handle it. Assuming his draw length doesn't exceed 28", I see no reason he couldn't shoot this bow for years. If this bow doesn’t fit him, the Rascal certainly will. It’s shorter (25”) ata, and has a draw length range of 20-25”. 20, 30, and 40# limbs are available.

KenL

I agree with Bob H. the Browning has 10inches of draw length adjustment, and the price aint bad either

Bob H in NH

I happened to be reading my Petereson's Bowhunting, Dec 04 issue last night and they have a youth bow article, here's the bows they suggest:

Alpine Micro -- 21-28 inch draw adjustments, 25 lb weight adjustment $179
Bowtech Rascal -- $279, didn't get into adjustments much except they do a limb swap
Browning Micro Midas 3 -- 10 inches of draw adj20,30,40 lb limbs $169
Genesis
CP Oneida Hawk -- 25/45 or 35/55 lb limbs 22-25.5 inch draw length $499
Fred Bear Badge -- 20-23 or 24-27 draw length15-25 or 35-45 dr weight $189
High Country Micro Quad-- 22-26 inch dr length 30,40,50 lb limbs $199
Hoyt Banshee -- 16-24 inch draw length 25 or 45 lb limbs $175
Mathews Mustang -- 19-26 inch dr lenght20-50 lb weight range $549
Martin Tiger -- 17-23 in dr lenght 20,30,40 lb limbs $199
Parker Challenger -- 23-27 (looks like requires a cam swap to adjust) 30,40,50 lb limbs $329
Proline Recruit -- 19-26 in dr len 20-45 lb adj $230
PSE Spyder -- 16-21 in len from 10-30 lbs, or 21-25 inch len 15-40 lb weight $169

Have fun!

Others that haven't been mentioned, but are a "less expensive" way, Golden Eagle brave, no draw adjustment, but around $50.

--Bob

rob1

Mathews Genesis!!!!!!!!!