Which first bow for a small boy?

[liljohn]

I haven't shot my bow in years, (I have an old single cam 70# compound that I don't remember what the brand is, and with the camo paint can't tell) so.....I figured I better ask someone who is up to date on such things!

My grandson is a responsible minded age 6, is small sized, and wants to start shooting a bow.

I have been looking around locally, and size-wise there were not many for under 50 bucks!
(I'd rather not spend big bucks yet while relying on the attention span of the youngsters nowadays!)

We tried holding "Fred Bear's"  lit'l brave, Explorer, and the golden commanche, and these fit him pretty well, as did the draw weight.

Once he proves that this hobby will last longer than the current video/computer game, I will get him a good bow for hunting rabbits...that's how I learned my stalking skills.
And who knows maybe his older sister will join in as well.

Was looking at used youth bows, but they want as much as a new one.

I thought about shopping online by draw length/weight, and need some info on what small youth bows you recommend.


ANY help would be appreciated!

[six_gunz]

Try the Mathews Genesis or Mini Genesis, it's a great little bow for the money and your grandson can grow into it as there is no specific draw length. It has a short axle to axle length and is only 2lbs in total weight. Draw weight is 6-12lbs adjustable and depends on how far you draw for the weight. I wouldn't waste my money with the 'Lil Braves or Golden Eagle youth bows. I have 2 boys and have been there....they make junk and it'll break in no time, believe me Mathews is way ahead of everyone in this dept.
 http://mathewsinc.com/mathews-bows-MiniGenesis-44-ViewProduct-1375-287.asp

I bought my Genesis Pro from here : http://www.genesis-outlet.com/order.html   You can buy the kit that comes with the bow, arrows, a quiver, and an arm guard
I love shooting this bow for just fun and Genesis Outlet has extra arrows and accessories. They also have great customer service.
I believe you can get it from Cabelas and Bass Pro as well.

Another great little bow for little guys is the Hoyt Banshee. I bought one for my 6yr old last (7yrs old now and still uses it) year. I tried to talk him into the Mini Genesis but he had to have one like his dad, I bought the Hoyt Trykon that I hunt with. I'm not sure if Hoyt makes the Banshee still as they change every year but I know Mathews still makes the Genesis (Mini Genesis, Genesis, and Genesis Pro) and in my honest opinion cannot be beat by anyone in the same business. As far as the money part, like I said he can grow into these bows and use the mini for many more years, the genesis throughout his adulthood. So i'd say its worth the extra money

[GRIMJIM]

O was also going to suggest the genesis, but you can't add much to the last post.

[jpsmith1]

Genesis.  Try them out at a local pro shop.  At 6, I'd probably avoid the mini.  My 4 yr old handles a mini pretty well.  We use the genesis bows at cub scout camp and even the 5 yr olds handle them OK.

[six_gunz]

Genesis.  Try them out at a local pro shop.  At 6, I'd probably avoid the mini.  My 4 yr old handles a mini pretty well.  We use the genesis bows at cub scout camp and even the 5 yr olds handle them OK.

Sure, but it all depends on their frame size. The Genesis can be too long and a bit too heavy (bow weight and pull weight) for a little guy at 6 or 7 yet. It was for mine. My wife has a Genesis and my boy still had trouble pulling the higher weight and holding it steady due to the heavier bow, but when I took him to the local shop he could hold the Mini Genesis steadier and pull the lighter weight a lot easier. He seemed a lot more comfortable with it.
If you end up buying the Mini Genesis most shops will give you a descent trade in when he's ready to step up to the Genesis. Take him to a local shop that sells them and ask to try it out and ask about trade ins. I've never gone to one that wasn't willing to let you test them out prior to buying one (so long as they have a range to fire one in).

[dakotashooter2]

FWIW My brother and I cut our  bowhunting teeth on a simple 15# fiberglass recurve bow. We shot 10s of thousands of shots (going through many bowstrings) and both shot recurves till age and shoulder problems caught up with us. At that age, considering the draw weights you are working with a (mini compound) really has no advantage. I would suggest decent arrows though. That is probably the one thing we didn't have. When I started my son shooting I actually salvaged light target arrows that were broken or bent on the ends from the local archery range and cut them down. They cost nothing and worked perfect out of the light bow.

[1 farmer]

I would second the fiberglass longbows. Kids love them and can grow into them and you can buy them cheap.

[six_gunz]

At that age, considering the draw weights you are working with a (mini compound) really has no advantage.

I beg to differ on that statement, the Genesis at a 20lb pull stores and releases energy to that comparable to a 35lb recurve...so there is an advantage there for a young guy that wants to small game hunt or target shoot. I'm not arguing what you are saying about starting on a fiberglass recurve, my brother and I also started on a Colt 20lb recurve at the age of 4yrs old and I don't think I've ever shot a bow that was more fun to shoot.

[liljohn]

Longbow......
That is an option that I had not thought of!

I will have to look around, I know there are lots of options out there, and I like your idea of used/cut-down arrows.

As I said I was looking for something to test the attention span/fad of my grandson for CHEAP, because with five grand-kids there may be a new fad started, or a "don't wanna' do it" throw away proposition.

What kids will use for more than a month seems to be determined by the parents,(Neither of his hunt.) the local schools, or the TV!
I am trying to get the grand-kids into hunting/shooting sports, and fishing.

I am doing all the safety training,.... stalking into the wind, ....still walking the woods, ....bench-rest breathing, ....all the Marine style sling shooting positions that I learned as a kid...etc... you get the picture.

I am trying to hand down the things that were passed to me, that can't be learned from a screen, or any school.

Thanks for the ideas...keep them coming!

[liljohn]

We went to a buddies place and the grand-son tried out three glass bows, and four handmade.

He likes the looks/feel of a classic English style bow.

He wants us to build a pair so we can hunt together.
(Looks like old grandad has some winter projects now!)

My buddy got out of building bows a few years ago, and is in the process of divorce/moving....so we are on our own.

Any good sites out there that you have used, there are a few on a goog search...just wondered if anyone has tried them.

The granddaughter wants the Genesis, so we will stay all compound for her.

[1 farmer]

Here are a couple good sights I use all the time. Tradgang.com and stickbow.com Lots of help there.

[liljohn]

Will start looking for straight grained wood this weekend.
(It looks like I have a lot of research to do for my project!)

Seems to be a good start with the two web-sites listed above!

Thanks for all the info!

[jgalar]

Try this link

[sharpsshooter1874]

May be a bit late on this, but we found a great buy on a bow at the local Sportsman's Warehouse.  They had discontinued the PSE Nova jr bow and they had a few upstairs in open box condition.  Nice little compound bow that looks like a normal bow.  Has a quiver that mounts on the bow, 2 arrows, a rest, sight, finger tab and arm guard.  They sold it to me for $30.

Might be worth checking out at your local store if you have one.

[liljohn]

Thanks for the hint, but went with the genesis mini for the grand-daughter and trying to build an english longbow for the grand-son.

Have broken one in yellow pine...split a hickory, and am now shaving one out of FRESH still growing elm.

We are getting the grain right, and doing things by the numbers, but I think it may be the way the wood I bought was dried and racked before the yard gets it.