Archery- for kids

Blkvoodoo

Blkvoodoo

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Archer Lodge
My soon to be 9yo daughter has expressed interest in archery, and I think we need to get her into something to get her outside more ( as well as getting Dad out there too )

I don't really know jack about it, was thinking a cheap ( $50ish ) youth set for her to get her going and see if she will keep up and take care of it. maybe something for myself as well.

which would be better for the beginner ? recurve or compound ? arrows and targets are cheap enough a wall of hay bales to try and keep arrows in my yard ( if they get into the Kudzu, we won't see them again until late fall after it dies )

anyway, any info or suggestions ?
 
If you can find a cheapish youth compound used I'd go that way first just to make sure she'll maintain interest. Then upgrade to a higher quailty bow. Trust me when I say don't be fruggle with targets if they will be used alot.
 
I would suggest a youth recurve for a youngster, cheap, simple, easy to shoot and alot of fun for most kids. If she takes a real interest you can get a better, more expensive bow later. Hay bales make a great backstop for low powered bows. I have some nice arrows i'll give you if you want them pm me for my #.
 
My 7yr old is also expressing interest in archery since I have been shooting the past week or so, trying to get ready for bow season. From talking with my neighbor who builds recurves and David from Hunter's Haven, compounds are easier to learn on than recurves. And +1 on getting quality targets once you two get hooked.
 
Also get a bow that you can use a release with or have it set up for it. Shooting with a release is way easier than with fingers.
 
That's cool. While out with surgery I found my old bear recurve. Started shooting it a little to gain strength back and my daughters got interested (no, they weren't into or had even seen "the hunger games" or that other stuff). Got a simple green fiberglass bear bow and aluminum arrows, they kept shooting, then found a nice Italian take down youth recurve on Craigslist for $45. I'd say they have a 20 to 30 draw weight or so. When their friends come over they shoot on a countdown to one at the same target, having fun.
In the 80's I was all in on the compounds, could put 3 out of 5 arrows in a coke can at 50 yards. Sold all that stuff and kept the recurve. It's simple and instinct shooting I find fun, I just walk back and shoot from random spots, no set yardage. First arrow may be off a little but second one closer in, amazing how your mind and muscles compensate quickly. And during my absence from archery, it seems compounds now surpass guns in price which I find ridiculous. Just because you have access to a 5 or 6 axis CNC machine doesn't always make it better, a lot of times overly complicated and fragile.
 
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mommucked said:
I would suggest a youth recurve for a youngster, cheap, simple, easy to shoot and alot of fun for most kids. If she takes a real interest you can get a better, more expensive bow later. Hay bales make a great backstop for low powered bows. I have some nice arrows i'll give you if you want them pm me for my #.
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This^^^^ My son has been through it (and has a wall full of trophies and plaques). Cheap and simple. Get hay bales instead of styrofoam. Sometimes youth arrows will not stick in styrofoam and it is no fun for the kid if the arrow bounces off the target. It needs to stick.
 
I think all would be archers should start with the basics like lots of sports/hobbies. While compounds may be enherently more accurate, real accuracy come's with practice and repeating the same shot process w any type of bow. Good form is a must for safety and accuracy. Archery gloves or fingertabs protect fingers just fine on lower powered bows, and you might want an armguard so she does'nt hit it with the string, it can hurt/injure and cause flinching afterward, if she even wants to shoot again afterward. I know a guy w no experience who picked up a powerfull compound bow in a store and dryfired it promptly filleting his forearm severely because he had his elbow pointed down instead of horizontally when he released the string w/o an arrow on it. Be sure to get some info on proper form for shooting a bow from a book or online, or maybe a trip to an archery shop. 5 mins. of instruction can make a world of difference in a newbies success and accuracy. A good archery guy can watch you shoot and tell you what you might be doing wrong. They may be quite busy this time of year though so call and ask, they may be eager to show a youngster the sport.
 
Also get a bow that you can use a release with or have it set up for it. Shooting with a release is way easier than with fingers.
 
I will probably use a release, missing half an index finger and a mangled middle finger, I don't see me pulling a bow with any real draw without a release.

some good info so far

Thanks
 
My kids like shooting at the basic circle style targets for scores versus the animal targets.

My backstop is a 5' x 5' wooden frame, particle board back, layers of carpet/foam and circle target hanging in front of that. If you use hay bales lay a piece of particle board or plywood behind so one doesn't slip all the way thru. Made mine all out of scraps I had laying around. Center of my target is roughly 3 feet off the ground.
 
Blkvoodoo said:
My soon to be 9yo daughter has expressed interest in archery, and I think we need to get her into something to get her outside more ( as well as getting Dad out there too )

I don't really know jack about it, was thinking a cheap ( $50ish ) youth set for her to get her going and see if she will keep up and take care of it. maybe something for myself as well.

which would be better for the beginner ? recurve or compound ? arrows and targets are cheap enough a wall of hay bales to try and keep arrows in my yard ( if they get into the Kudzu, we won't see them again until late fall after it dies )

anyway, any info or suggestions ?
Click to expand...

I don't know if they are doing this in your area, but if you are near Welcome, NC, the Cheer Mania Cheer Gym is doing Archery tag as a side thing. It looks pretty cool and it appears to be geared toward kids.
 
mommucked said:
Redneck to Redneck..................You can use a release w any type of bow.
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I know that was just sayin get one that already has the string in it. Anyways dont cheap out on a release the cheaper ones tend to let got when you don't want it too.
 
I went to Dick's "sporting goods" tonight after work, bought a small bow set with a pair of arrows ( can't really call it a recurve ) 4 more fiberglass ( brightly colored ) arrows, a quiver and an arm guard. So we're about $60 in without getting hay bales.

The guy in the hunting section was too interested in the folks spending real money, to waste time with me, I got to talk to some twit who had to re-ask every question to the "pro" so I could have an answer. Fawk it, this is about as much as I'm spending here.

I'll go somewhere that is actually interested in promoting the sport be fore I go back to "Dick's" ( seems to be appropriately named )
 
Go to Hunter's Haven in Rolesville and talk to David (owner and their archery guy). He will point you in the right direction and answer your questions. Bow season opens this Sat, so give it a couple of weeks or he won't have much time to talk.
 
Kevin, Hope I am not too late, just found this thread.
Something to remember about a lil girl, and as far as that's concerned, an older girl/woman too.
The female arm bends back more than a male. Guys can lock their arm in a straight line, women can't, locked is at a curve. Throwing the inside elbow out, making it VERY vulnerable to the release of the string.
What ever kind of bow she shoots, she needs a really good arm guard.
 
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