My son turned 2 in Dec and I was wondering how young you started your kids shooting and how did you go about the process? He loves to stand at the back door and watch daddy shoot his bow so I think that he he might be a keeper. Any help would be appreciated.
Chester I started my son when he was 4 .just start hem with a small bow.At that age its all about having fun.
I started my sons at 4 years old with longbows from Black Rhino bows.
same here! my son got his first bow and BB at age 4. actually went to the woods with me at that age and then, got his first deer at 11. he's 20 now and man what I've give for those days back.
:archer:
Time flies dont it Danny. Codys 19 now..
At 4 ,and got his first deer this year at 6 years old.Cant post the pick because it was a muzzloder kill.
I actually started my son at 2. I have to help him keep the arrow on it but he will draw it and release it....and every time i walk out with mine he wants to shoot his bow.
Chester hes plenty old enough. My daughter started about 1 an half believe it or not. I didnt push it on her at all, when i would practice she stuck too me like glue an allways would have too hold my arrows or she would get mad at me, so at a trad shoot this guy had a small hickory bow an quiver so i bought it for her . Then she just started shootin, had to help her a little. After a couple shots she was on her own... we been shooting an huntin together ever since shes now 14.. GOOD LUCK get him a bow ....ur in for some great times!!!!
My son and daughter both at three....both started with the same little Black Rhino longbow
my grandson was about two, I found a small fiber glass bow & made some arrows from 1/4 dowel from hardware store.
Steve
Greetings Chester!
My son started at 4 when his attention span was long enough to stay focused and have decent form.
My daughter started at 3 and she had a rock-solid bow arm on the follow-through!
Proper draw weight with matching arrows really adds value if they understand what shooting straight is and desiring to hit the target. If they just want to chuck arrows to watch them fly towards the target, matched equipment is not as critical - initially....
Enjoy!
Shoot straight, David Camp
My oldest turned 4 in December. We got her a Fred Bear First Shot kit for Christmas. It's a great little inexpensive starter bow for the little ones. We practice a few times a week, keeping her shots between 4 and 10 yards. She can't wait for 3D season to start, and frankly, neither can I. Only 2 weeks to go. Here's a picture of her with a couple of arrows she landed in the turkey "booty". (This is one of her favorite shots.)
(http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l79/rodney71251/100_7157.jpg)
rod251...if that ain`t precious, I don`t know what is!
My son Nick, now soon to be eleven, used to sit on a blanket, and hold a bow when he was less than two, and watch me shoot. With help, he started shooting soon after.
To this day, he says he remembers sitting in the shade, holding his bow.
Seems like yesterday.
my boy was probably 3 and he loves it. he is now 5 and has been shooting on his own for a long time. He shoots pretty good but already won't listen to old dad about any kind of form. I guess there is plenty of time for that. I just want him to enjoy it. he shoots for a while and then digs in the dirt for a while works for us. I don't pressure.
My daughter started at two with a pink Elk Ridge Pilgrim Squirt.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v98/faabala/Archery/DCP_2426.jpg)
She will be five on Monday and is shooting 3-D with me this year.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v98/faabala/Archery/IMAGE_018-1.jpg)
Started mine just recently, he's two. Bought him one of those little fiberglass bows with the stopper arrows and he loves it! I have to put the arrow on for him, but he does all the shootin himself. He really gets a kick out of it, and so do I!
(http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj125/kbneal2002/Archer1003.jpg)
Started my twin daughters at 3 1/2 years....balloons make the best targets....immediate gratification upon hitting, draw funny faces, make-up games, mostly have fun. Super short attention spans, it's all good!
At age seven they took second and third in thier age class in the state. This year we're looking at first and second places....it's still all fun and games. And they are just noticing that there are boys shooting too..... :scared:
I have taught kids that were 2yrs old to shoot. The sooner the better!!! Safety tipped arrows(rubber blunts) and a little arm guard will keep bad things from happening too. :thumbsup:
I will have to start looking for a bow for my bow soon. I can't wait to be able to share that with him.
I would go with an all fiberglass one to start with. They take a beating and will serve it's purpose until he gets bigger. I wish I still had my kids old red one, I'd send it to you, but I gave it away last year.
Check the auction site, you could get one real cheap, like one of the old Bear Archery fiberglass bows. I think it's called a Fox or something like that.
My grandson started at about 2. I made him a bow out of a pc of oak flooring. Had to help him nock and draw for a while,but he got the hang of it quickly. We used archery as a motivation for potty training.
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c222/526don/DSC01100.jpg) He's 4 now and hooked for sure.
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c222/526don/TalyoratKernnersville.jpg)
Hey Dave Thomas, that little girl of yours has done some growing since I saw you last.
There's a video or two of Taylor shooting ariels on the classics archives, I think.
Just get em in close and don't worry about their form. Keep it fun and put lots of balloons on the bale. Kids love reactive targets. DB
My good friend John Dill started his son out in the crib. He's 18 months now and has shot at two 3d events with us this year. Here is a pic I took at the NC state shoot last year. John Davis Dill. (http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c222/526don/100_0228.jpg)
Gwyn asked if she could try it at 5 yrs old. Sal (mystic Guido) gave her this nice oak bow.
(http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f196/jjeffer/S5000764.jpg)
(http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f196/jjeffer/S5000771.jpg)
I would watch the rubber blunts use for small kids. Generally you are shooting at close distances with kids and it is easy for a rubber blunt to bounce back at you. I never used those bullet point "kid's arrows" for the same reason.
I really think that your better grade of pointed field points are the safest option when used under close supervision.
Shooting with kids is all about fun. Start her now, don't make it an endurance contest and she will be hooked for life.
I started the grandtwins when they were 4 - the following Christmas I made them board bows and the grand son got hooked. I guess I should have made the grand daughters bow in pink or something. We went to a 3D shoot and he had a blast. Now he wants more archery stuff for Christmas.
QuoteOriginally posted by gregg dudley:
I would watch the rubber blunts use for small kids. Generally you are shooting at close distances with kids and it is easy for a rubber blunt to bounce back at you. I never used those bullet point "kid's arrows" for the same reason.
I really think that your better grade of pointed field points are the safest option when used under close supervision.
Shooting with kids is all about fun. Start her now, don't make it an endurance contest and she will be hooked for life.
True, if your shooting at hard objects at a close distance they could bounce back. :rolleyes:
I started all my kids between 2 and 3 years old.
There were a few basic principles I followed though.
First, keep it fun.
Second, don't sacrifice doing it right for the sake of keeping it fun.
That is, DON'T let them get into bad habbits right from the start. Kids love archery and if you get them used to the fact that there are rules involved right from the start, you will have a lot fewer problems later and they will become better shots and safer shooters of ANY type of weapon. It's really not hard to get them to shoot properly and if they learn it initially, they will retain it all their life.
A piece of cardboard or plywood about 3 or 4 ft square can be a great training aid. Place it on the ground the proper distance from the target and stand the kid in the middle of it. Stand them at the proper angle to the target with their feet spread about shoulder width so they are comfortable. Let them shoot a few shots and fine tune to where they are comfortable and are shooting well. Then trace around their feet with a marker. Explain that they need to put their feet in the "footprints" each time they shoot. This helps a LOT each time you get back from retrieving arrows. You don't have to explain each time about turning sideways and all that stuff. Just gently remind them to step in the footprints and everything else falls into place. You can even adjust how open or closed their stance without them noticing just by changing the angle of the plywood in relation to the target. If you happen to shoot in your driveway like I do, you can substitute sidewalk chalk and draw right on the driveway.
As a bit of fun, instead of just tracing their feet, you can add toes and claws to make the tracks look like bigfoot, bear tracks or whatever. They get a kick out of it.
Third, for really young kids, always use real "kids arrows" like the 1/4" dowel kind that are lightweight and have a real field tip and feathers not the blunts or bullet shaped crimped on things and plastic vanes like on the wallmart arrows. The biggest thing that seems to discourage a young archer is not missing the target. It's hitting it and having the arrow bounce off or not stick right and fall out. They fly way better too. Adult arrows that were broken and then cut down to kid size and retipped are not bad with a center shot bow but with anything non center shot, they really don't go where the kid aims very well and are usually so heavy that they either fall short or dont' stick. Bigger kids can usually use them ok but I kinda always figure I try to set a kid up with arrows that are matched properly. You would be suprised at how young of an age they can actually get to be really good shots if all their arrows hit where they are pointed instead of having a bunch of mismatched junk where even if the kid shoots right, the arrows group like a shotgun blast. Keep their gear as well tuned as your own and they will be outshooting you a lot sooner than you would believe.
Fourth, NEVER make them shoot when they don't want to. If you keep it fun and praise them, they will pester you to shoot all the time.
My son started at 3 and was outshooting me at about 9.
You put some thought into that Dave. Those are some great ideas.
Thanks
Started my grandson last summer at 2 1/2. He hit the target (3-D bear) with his first shot. Second shot missed so he picked up the arrow, jabbed the bear, then beat it over the head with the bow! He only shoots a couple arrows at a time (short attention span), but all I'm trying to do is create an interest. I think I'll hook him next summer.
(http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd69/BigArcher/april20081stbow022.jpg)
My Grandson with his bow at 2 yrs old. Notice the concentration.
He loves to follow my when I shoot and pull the arrows. When he got the bow he really wanted to hit the target.
We'll be at it again soon and he'll be 3 in April. So it will just get more and more fun I am hoping.
BigArcher
Here's my son in 1971 trying to learn the ropes on a Bear Grizzly.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0603/reddogge/Archery/Jeff1970.jpg)
At around 5 emulating a bowhunter.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0603/reddogge/Archery/Jeff1974.jpg)
My daughter was a little older, around 8 when she wanted to shoot a little.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0603/reddogge/Archery/Michelleshooting1979.jpg)
I'm a little negligent as I have 5 grandchildren ages 2-8 and haven't taught any of them yet. Need a couple of kids bow though.
My sons started by carrying my arrows at two or three.As I walked from round bale to bale shooting as I went.It did'nt take long before they wanted a bow of there own.Keep it fun,kids love to just flight shoot.Watch that arrow fly is a lot better than starting them out on a target.Thats not fun for a child.But seeing how far that arrow go's is much better than tight groups.So don't try to drive good form, anchor points,stance,etc.There just there to shoot and have fun,all of that will come in time.kids have a short attention spand.So if there not haveing fun they move on to the next thing.
REMEMBER KEEP IT FUN and they will learn to have fun.
Chester,,I started my son around that age,,I would just help him with it and basically shoot the bow for him but he was behind the arrow. That way he could see it fly,,He loved it. Now he's three and shooting himslef and just having fun,, Remember, its all about them having fun. I posted some videos of my son shooting. He has a blast shooting. The black rhino bows are nice to start on for sure,,JB
I started my daughter a little older than everyone else. She watched me shoot but never seemed to have any interest in doing it herself. It finaly happened 23 years latter.
Long time coming but well worth the wait.
(http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc157/pactac/steph1.jpg)
Keep in mind Folks
the number one source of injury for the little ones while shooting archery is pulling arrows out of the target and sticking the nock end into the face or eye of another child who is excited to pull their own arrows from the target.
:banghead:
Archery disciple does not stop when the bow is put down...
We (yeah, wife included) started our two boys around three or so with little laminated longbows that actually cast an arrow fairly well. It made a difference in teaching them basics then and letting have fun at shooting too. An arm guard is probably the most important thing next to the bow and arrows at that point.
One thing we did was to always stop before they were ready to, that way they remained hungry for it and looked forward to the next time. They were so hooked, and still are, that instead of certain kinds of discipline (warming their pants, unless that was what was needed) we take the priviledge of shooting their bows. That is a lesson that has many prongs, including a constant reminder to me too.
Anyway...start'em up young and enjoy it. Our investment paid off the last two years in one aspect, in that we enjoyed venison in the freezer from our now twelve year old. Nothing quite like the taste of a good steak that your son provided for you...I know why Isaac wanted that in his final days.
Well as you probally already know you cant pushem and dont let them stand too close to the target. The arrow can bounce back and hit them.also remember to always check their arrows a wood arrow can fly to pices even out of a kids bow. Always talk to your child no matter how young they are. they understand more then we give them credit for.explain form a little at a time. add something every few trips out. If they like it and stick with you will be amazed how good of a shot they will become.
I started my son this past spring and he's 2 will be 3 in April. I just go out with him and help him as long as he's interestd. Once he gets bored we stop whether we shot 2 arrows or 200 arrows. I just got him a cheap bow and try to keep it fun.
My dad started me when i was 2 and i did fine.
I built my oldest grandson , Ty , his first bow when he was about 3. I think I have built him 4 more since then. He is now 6.
Let him watch you shoot and he'll want to do it pretty soon. Have a really easy small bow for him and kids arrows with good points so they stick in the target so when he asks, you have it ready. Capture the moment so they say. Don't get too techy. He'll imitate you and learn form. So when he wants to do better, you start to give him tips and he'll pick up fast that these tips and the right form work and he'll want to shoot right
sam
My dad started my brother and I out pretty young. 3 years old to be exact.
(http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff319/scsmilkman/MybrotherandIIwas6andhewas3yearsold.jpg)
The future of our great sport looks bright in hands of these kids! :clapper:
The future of our great sport looks bright in hands of these kids! :clapper: