Bow for young fella

[Clemo]

My 7 yr old Tim is dead set keen to get a bow and his Bday is coming up so I thought it would be a great present for him. He has showed a keen interest in hunting and so I would like something that he could use to take small game with eventually. Obviously, as I have explained to him, he will need a lot of coaching and practice before a hunt is on the cards.
My problem is I just don’t know what will be the best type of bow for him, I learnt to shoot with a curve at about his age but I also remember the difficulty of instinctive shooting and the persistence required to become competent to the point to be able to hunt ethically.
So what’s the thoughts, trad or compound for a young beginner?

[Thwack!]

Hey Clemo, what a great dilemma to be having - I look forward to the same in a couple of years when my 4 year old daughter will be old/big enough to have a go.

My two cents:

Well I grew up on a diet of compound shooting since the age of about 13 or 14 and I've had a couple of bows since but only ever shot a sighted bow in the last 12 to 15 months when I finally added a short axle bow to the stable. I've always shot my compounds barebow in an instinctive manner and used a "Tip on", gap method of aiming when on the range facing a group 5 ABA Target. I had no problem adapting to shooting with the sights and really do enjoy the accuracy that sights provide, but i still do find distance judgement a bit of a challenge, as I never really judged distances in all my barebow career.

I have a couple of mates that have always shot with sights and they both shake their heads in disbelief at how someone could hit anything without sights, and they really do struggle when urged to try. Unfortunately for them they will never experience the elegant arch of a wooden shaft launched from a longbow from the perspective of behind the string simply because they are reluctant to shoot without sights. :( Both guys, although very accurate and efficient shooters/hunters, have stated that they wished they had learned to shoot barebow when they got into the sport.

So I guess I am trying to say that if you choose a compound for your son, keep in mind that you don't have to fit sights to it. An if he wants a set of sights, well you've got Christmas covered no worries. ;)

Just my opinion based on my small sample of archery friends and their feelings toward shooting styles.

Aaron

[troy]

Next time you bring him over I'll get the young fellas bows out and he can have a shot. He has a curve and a compound.

[Perry2007]

i would say, get him a compound and not put any sights on it so he can learn to shoot instinctively. when he gets a solid style/form ask him if he wants sights and go from there.

Good luck.

[Warlocke]

Both my 11 year old twin boys have had bows since they were 7.

Both started with compounds with sights and fingers.

Now one has a recurve and one a compound but the compound shooter is the only one that shoots regularly and keeps asking Dad to go hunting.

I think that the best thing to keep kids interested is to allow them to get the best success out of their equipment.

The recurve is best to practice the basics but the compound allows them to keep hitting what they are aiming at which promotes a greater interest in the sport.

If they are really keen, over time I am sure that they will want to get back to the traditional skills but you have to keep them in the sport in the first place to develop this need.

[Clemo]

Sounds like some good advise, I had similar thoughts to warlocke in regards to keeping him interested, I know from fishing experience that if the kids aren’t catching fish then it’s going to be a short trip.
I will have to get him out to shoot a few things and see what he feels comfortable with. You never know, he might just have the nack.