Hi Gang,
I took my three kids on a walk to take down one of my treestands last weekend and they had a blast! I just walked slow and let them explore. Ice covered puddles became mini ice rinks, each of them found a favorite stick, rock, tree...etc.
Throwing rocks in a stream left them screaming with laughter. When we got home they told my wife that going to the "woods" was better than playing video games. Pretty high praise for children in today's world.
Anyway, I would like to get my two sons a starter bow, probably one for each of them. Are the fiberglass Bear youth bows worth anything? They don't look like much but if they throw a decent arrow I would consider them. I know Lancaster Archery carries youth longbows but they are more than $100 each. That's out of my price range right now.
Let me know how you got your kids started...Does it really matter if they can hit anything or do they just like to see the arrow fly? My boys are 7 and 5.
I also have a 4 year old daughter who loved the woods just as much as the boys if not more!
Life's good.
Deadeye33
My kids got started the way most kids get started in anything I guess. I did it so they wanted to do it. My son, 8 has a Little Bear and my dauther, 6 has a take down you can pick up at a sporting goods store for $40. My son has kinda out grown the Little Bear so a few months ago I shortened up a old long bow I picked up at a yard sale and sanded it down to pull about 30#'s at 24". They shoot all the time with me and have been to Compton, Great Lake Longbow and Michigan Traditional shoots the past 3 years. On 3-D targets the kids arrows you buy at the store with cheap tips will bounce off so I ended up making them each a set with 70gr field tips and they stick better. They have a blast doing it.
I still have the 25# Bear Green Fox double shelf solid glass bow I got when I was 13. Many kids have shot their first arrow through that bow since then. I will be 52 in July.
Killdeer :thumbsup:
I have twin 9 year old boys and I bought them fiberglass youth bows when they were 7. I got them at Wally World and they were made by Bear archery. They came in a tube. They were like $15.00 I think. I agree with killinstuff, the youth arrow points have to be taken off unless you are shooting haybales or something similiar. It is hard to find youth arrows with feather fletching, you might have to refletch them yourself. Good luck!
take a look at black rhino bows. can get them from 36" and 9# to 58" and 40#. they are tough, my son is on his 3rd longbow and he is 8 yrs old. when he was younger he would use his bow in the woods for everything - not only shooting arrows but an axe, a sword, a walking stick -they are tough little bows. think his last bow is 48" and 20# at 22", and they can shoot an arrow pretty good. check out the web at www.bows.net (http://www.bows.net) he carries everything for kids. wood arrows, armguards, gloves, quivers. you will have to check but the last time we saw black rhino at a shoot he offered a trade-in to upgrade my sons black rhino of 75% towards his next bow. nobody else does that. get a bow that fits our little archers and then upgrade to next size without breaking the bank.
here's pixs of my little buddy and his black rhino bow.
(http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u248/tshinkle/tims/vacationpics2007053.jpg)
(http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u248/tshinkle/tims/vacationpics2007060.jpg)
(http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u248/tshinkle/tims/vacationpics2007073.jpg) :biglaugh:
:goldtooth: I've had both my girls (10 and 6) shooting bows but neither has taken to it in a big way yet. I'll keep offering without being pushy. They do like to shoot BB guns though and are pretty deadly. ;)
Keep it fun and keep it simple. They'll let you know when they are ready to get more serious. Don't rush it, they have lots of time before hitting the bull is important.
My kids started out with a $5.00 garage sale bow. From what I could tell the most important thing for them at the beginning was that the arrow stuck in the target. I didn't seem to matter if they hit a bullseye as long as it stuck. Keep it cheap, keep it simple, keep it trad and keep it fun.
The Black Rhino bows are really nice. I have three daughters(11,8,and3) and three BR longbows. I started shooting with the oldest one when she was 9. She loves it and has won several 3D shoots. The 8 yr old could take it or leave it. The 3yr.old can't get enough.
I'll tell you a trick Fred Asbell told me. Get you a target and fill it with as many balloons as it can hold. The kids love popping those balloons and I'll guarantee you that they may not be able to tell you anything you taught them but they'll be able to tell you how many balloons they popped. That's the trick as long as you'll keep blowin up balloons they'll keep shooting them. Then gradually you reduce the number of balloons until there is just one. It's pretty cool. My 3 yr. old can hit the one balloon at 5-10 yrds almost everytime.
Don't get all hung up on form and stuff like that. Trust me, they'll figure it out. Kids shoot how THEY are comfortable not how WE are comfortable. Good Luck and God Bless, DAVE
Those cheap fiberglass bows will make them as happy as any bow will. I agree that the arrow sticking is very important. My kids have had alot of fun shooting flu flu arrows into the sky and trying to make them land in a big circle. Tie balloons to some hay bales and let them try to pop them. They will have a blast!
Keep it fun and they will remain interested....Terry
I agree with Oz and Vermonster, keep it simple. I made a little hickory selfbow (from my first failure) for my son and a dozen arrows from 1/4" poplar dowls and some turkey feathers. This was not nearly as important as handing him the bow and pointing him toward the target. I gave him as little instruction as possible and just let him shoot. Kids (up to 95 years of age) just love to shoot. If you can find a garage sale bow and some arrows, use a large cardboard box filled with plastic bags and such for a target. That gives you six sides and most any arrow will stick in it :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
-Brett
Well my kids like to shoot. My oldest 2 started with one of these each at ages 5 &7
http://www.3riversarchery.com/Product.asp?c=16&s=94&p=0&i=2376
When all my children are fininshed learning on them I'll pass them onto the local archery club for further use. Will they cast an arrow, yes they will and they won't break your bank getting them started just in case they don't take to it.
Keep it simple uncomplicated and cheap. I made bows for the youngsters and then they graduated to inexpensive Bear bows from the auction site. Get out of the way and let them do it, so they can make lots of mistakes. Talk a little 'safety' and then let them have at it.
Don't run over all the time to 'show them how' instead wait for them to ask you or someone else.
Join a club if you have on available. Both my youngsters participated a lot in club meets and often won ribbons and medals which encouraged them to do even better-all the kids won something.
Do the hunter safety course as soon as they are of age-but only if they want to, it is not for everyone. Good luck and be prepared for lots of ups and downs.
Nothing wrong with garage sales for fiberglass bows. See them quite often.
My 9 year old draws around 16 to 18# on his Fred Bear recurve.
Heres mine youngest shooting.
http://s134.photobucket.com/albums/q93/Kingtaken/?action=view¤t=SideShooting.flv
My little girl just turned 1 last month, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't saying a little prayer every Sunday that she'll love archery as much as I do. Time will tell I suppose.
At what age can a child pull what? I know it depends a lot on the child but there should be some rule of thumb. My grandaughter is 9 and shoots the little glass cheapie bow. I believe it pulls about 9 pounds. I dont believe she can pull 25 lbs at her age. How can I tell when to get a bigger bow?
My boy is 4 almost 5 and can pull 12#-15# no problem.
Bob G. When she starts pulling it too far look for something heavier.
I made some oak board bows from plans found around this site for my grand sons last year. They work great. If you use the 1/4 inch wood from Lowes it might cost $20 or so. It isn't hard if you have a band saw and sander. They came out about 14 to 16 pounds at 24 inches. more than enough for a 5 to 8 year old.
I make 1/4 inch arrows for the little guys. I have a lot of shafts and points if anyone needs some, it's a fun project with the little guys. PM me.
Ron
My kids all started when they were about 3 with a red fiberglass bow I picked up cheap now we are the proud owners of 2 black rhinos and two Martin prodigys I prefer the black rhinos because not only were they cheaper they are one tough little bow Like every one said before me keep it fun and don't push too hard and they will stick with it my oldest son is 13 now and this year was hunting right beside me carrying his 46# checkmate and let me tell you that is as good as it gets Delin
Sunshine. I love the dinosaur. Cool target