How Young Can You Start??

[colockumelk]

My son just turned 2 years old and can't stay away from my bow.  He wants one real bad.  I plan on one day buying him the Diamond Nuclear Ice for his first bow.  My question is how soon would you recommend my getting him his first bow.  What age have you seen kids start shooting bows?  Thanks for any help.  My wife and I are having a "debate" on this issue. 

[carpsniperg2]

there are lots of toy bows that he can start with and still teach him the basics. but i would say 4-5 years old before i would give them a real bow but thats me i have thought about this for when i have kids i feel that is a good age to start with youth bows and bb guns and etc

[xXx Archery]

Dustin's kids 2 and 4 both have the Nuclear ice....the sooner the better

[colockumelk]

Dustin's kids 2 and 4 both have the Nuclear ice....the sooner the better

.

Ha can't wait to tell my wife I told you so,  On that note..... 

XXX if you see a pretty blond angrily pull into your store just run. She's a former Marine and can shoot well. Trust me just run.

[D-Rock425]

My little Girl is 2 1/2 and loves going to the range.  I plan on getting her a bow very soon

[halflife65]

I have a friend that started his boy with a toy bow at about 2 and half.  The kid is 6 now, has a compound, and shoots lights out at 10 yards.  Even shoots a release now.

If you can find one of those tiny longbows or recurves, just supervise closely and have him start shooting.  Of course, easy for me to say, it's not my kid. 

His grandpa, whom I shoot a lot with at 3d shoots, etc. always takes the broken off arrows in the buckets next to the steel targets or asks for the broken arrows from the guys putting on the shoot and inspects them carefully, cuts them off with an arrow saw, puts a new insert in them, fletches if necessary and has a steady supply of 18 to 20 inch arrows for him to use.

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

As a Traditional Archer I have small bows for my kids, but my 2 girls really didnt show an interest in shooting until they were 4, I have a little toy bow (dollar store) that they have all carried, including my year old boy, while I am out shooting, and a little fiberglass 8# longbow they start using as soon as they are old enough to understand instructions on how to hold it, pull release etc..Then I have a couple cheap hickory bows around 10#, my 4 year old just won a brand new 12# longbow from "Black Rose Archery" (Wes Wallace) at the Western States Renesvous, and my 7 year old is shooting an 18# "Pup" made by Maddog Archery, when she gets a little bigger, I am going to move her up to a little 24# Ben Pearson recurve, then to a 30# "Little Bear", I hope then to start her on one of my 40# and get her hunting !!

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

Brigette (7) with her Maddog "Pup"

[quadrafire]

Dang!! Nice form. She's a shooter
Obviously you can start this young

[colockumelk]

On a serious note thank you for the advice and info.  I'll definately go buy that toy bow and see where we go from there based on his interest, maturity etc.  Plus now I have some ammo to back up my "debate" with my wife. 

[Craig]

My son just turned 6. He got his first bow for his birthday. He wants to shoot every day.

[bearpaw]

Those kids all have parents who care, thanks for being those good parents, seriously I mean that.    

[WDFW Hates ME!!!]

Craig, my son has that same bow and he still shoots it. He is 10 now and has moved on to shotguns but he still shoots that bow. He was out last week shooting a turkey target with it.

[Special T]

I started my little girl on a small Fiberglass long bow from Riverside archery In Mt Vernon. He restrings them with a high quality string.. She couldn't shoot very much at a time... She's 5 now and still using the same bow and can shoot a couple dozen arrows 10 yards and hit the target.... KIDS WANT TO DO WHAT THEIR PARENTS DO! you could do a lot worse than get you kid started too early.  

[thearcherykid]

Just talked to my father and confirmed that he had me shooting when i was 2.5 and out in the woods hunting with him when i was in thigh high and the bottom of a hunters orange vest drug on the ground.

My good friend and I got his son a bb gun at 3 . We actually had to cut the stock down so he could shoulder it  Within 2 hours could pop soda cans at 10 yards. He now shoots my first bow and can hit soda boxs at 10 yards and is 4. You can bet your a** his mom wasn't happy and argued that he's too young  there is no such thing as too young imho.

[adam.WI]

If they're old enough to except the concept of safety they are ready to rock and roll

[Recurve-Elk]

Just get him a cheapo fiberglass longbow that draws at like 5-10 lbs.  I remember my red fiberglass walmart bow.  Ill post a picture of it.  It was awesome   I probably started around age 3??  I think I have a picture of me holding it too lol, ill try to post that up also.  

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Bear-Archery-1st-Shot-Bow-Set-RH-LH/11000704



Times have changed haha.

[ladyelkslayer]

My little brother started when he was 2 with a little plastic bow.  when he was 4 or 5, he got a little compound bow. now he is 16 and winning several tournaments such as Vegas Indoor, and Redding California Marked Yardage, as well as all the local 3-D shoots (shooting as a youth in the mens class)...its never to young to start a kid out!!!

[garyltbh]

my nephews sons are 3 and 6 the 3yr old shoots a fiberglass longbow and the 6yr old shoots a compound with a release and does pretty good. i think it depends on the kid and the parent and what they want to put into it.