Question for you archery experts...

[DGipson]

I am not a bow hunter and do not own a bow myself. My 11 year old son loves to hunt and is wanting a bow. I would like to buy him something he can use to begin to learn to shoot but also something that will be able to grow with him and that he can hunt with. Can you make some recommendations so I can start shopping?

Thanks.

[Zach G]

HOYT - You're welcome.

No really, take him to an archery shop and have him fitted. They will know what bows would be the best for a wide range of lengths and weights. Let him shoot a few bows and find the one that is most comfortable.

[secdawgs]

Ok, without this becoming a pissing match about which brand is better, I bought my son a Mathews Ignition. The advantages I saw in the Ignition were price and Mathews has tried to develop a youth bow that you can expand without spending an arm and a leg. They have a cam replacement program on the Ignition where you trade in a cam for a longer cam as your child grows. My son was shooting 199 fps with 40lb limbs at 22 in draw. The bow was set at 32lb. He has now grown to the 26 in draw cam and we torqed the limbs to the max which is actually 42lbs and it will shoot 245 fps. My local shop got me the cam for 25.00 with the trade of the old cam.

[Ray Co. Hank]

My daughter is 14 and has shot a Mission Menace for a year now. It adjusts from 20lbs to 52lb draw weight and 20in or so to 29in draw length. Good bow for a beginner and will grow with its shooter. It was under $350. My 8 year old boy has been shooting a Whisper Creek KVA but it is topped out on its poundage at 19lbs. The site and arrows that came w/ this bow were cheap and had to be ungraded. He is saving now for a Bear Apprentice (lighter than the Menace) that should keep him comfortable for next 5 yrs. All the major brands make a youth bow that is has adjustable draw lengths that will grow with the user. Like mentioned, go to a pro shop and see what fits him and get what is in the budget! Next to fishing, there is nothing funner than flinging arrows!

[Bassman25]

Martin makes an excellent first timer bow. The thing is...today we are lucky because there are so many different manufacturers out there for bows. Go to your local archery shot or bass pro/cabelas and they will fix you right up. it will be the best investment you can make for a kid.

[Cajun Bro]

Diamond Razor Edge. Adjustable draw 19" - 29" without changing out cams, and adjustable poundage 30# - 60#. Combo sales with sight, rest and quiver for $330 at Cabelas. I'm a Mathews man all day, but this Diamond was a good choice and I recommend it to anyone.

[DGipson]

Thank you for all the help guys...I'm looking now and have called a few local bow shops. I'm also gonna check with Gander Mountain; have a buddy who says they are real good to work with.

Thanks again...keep the suggestions coming!

[Ray Co. Hank]

Cabela's and/or Gander Mountain are great, but they are chain stores and the pro shop attendant may know less about bows than the guy at Wal-mart. Make sure your boy gets fitted properly and post some pics when he gets going!

[Cajun Bro]

I have been 100% satisfied with Cabela's. I have to drive 50 miles to get to one, but the trip has been worth it every time. They set my girlfriends bow (kisser and peep) for her, cut the arrows, all at no charge. I ended up bringing my bow (Monster XLR8) to them to change my rest and I purchased a dozen arrows that they cut. After they installed the rest and cut the arrows they checked my poundage and set it where I wanted it and then paper tooned it. on Cabela's

[Apache 14]

Zach G is absolutely on the nose. Take your son to a good shop and have him fitted. Several manufacturers make good bows that will grow with him. They won't be cheap but will be well worth the price.

[TobyG.Mo]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by Cajun Bro &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">Diamond Razor Edge. Adjustable draw 19" - 29" without changing out cams, and adjustable poundage 30# - 60#. Combo sales with sight, rest and quiver for $330 at Cabelas. I'm a Mathews man all day, but this Diamond was a good choice and I recommend it to anyone.</td></tr></table>
Both my nephews have one of these, they are one of the better youth bows I have seen. They have a ton of adjustment and that is really important in a kids bow.

[idaho guide]

No really, take him to an archery shop and have him fitted. They will know what bows would be the best for a wide range of lengths and weights. Let him shoot a few bows and find the one that is most comfortable. RITE ON

[BP in ME]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by idaho guide &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">No really, take him to an archery shop and have him fitted. They will know what bows would be the best for a wide range of lengths and weights. Let him shoot a few bows and find the one that is most comfortable. RITE ON </td></tr></table>

Another vote for taking him to a pro. In addition to fitting him, the pro usually can't help himself not to coach him in the fundamentals of shooting--so long as the shop isn't mobbed at the time. Kids come in all shapes and sizes so ordering from a catalog is tricky. If he's small for his age, he might struggle with the 30# lowest setting of bows mentioned here. Developing a good relationship with a shop now even though it might cost a little more could benefit him down the road if he decides to stick with it.

[Hogman]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by Cajun Bro &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">Diamond Razor Edge. Adjustable draw 19" - 29" without changing out cams, and adjustable poundage 30# - 60#. Combo sales with sight, rest and quiver for $330 at Cabelas. I'm a Mathews man all day, but this Diamond was a good choice and I recommend it to anyone.</td></tr></table>

+1.
Bought one for my son about a month ago. He took an 8 point last week with it. Easy to adjust at home without a press and shoots straight once tuned.

[sjso395]

Or local Cabelas have some kids in the Bow section that look lost. I only get my stuff from a local Bow shop. Good luck, I am 35 just starting out with the Bow (been rifle hunting 20 years) and wish I would have started bow hunting back then.. Let us know what you decide, I will need one in a couple of years for my son.

[JoshKeller]

if you have any questions with fitting, or anything else about archery, let me know. Ive been working on archery equipment for over 10 years. With your desires and needs in a bow, id suggest looking at the mission menace, hoyt kobalt, and diamond razors edge, pse chaos, or bear apprentice. All of these bows are adjustable by a simple module. dont go to bass pro, gander mountain, or cabelas - go to a specialty archery shop. Buying a bow at cabelas is like taking your car to get a new engine at jiffy lube.