Trad Gang

My son Jake is 10, he has a vintage Ben Pearson recurve. He doesnt like shooting it as much as i had hoped, he has it in his head he wants one of these youth mathews compounds. I have tried to be subtle and tell and show him that shooting these recurves are much more fun...Problem is he gets discouraged because he isnt that good at it, he has it in his head ( school buddies influences) that he needs sights and a fancy release with a cool quiver full of arrows on his bow..i will admit to you guys this dissapoints me, i had visions of us stump shooting and so on. the advice i need is how to handle this? my first instinct is to let him be his own man and buy this compound bow, i know, and you guys know, you still have to be steady ,tune,and sight in this compound before he will be close to being good.
Or do i continue to try and persuade him to the trad side of things? i asked him just a bit ago, i could tell he would get a new recurve if thats what I wanted..he doesnt want to let me down. i told him i think i would rather him have a compound and use it than a recurve that sits.  i just gotta get this idea that he needs sights to be good out of his head!GGrrr!  :knothead:  

i'll take your .02 worth now please.

Jason
Happy New year BTW.

Let him shoot a wheelbow for now. Just because he shoots a wheelie doesn't mean he can't go stumpin with Dad. Maybe throw the old Pearson in the truck, too, just in case.

At least he is into archery.

My son when he was that old went through the same thing.I got him a nice used compound he shot it for about about three year.Then he started picking up my bow and shooting it all the time in hunting camp.Next thing i new i was looking for me a new bow.I have seen this meny times.Dont worry, most likly he will come back around.

I think it's better for a kid to shoot what will keep them shooting.

My daughter (15) shoots a compound and my son (10) loves his recurve.

Let him have both...It's his decision what to hunt with...your job to teach him how to hunt correctly with what he chooses....Make sure his trad bow is light enough in weight for him to enjoy...

Jakes 14 now and has outgrown his compound... he hasnt asked for another one..


(http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii152/jacobsladdergrice/jan242008021.jpg)

(http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii152/jacobsladdergrice/P1050845.jpg)

i can give you some advice from a son. Let him shoot what he wants if it will get him out there with you. As many have have said he can still go shooting with you. THAT IS WHAT IS IMPORTANT. After a while he will see that your way is more fun.

Boy, that's a toughie.

I think I'd try to take him to a couple trad only events like mojam where there are a bunch of other kids running around shooting stickbows.  In the mean time drop some comments about how you don't approve of trying to buy accuracy via gadgets, aids etc and give him some examples of folks to look up to if possible.  Some old Fred Bear or Howard Hill videos might get him "into" things a bit.

As for his shooting and his bow, be sure he's not over bowed and that his arrows are properly matched.  There are few things more discouraging to a kid than holding proper aim and still missing the target and mismatched equipment will cause that all day long.  Take at least as much trouble to tune his bow as you do your own hunting rig.  It's like fishing.  Start a kid on bluegills and the trout will follow.  There is a certain amount of success needed to keep their attention.

If he's an average 10 year old, anything over about 20 or 25 pounds at his draw is probably too much.  Sure he might be able to pull more but shooting properly with more weight is unlikely.

If all that fails, go ahead and get him a compound.  There's no sin in shooting one.  He can still stump shoot with one too.  Who knows, once he "learns" to shoot with a compound and sights, maybe he'll be able to pick up a trad bow and do better.  If he elects to stick with the compound, you can ease him back into trad for certain activities like bow fishing.  Lots of compound guys switch to a recurve for bow fishing.  He might have so much fun that he'll want to shoot it at other times too.

Hey Jason
I started my son who is now 10 years old with a compound two years ago. Then he saw me shooting my recurve and longbows. So he wanted to try it. Now when we go to the woods he wants to bring the long bow or recurve. What really helped me was taking him to as many archery shoots as you can. He will see all the different stuff and really like it. Try taking him to a sport shop and give him a compound to put in his hand fully loaded and walk the store a few times and he will see how heavy it gets fast. My son and I shoot both compound and traditional. But the only time the compounds come out is if we are going to sit in a tree stand and the closest shot is 30 yards. Which is not to offen. Good luck and if you want to and does not get it out of his head have him give my son a call. He will tell him and get another idea to him.

Sean

Keep it fun, the compound keeps him shooting then this is a good thing.  

My teenage girls have abandoned ship almost entirely.  My oldest has a compound and a longbow.  The only one she shoots anymore is the longbow.  I figure in a few years they both may take it back up but right now texting and boys are way more important.

My son who is now 11 said the same thing. He then read a couple of books, the rangers apprentice, saw my recurve hanging( I shoot longbows all the time now), and told me he liked the recurve. Thats what he got this year and he loves it. I had planned on buying him a compound, but he changed his mind. If it were me, I would get him the wheel bow. Eventually he will want to try trad. The thing is, if he loves bowhuting, it really doesn't matter what type he shoots, you will have a hunting partner, that's more important than the type of bow he shoots IMHO. Good luck!

OMG disown him or put him up for adoption!!!!LOL! If he gets a compound w/sights and has some success hitting what he is trying hit, it will be more beneficial in the long run to keeping him involved in archery. Yes, compounds are archery too. As long as he is shooting a bow it is all right. He doesn't have to be a carbon copy of Dad. If he never picks up a stickbow you still have created an archer. My guess is that after awhile he will pick up the stick.

Work with his passions. . . there are far more serious areas in life where you will need to draw lines.  I have five kids.  They have all went in various directions, but you see the values of our lives and even my trad hunting as an influence in aspects of their lives.  

My oldest- 24 yrs., and closest to me in regards outdoor experiences, has found his greater passion in trapping and backpacking.  I really never trapped, and only limited packing.  I introduced him to both as he had passion to learn such things.  We live in different parts of the country right now, yet he will call me a few times every week to tell me stories of his trapping and packing adventures.  

Get your boy a compound, or even a gun, and let him have fun.  Even if he never jumps into your world- you may be surprised what comes to maturity in his 20s and 30s.  Teaching him to love what ought to be loved is far more important.  More is caught than taught.    

My 2C

Dan in KS

I'm fifteen now and I've been shooting bows since I was 3. I always shot the little selfbows that my dad made for me when i was little, then switched over to an old bear when i got strong enough. When I got old enough to hunt i shot a compound for a couple years and took several deer with it. I just wasn't quite ready to try with a traditional bow and I have no regrets. This past season I used my new recurve and I know I'll never go back to compound even though I didn't get a deer this year. Long story short I would get him a compound cause I bet he will eventually come back to trad. But I would still encourage him to take his Ben Pearson stumping with you, thats what I always did with my dad.

FEIK77...thanks for sharing   :thumbsup:

That answer would be easy for me... Hunting and archery for me is about making my own decisions and doing things the way I think I want to do them and the way I think they should be done.  I'd give my boy the same opportunity.  (by the way, my boy is due in another 2 months so this piece of wisdom comes from that much experience!)

I think I brain washed my young'un! He's 11 and shoot's a 52" kodiak mag. I've actually asked him several times if he would like to shoot a compound so he could have the let off, maybe make him more comfortable hunting, but he say's he's sticking with the recurve! been shooting one since he was 6. I say let him shoot whatever he want's! as long as he's with you that is all that matter's! father, son in the wood's what could be better!! Jason

Quit being a control freak and be glad he wants to do something with you.

Quit being a control freak and be glad he wants to do something with you.

QuoteQuit being a control freak and be glad he wants to do something with you  

I appreciate advice like that, makes a guy want to come back often.

I think you all have just said what i knew all  along..just needed to hear it from someone else i guess.'

Thanks. Jason

Let him shoot what HE WANTS.My son is 7 and shooting both.I just want him enjoying himself.My son has taken 3 deer already, and he wants to bow hunt so a compound would help him start earlier.Maybe at 8 he might take he first bow kill.I will be stoked if he did.

By all means let him shoot WHAT HE WANTS TO~ He will come around if meant to be. If not atleast he's who he is!

I think that Garret(FEIK77) said it very well.

Let him shoot the compound....I have two sons who I let use the compound at first which built their confidence....Now they like the trad bow more...
Gotta give them time and please judt let them shoot no matter what bow they choose,

When it comes to sons, which I have been very lucky to have two hunters, I think it is more about the experience and the time in the woods than about the weapon.
My second son has taken two nice bucks with his compound but loves shooting his longbow more. We go to shoots and shoot in the yard and that is what he likes. But he knows he is comfortably drawing a marginal weight for deer hunting with his longbow and I agree.
I have no doubt that when he is stronger, bow weight wise that is what he will hunt with.
And, and in my mind it is all good. You can hunt with a gun, bow, muzzle loader, whatever and still have the moments in the woods with your son. I cherish mine. Its not the weapon, its the bond with you and importantly for his future when you are not around, his respect and love for the woods and its creatures that you instill in him that will matter.
And that he will pass on with memories of you

I have two daughters who both shoot.  One with a compound and one with a recurve.  They both enjoy the time.  There is no harm and no foul in shooting a compound.  Do not put it down.  No subtle hints that "trad" is better.  The key message is "Archery is fun"

pete

At 10 years old he needs to do what he thinks is fun - even if that means a wheelie bow. Besides, the primative thing is not for everybody, Just take him out in the woods and let him shoot what he wants to. If he gets interested in sticks, you will be right there to show him the way.

Bisch

I know how exciting it is to shoot traditional gear and you want to share it as much as possible.
He'll come around eventually and if not, let him take the long shots out of the blind and you get the close ones.  ;)

I just bought my 30 year-old son a compound for Christmas. It's a used one. He doesn't think he has time to practice enough with his recurve, but he'd like to try deer hunting with a bow. I'm pretty sure he'll get tired of the compound after a while and go back to trad archery like my youngest son and I. If not, who cares. If he is enjoying his time in the woods, the equipment is of lesser importance.

Wow, I've never seen so much bad advice in one place!! My son is 20 years old and has never shot anything but tradbows. If your son wants a compound then make him save and buy it out of his own funds.
 If your son plays little league baseball or peewee football, then ask him how he can throw the ball to his team mate without using sights??

  Shooting a traditional bow is akin to throwing a football.Shoot more with him of an evening, couple hours in the backyard playing horse or other archery games makes it fun and interesting. Also don't always "win" let him "win" some, as it will build his confidence and bond you guys closer togather

I've read the posts that said let him do what he wants, it's about time spent ect...
 It's also about values and teaching your son that everything isn't supposed to be easy.Teaching him that he has to work at things to become successful is alot better in my opinon than teaching him that success can be bought!!
 Which when it comes down to it, is what your asking

I can't say anything that has not already been said.  My 6yr old son shot a longbow that I made him since he was 4 but then Grandma bought him a little compound at a garage sale. Don't sweat it if he wants to shoot the compound. He is still young and I think a big part of it is a compound shoots an arrow faster/farther than a trad bow of equal weight.  I know my son likes this fact and loves to go out and shoot with me.

I am not worried about it b/c he may want to shoot a trad bow later in life but if not no big deal.  Compounds are not evil regardels of what some on here may think.  If it keeps him shooting and interested in the sport and more importantly, shooting with Dad, then by all means let him do it. My.02cents.

Not that I'm a father, but I'll buzz in anyways!

As many have stated here, let him shoot the wheelie, and there's no reason the two of you can't stumpshoot for that reason.
But in the mean time, show him some footage of Byron Fergusons trick shots, or anyone elses for that matter.
Cause if i understand right, most of those shots cannot be done with a wheelie  :)
Might open his eyes some to what can be achieved just with some practice! Just keep his trad bow, and don't rub it in ^^

I agree with all that say "let him shoot the compound".  As long as he still wants to shoot/hunt with you, you have it good!  Lets face it, most of us shot a compound at one time or another in our life then came back or to trad bows.. some still shoot both and that's ok too in my opinion.  It's all about likeing what your doing, this is supposed to be fun.   :thumbsup:

Nothing wrong with compounds, I shoot them myself now & then.  Cultivate his interest by getting him a compound and encouraging him.  In due time he  may come around to Trad, or he may not.  Either way you get to spend quaility outdoor time with him and we all gain another member of the hunting lifestyle...

I know that this traditional archery, but it doesn't matter so much what they shoot, it is the fact they want to shoot, and are shooting.
We make many changes in through out our lives, keep setting the example, time will tell.

Let him try it I did,This Tuckers first bow (http://i665.photobucket.com/albums/vv19/lpcjon2/cid__1108081317-1.jpg)
This is Tucker a year later (http://i665.photobucket.com/albums/vv19/lpcjon2/tucshoot-2.jpg)
They grow out of the wheels and want to be like you trust me!

My son is 5, and although I started him on a hand me down fiberglass recurve @ 3, he teased for a compound. He spotted Fred Eichler on a hunting video using a compound, so he wanted one (Thanks Fred!). I was dissapointed, as I tried to steer him towards a recurve, but thought "well, he started off with training wheels on his bike, so what the hell!", so he got his compound for X-mass! Santa brought him a Bear Warrior wheel bow. He shot it that morning, loved it, and before our ham was out of the oven for our family get together at noon, he broke it. He must have twisted it at full draw, and the cables came off the wheels! What a frigging mess! My father and I could not figure out what went where, or how (cams, groves, multi cables, etc.).
 Another family member is going to fix it,as he has a bow press. I have turned this into a learning lesson, as I have explained to the boy how much more simple and durable traditional bows are, and that if this had happened up north during a hunt, his hunt would have been finished. With a recurve or longbow, it wouldn't have happened. I have a hunch that he will come around, sooner or later.

Trad bows are inherently more fun. Even big boys who shoot the latest technology, eye up every trad bow they see in action...wondering.

Just do your thing and include him in as much of it as possible.

He will see how much fun it is, and eventually he will follow your lead.

I spent alot of money buying two, mini, decked out compound bows for my two sons. They both started out with tiny trad type bows, and I figured they would want what the other kids had.
To my surprise, the compound bows just gathered dust.

You lead...they will follow.   :D

I'll jump on the pig pile- let him shoot what he wants.

The main thing is the bonding experience.

And if you allow him the freedom of indepenence,  and respect his point of view even if it differs from your own, he will remain open to you because of that repect you showed his thinking and he will always consider your point of view in return, for you never "made" him think like you do.

Joshua

Make it fun.  He'll follow your example on down the road.  When I was 15 I thought my dad was the dumbest man around.  By the time I was 19 it was amazing how much he had learned.  Just a thought, get him an ILF bow and stick a simple sight on it.  Then he can grow to different limbs and take the sight off on down the road.

I tried to go the other way. My son who was 6 at the time had a black rino longbow and enjoys shooting it. I being the competitive person I am thought when he turns 7 I will get him a compound so he will have sights and release aid to help him shoot better. After talking with a shop owner who did the same thing I was trying to do, I found out it more important to let him have fun and shoot while he is young a miss is just that a miss nothing more.

bye the way my son said he did not want a compound he liked his bow and I should get one so we could shoot together. I will now be buying 2 trad bows. I just love him.

Dave

Go to a pawn shop and pick up a compound CHEAP! Let him shoot which bow he wants. Keep the trad bow with you and I bet he will want to try his hand at the trad gear again eventually. If not, you still have a son to hunt with and that is worth more than anything!

-Charlie

Iron:

Just keep him hunting. Read my post on what my 15 year old did this week. He wanted nothing to do with traditional, but after shooting a compound for 3 years and now seeing us practicing with recurves, he wants to get into it now.

I'd rather have my boys hunting any style (compound, trad, gun) than sitting by xbox all day.

Tim

You got some great advice here, especially from FEIK77, a 15 year old who is young enough to put himself in your son's shoes.

lpcjon2 also gave very insightful advice from a dad's perspective.

Make sure he has both compound and recurve and I'm sure he will use both down the road.  Make sure you take him to some 3-D shoots where people are shooting tradional equipment, especially kids.

I was lucky, when I taught my 5 grandkids to shoot I put a recurve in their hand and they didn't know any better.  A bow is a bow to them.

I would get him what he wants, he may change his mind down the road. I just like having my kids go with me and it doesn't matter what were shooting.

I took my boys to alot of traditional only events.  Once they saw what everyone else was shooting, they wanted to be a part of it.  I think that they are influenced by their friends on how quickly thay can put arrows on target with wheels and sights.  After my boys went to a few traditional events, they were amazed how traditional shooters could hit moving targets in the air or rolled on the ground.  I bought some foam disc targets for throwing and rolling and we had a blast.  My boys are grown now and I still think that even if my boys decide to shoot modern equipment, they would respect the choice of a traditionalist and isn't that what's really important?

(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w31/clwalkerpic/DSCN1703.jpg)
Do anything you can to keep him huntin with ya. These are my boys, good men, good hunters and my best freinds.
Keep him hunting with ya and he will grow up right. The bow will make no differents in the long run.
P.S. the oldest one shoots a Bob Lee now.

Anything to keep him shooting and hunting. Remember a lot of Trad Gang members started out with a recurve or longbow -switched to wheelies and came beck  to Trad. Time spent in the field with a son or daughter is precious.
Good luck

I tried my kids out with recurves to start. In order for them to be comfortable with them the bows were actually to light for anything but target shooting.
So they went to compounds since they could shoot heavier weights easier, which actually made distances easier for them at the range. This kept them interested in and enjoying archery.  None of my kids ever used sights, but that was their choice.

But Dad had a plan..... Once they showed some proficiency with the compound I decided to get them into moving and aerial targets. They soon learned it was much easier to shoot these targets with traditional bows. Since they really enjoyed this type of shooting they all made the switch back. After their form and muscles are developed trad shooting becomes much easier for them. Since they will enjoy it more because it is not as much work, they are more likely to stick with it. After all this is the big draw for most to compounds.

Whatever you do, keep him shooting.  It doesn't matter whether it is a compound or traditional at this point-let him decide what he wants to shoot.  It is far better to keep him in the sport than have him discouraged.

Jason let your son shoot whatever he wants.  Be happy that he is interested in something healthy and outdoors. Make sure he knows you'll support his choices so long as they hold with your family values.

Kevin

Be happy he is asking for a compound-there are worse things! BTW compounds make a lot of sense for young arms and backs-especially for the first couple of hunts.  Ten year olds can't pull a lot of weight.

Again Thank's guys all of you have helped...after talking to him and seeing that emotion in his eyes, him not wanting to dissapoint me. it confirmed what you all said and i deep down already new...I'll let him be his own man,so to speak. he's gonna get his compound. Thanks again!

now off to slinger to watch my daughter's high school Basket ball game..Peace!

Jason

I wa no different than he was at that age, recurves were for guys that didnt know anything and werent cool enough for a compound.The good thing was no one tried talking me into shooting a stickbow so it came to me when the time was right.Just wish it came sooner.My son wanted a compound at 8 but while he waited for Santa to bring him one he became proficient with his Howard Hill.No going back now.

I agree what ever keeps him shooting and hunting.

I have a ten year old also that started shooting a long bow about at age four. I was in heaven! Then my close friend with wheels put a bug in him that a compound is better. I ended up buying my friends son's first compound one with two sets of limbs to adjust the weight. (Some friend right).

Now for alittle reverse psychology.

Got him all setup carbon arrows release quiver etc. And then took him on numerous long walks stump shooting REAL LONG WALKS!

He soon realized how heavy it was to carry, how he still missed the stumps, (he actually commented more than a few times "I would have hit that with my longbow") how he actually broke more arrows, (not knowing the distance) and how he disliked wearing the trigger release all the time.

He actually got bored of hitting the target all the time with sights on the backyard range!

I threw in stories of how my friend injures more deer with his compound then his Dad (actually alot more) and I made it a point of informing him when it happened!. I refused to buy him a rangefinder (I know that's mean).

He eventually came back around full circle! Took less than a year. And is now asking for a heavier Longbow.

Having said all that I have three BLack Rhino Longbows and maybe one Browning compound that I will be getting rid of to upgrade to heavier weight longbows. I have three sons ages 13,10,8 if anyone is interested please PM me.

PM sent...

The compound is a terrific weapon.
If it were my boy i'd set him up with the compound.
Have fun shoot'n together  :thumbsup:

He's a kid, let him be one, enjoy the outdoors, his friends and hunting in any form. Trad bows arent for everyone, try to force it on him and you will only drive him the other way.

Let shoot what he wants, as long as he is having fun, that is what is important. Keep him excited about archery.

Life is sweet when sharing it with your kids in any way that you can. I shuttled off my old,old compounds to my oldest grandsons and thier dads.
Now there are 5 of 6 adults and 9 of 11 grandkids with trad bows.
This year they took 5 deer with thier rifles.
Whenever they visit we are outdoors shooting trad and they have a blast.
They'll come around.

As long as you too are spending time in the outdoors together, what does it matter what he carries?  And just because he is shooting the mathews, why does that mean he can't stump shoot with you?
 These are the questions that come to my mind.  After all you shoot what you do because of your choice.  Give him you reasons why you choose to do the things that you do, but also give him the freedom to make his own choices, too.  I think in the end, when you look back on your times spent together in the field, your experiences will far exceed the methods.  
 My daughter shot her first squirrel this year with a shotgun and it was the highlight of our hunting together so far and it may seem odd to others, but that squirrel is at the taxidermist right now and will be treasured and proudly displayed in our home, even though I personally have never had a deer that I shot with my longbow or recurve, ever professionally mounted.

QuoteOriginally posted by Spectre:
Let him shoot a wheelbow for now. Just because he shoots a wheelie doesn't mean he can't go stumpin with Dad. Maybe throw the old Pearson in the truck, too, just in case.

At least he is into archery.

I'm not a dad,nor did I read every post in this thread,but I agree with this.

I agree let him try what ever type archery equipment he wants to keep hts interest. Get him shooting and hunting with you. I was told many years ago it is better to hunt with your kids than to hunt for your kids.

Just be THANKFUL That he want's to HUNT with you!!!!!

My oldest son Kevin hunted with me the first few years that he was old enough to hunt. 2 years with a 1967 Bear Grizzly,Then the 3rd year with my old Mikuta longbow that I had refinished for him and his name put on. Later that season,he was also old enough to gun hunt with his 16ga. Ithaca Deerslayer that my neighbor gave him before he passed away. He hunted for a few hour opening day,then spent the remainder of the day watching football with his grandfather. (My Dad was recouperating from a double hip replacement.) I asked him a few more times to go with me,but he always had something going on..... He did go to 2 of Shawn Leonard's JLMBHs with me and had the time of his life.

The following year I handed him money to go buy his hunting license and he told me that he didn't think that he was going hunting that year. He said that he didn't want to dissapoint me,but he found hunting "boring".....

Kevin was always a traditional shooter,and a very competative traditional 3-D shooter as well,with MANY trophies on his shelves. It just seems that hunting was not his "thing".....

Next year his younger brother Tyler will be old enough to hunt. We'll have to see what happens then.....    :pray:

Get him a simple compound and let him give that a go.  While I hope my daughters will follow me down my path...MY PATH started with guns and at one time included compound bows.  Hmmm.

I just bought 'em BB guns for Christmas and I can't wait to get out in some decent weather (it's -10 now) and try 'em out.  They love shooting bows but I want to expose them to the whole gamut and let them find their own way.

Just like I HOPE they'll want to do cross country, basketball and track like their dad, but I'll support them if they gravitate toward other sports or no sports at all.

   

I haven't read all the posts on this thread, most of my thoughts were given by others very well in the first 2 pages.  But one thing to consider(and I don't know if this was touched on in the posts I skipped) is if he will be hunting soon, it may be easier for him to handle a compound that is heavy enough(draw weight) than a trad bow for now.  A buddy of mine has a son that is just turning 12 and has an interest in traditional archery, but my buddy insists that he use a bow of at least 45 lbs to hunt with, and for now that means the c-bow.
 But the most important thing is that he stay interested in archery and doing it with Dad. It's not something he can't change his mind on at some point.  If you shoot trad, eventually he's likely to want to try it as well.

Not that you don't know this, but I wanted to point out that he could get a tradbow with a sight on it!

Maybe he's just looking for something that seems new and exciting to him. Maybe one of those aluminum-riser  rigs (e.g. gamemasters, dorados, etc.) that's drilled for attachments like sights and stabilizers would keep his interest?

That is right Mr. Lintz! I heard that as well. I think it was Herb Parsons, exhibition shooter for Winchester in the 50's who said "Take your boy hunting, and you won't have to hunt for your boy".

  Great advice!!!!

Just because he is shooting a compound does't mean he has to use a release and sights, he could still shoot with fingers, and instinctive.

My three oldest sons all shoot compounds, and don't want anything to do with recurves or long bows, my two youngest bows both shoot recurves. My four year old daughter shoot a compound with fingers, and instinctive. Every one still has fun.

Hey lets face it, kids growing up now days are in the age of instant gratification. I don't like it, and I try to instill values in my two boys that will counter these forces, but the reality is they have a ton of different things competing for their time - plus a lot of peer pressure, with all their buddies shooting tricked out componds and taking game right out of the gate. I don't think everything should come easy, there are good lessons to be learned by doing things that are more challenging, but if kids can see some kind of success early on they are going to be more likely to stick with it. If they get bored with it and quit all together then what do you have.  
My oldest is already shooting my recurves in the yard with me and showing an interest in doing it like dad, but I let him use the compound and see some success early on.

let the boy shoot what HE wants, not what you want  ;)

its all archery, and its all good.

Hi!
My nickel here is, that the bow itself does not matter so much, but what are  feelings after you and your little man have solved this issue...like if the little fellow feels he is over run by you, It is not a good thing. But like all difficult things, this can go in so many directions...I did read from a old TBM a story about this lady, who loves to cook with cast iron cookware(dont remember the name of the lady)...and she told there an advice about cooking, that goes (in my opinion ) to all situations ( esp. in family)...if nothing helps - add some love, it will always work !   :thumbsup:

2 cents worth let him go to the wheel bow for now main thing is to keep his interest in archery. i started both my girls out on long bow they would get discouraged because they could not hit like dad neither one shoots much anymore have to wander if i had started them out on wheel bows if they would still be interested

My grandson shoots a T/D longbow very well, as his older brother outgrew the compound bow, it was passed on to him because of its size (browing microflite 4 if I remember). He is trying it out because of its design and all the whistles and bells. I like all the others did not discourage because of bow type but just enjoy his company on the hog hunts.

QuoteOriginally posted by Grayseas:
Just because he is shooting a compound does't mean he has to use a release and sights, he could still shoot with fingers, and instinctive.

My three oldest sons all shoot compounds, and don't want anything to do with recurves or long bows, my two youngest bows both shoot recurves. My four year old daughter shoot a compound with fingers, and instinctive. Every one still has fun.

I shot my old wheelbow with a glove for a long time---seemed to work great. My brother shoots one with a glove and zero sights.(I'm still trying to get him to come into the fold)

Iron, I have not read all the responses.  I will give my .02 though.  I would say get him a used compound first and shoot with him.  Don't push the traditional aspect of it yet.  My son is 9 and wants guns for cryin' out loud.  I've told him I want to hunt with him no matter what weapon he chooses.  I think it would be wiser to find that comman bond and cultivate it than force a common bond and push him away.  If you're not careful and push to hard for a trad bow he may say forget it and decide to look for something else.  Just my thought on the subject.  In closing, I saw a bumoer sticker once that read " Take your kid hunting instead of hunting for your kid".  I encourage you to encourage him!

-Jeremy

i went through the same thing here recently with my son.here's what i did i got him the compound from roy ''blindone'' on a trade for a quiver,so the cost to me was just the shipping.anyways after dillon my son started shooting it he decided not to leave the sights on,so i removed them for him along with the peep sights. now he is shooting the compound instinctively[sp] and doing very well at it to boot.i'm gonna let him shoot it that way for as long as he wants,this in turn will give him some enthusiasm to get better with the compound shooting it without sights which in turn may draw him back to the recurve. i asked him today if he would like me to get him another recurve and to my surprise his answer was yes.peer pressure has alot to do with everyones decision,just let it slide and just maybe he'll come back to the recurve or longbow.

Buy the compound. Shoot with your son. No brainer.

Main thing is to make it fun for kids. Doesn't matter what he shoots, just be glad he's out with you.

My 2 bits: Let him shoot whatever he wants and treasure the time you two can have together in the field. My son shot with me for several years and is now into other things, cars girls you get it. He prefers a compound, and still shoots it occasionally. I know that if I got too insistent about the trad thing, we'd spend less time shooting together.

FWI I know very few people that have been faithful to trad since inception - most have had a compound and gravitated to trad for the simplicity and purity if offers. Jake is still a little young to realize all this so my advice is to let him grow into it.

Good luck and happy new year

Just be damned happy you can bow hunt with your Son. Let him decide what he wants to shoot. In the end you want him to be happy I'm sure. Help him with all the gadgets and such. The biggest part of archery is shooting an arrow no matter what type of arrow or bow you're using. Maybe someday he'll want to get into the trad way..maybe not. I know I'd rather him shooting a bow that he chose and is happy with rather than looking at him knowing he's just shooting this recurve to make me happy. Compounds have their frustrations too. At least if he chooses the compound and is frustrated with it he'll get mad at the bow,himself, gear etc. If you force him to shoot a trad bow and he has some problems he may well get mad at you for making him shoot this old style piece of junk and lose the want for archery altogether. anyway my 2 cents.

Just had a fun afternoon shooting with my good freind Mike and his 12 year old son a former compound shooter,he has a compound that just isn't fun anymore and today he started shooting an old Ben Pearson 40# at 28" with wood arrows and we were surprised how many arrows he shot todayThey all come around in time and all on their own,have fun with your son

Just keep him interested in archery, it took me 13yrs to lose the training wheels but it did happen (havent looked at the compound in 4yrs) but never would have come around if i stopped shootin

Let him follow his own path.He's young and dosn't know what he wants yet.

my boys both 6, have mathews genisis bows, and both have maddog pup recurves, it doesnt matter to me which they shoot as long as we are together.. if the boy wants a compound i say get it for him, theres no rules on quality time