My son is just about 3. For his 2nd birthday my inlaws told me they wanted to get him a bow. I wanted it to be more than a garbage plastic toy. I knew that my local shop had some low weight wood or fiberglass bows (under #10), so I sent them there. To my dismay they brought back a metal compound made for little guys (pretty nice for what it is, came with 3 tiny carbon arrows). Anyway, we shoot together at home and out in the desert, he loves it.
Hopefully gonna get a small fiberglass little guys stickbow for him this year, he wants one like daddy.
How about you guys with your kids?
My son is also 3 and im finishing a hickory selfbow of my own design.Nothing special just carved with a knife.I hope he likes it.I picked up a Ben Pearson Bronco from a gun show for him but ended up letting my daughter use it who is 10.She loves it.I had intended to get her a PSE Bullseye but this will work.
Bought the grandson his 1st longbow when he was 3.5yrs old. This is him last summer at a 3D shoot when he was 4.5yrs old. He put a better shot on than me...and he knows it :archer2:
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My daughter Mattie started when she was 4 years old, just make sure it's fun for them. She will be 9 this summer
doug77
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(http://i945.photobucket.com/albums/ad298/doug7759/Mattierabbit.jpg)
Three is the perfect age... make it close and fun!!!
Started my daughter at 4 and my boy at 3. I started with a homemade 32" bow and 1/4 diameter dowel rods for arrows.
I started my daughter when she was 4 with a little oak board bow I made for her and took her to her first 3D when she was five. That little oak bow was passed down to little brother when he was 3, and she moved up to a glass laminated bow that I finished from a blank from Maddog.
My son Andy started to actually shoot with me at age 5. He started with a little recurve (no namer) but transitioned to a compound bow at age 12. He shot a doe the first season he hunted. After that year and for many years following he became interested in a different breed of does...HA
Four years ago I built him a longbow and we started to shoot together again.
I started my boys at about 3 years
I started my daughter at about 6 when she asked for a bow to shoot. At 22 she still goes to shoots with me. Some years she was more into it than others but I never pushed so it was always fun. Dont over "coach", let em find their own style, and "foam is better than dirt".(any hit is a good hit at 3D)
I have 3 daughters.
Audrianna "stays with her mom" is now 16 & I started her out when she was 5 or 6 & she was doing pretty well but her mom's influence curbed that part of our time & she stopped shooting all together.
Erin is now 9 & I started her when she was right at 3 1/2 but later I found that she had a left eye dominance so changes had to be made "thankfully early."
She shoots really well when she has her mind into it & here recently I got har a custom recurve like her daddy's, I really hope she sticks to it but she has so much other stuff going on right now.
Katherine is soon to be 4 & this past year I've been letting her shoot the same lil long bow that Erin started out with & so far she has been the challenge because she has so much energy & doesn't hold the string long enough to get to her face but that is all in the learning process.
If I had it all to do over again I would not change a thing because I love my girls, my only wish is that my oldest would have stayed with it, my middle one finds the patience & time to continue with it & that my youngest would slow down a little & eventually learn.
Time will tell on my wishes.
I started all my kids early, unfortantly they grow up, have their own lives and families and move away from archery. Hopfully they will come back this way.
I got my first bow, a green fibreglass jelly bow at about 5yo, I'm now 34 and apart from the 12 year gap through injury, girls and uni, I've always had a bow to hand.
My girlfriends kids are 11 and 9 now. I started them last summer. Late I know but they enjoy it. Alyssa the oldest is a good learner and has great form. Robert is a natural with his own style. I think they're both over bowed though. Old green glass bows. I'm hoping they grow into them soon before they develope bad habits. Can't afford new ones for them. Just love family time at the target!
Keeping the Faith!
Magnus
My daughter was 2 yrs old when she first got to shoot arrows with me sitting on a stool, her standing with her back to me as I helped her with it. Within a few weeks she could draw and loose the arrow by herself as long as I nocked it up for her. She liked to shoot so much I used shooting to break the pacifier habit. The pacifier kept getting in the way of things so I told her to just throw that thing in the trash so she can shoot some more with Daddy. To my surprise she did it immediately and never looked back.
Ha, memories. Now she is 13.....I sure miss those days.
I started my boy when he was 5, now he's 12 and shoot's with me all the time. I never did push him, I just let him shoot when he wanted, and without trying to show him everything. Now he is a really good shot and every time theres a 3D shoot he want's to go. I dread the day when he discovers girls, and don't want to shoot with ol dad anymore, because I sure would miss my hunting and shooting buddy! Jason
I started both of my girls at age 2 with a little fiberglass bow and suction-cup arrows shooting at "approved" targets in the house.
My youngest is almost three and it is her favorite thing to do and the other is almost 6 and throws a fit if she knows I'm going out to shoot and she cant go.
Kids and grandkids all between 4 and 9.
both my girls at about age 3 my oldest is now 12 and killed her first deer with a bow this year.
My kids have been 3-5 when they started. First two started with a little wooden recurve from a garage sale. I made arrows from hardware store dowels. Not the fastest sticks because or the weight, but durable and the kids got to help.
Last one started with a hickory self-bow that I built. Scary cast for a crude little bow. Startled me-shouldn't have tested it indoors!
That son is 21 now, and the little bow is still in his room and he still picks it up and handles it. He now shoots a longbow given to him by a good friend. Both sons are coming back to trad archery.
My son started shooting the cub stake with me at 5 years old (1984). He was the state Bowhunter Round-Up champ at age 8 (Indiana). My granson was in his firt "tournament" at age 3.5, with help.
Oh, that state champ at 8 was barebow 12 year old and under.
I am not much for wood working so making him a bow is out. That archery shop that prevoiusly had small stick bows no longer carrys them. Anyone able to point me somewhere to get a small longbow or recurve for my kid?
3R has youngster bows or you can step up a little and talk to Mike @ Maddog archery he makes great kids bows.Some of the big Sporting good stores carry small glass bows cheap.At 3yo I wouldn't invest in a bow that cost more than $30.00 he will only outgrow it quick and a bigger size may discourage him if he can't pull it and shoot it. Most kids around 5-7 shoot 20# bows he would need like a 10-12# bow.
Should have done some looking before posting. Anyone tried out the youth Pilgrim longbows on 3 rivers site? Seems to be just what I am looking for
This is mikes link,check him out also
http://www.maddogarchery.com/
My sons started when I did in traditional. Oldest was 9 youngest was 4, would have been earlier but I wasn't involved.
My oldest started out shooting pencils out of a plastic coat hanger :biglaugh:
He was trying to tell me he was ready...........He was 2. When they have the desire to shoot, their old enough. IMHO
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My son was 2.
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Now he is 5.
I got my son started when he was 5. He has strong feelings on fair chase. Today while driving home from hunting he made this statement " dad you know hunting for me is more about how I get there as opposed to making a kill". I guess some of me did rub off on him.
Bought my daughter her first bow when she was 3. She's now eleven and would rather shoot pistols than bows.
my parents had a self bow made for my sons 1st xmas. he's now 4 and shoots his sisters bow with me. We got him a bow that shoots marshmellows. it's great for bow shoots (don't have to look for them and they make a great snack on a long day). Plus he can shoot it in the house at his deer target
He shoots his bow better than mine. I should have kept this mojostick. He sure did like it. (http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z107/HATCHCHASER/100_0580-1.jpg)
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I am probably gonna take a shot at one of 3 rivers bows for him. He has a little brother (8 months) and should have another next year, so it can be handed down.
These are some great pics guys.
I love seeing those kids shooting archery. Keep it up dads.
I am planning on buying my son a bow for his 4th b-day in February.
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The "Boys" were 6 and 4.
The bow length is there height!
Add 21 years to the age.
Oldest boy started bow hunting again this year and shot his first two archery deer! After a 15 year layoff.
Some kids just take to hunting and shooting sooner than others.
Tried to start Gwyn at 4, but she wasn't quite ready. The following year at 5 she started to pick it up.
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She is 7 now and improving in form quite a bit.
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This is how I started exposing them to archery. Greta was 1 year old hear. She will be 3 soon.
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:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
My son started actually shooting at age 3... He is 14 now and can draw all of my bows.
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I started this little tyke (now 19 years old, about 6'4", etc.) when he was small enough that I had to carry him on my back. Glad he stuck with it. I'm also glad he no longer rides on my back. :D
(http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff187/GingivitisKahn/20081107_ac_dylans_first_deer_02_small.jpg)
Started both my boys at 2 years old. One took to it one didn't, keep it fun and hope for the best. Still hoping my older boy will see the light.
I built my nephew a PVC bow this year. He is 3 and wanted to "hunt" with his dad. Cant wait till I have one to shoot with.
Great pics and stories dads
My kids started young my daughter (she's a lefty I tried to have her switch,now shes back at lefty)started when she was 5 and my son when he was 7 this is my little girl last year. and the second is my boy a year or so ago. and the two bottom pics are them posing for profile Ryan Steadman made me stickers for my truck from (HardcoreArchery.com).The stickers can have your kids name on them they are cool.
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Just started my son this year. He is 2. I took him out to the ground blind with me during hunting season and let him blow the grunt, use the turkey call and predator call. Came home and made him a little bow. He was shooting dowels but got pretty dangerous with that quick. Let him use the cardboard rods off of hangars now. I am hoping to make a better bow for him soon. Here is a pic.
(http://i865.photobucket.com/albums/ab219/camoman/Shaneshooting.jpg)
2 years old. The president of the bow club made a special group for them. Under 3 Longbow.
Needless to say, they won 1st and 2nd every tournament.
God Bless,
Nathan
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Started them at age 3 and 5. They are now 6 and 8 and still interested, so interested that Im starting to worry about the neighbors dog!!!