Youth Bows Put More Archers in the Game

By Taylor Wilson

I have a youngster at my house that loves to hunt. In a decade aboard the planet he has shot quite a few critters. But as of yet, he has not shot a deer with a bow.

“Why don´t you let me go bowhunting?” Sometimes he poses this question when I return from a bowhunting trip. Other times he has asked this of me while I am practicing shooting in the backyard.

The last time he asked while I was practicing, I simply gave him my bow and told him to pull it back.

He grunted a bit, giving it his best effort to draw the bow, but he soon realized he could not do it.

“You have to wait until you get older to bowhunt. It´s a different kind of hunting than point and shoot. It´s about having deer close and being able get the most out of what you are shooting. Everything has to come together. Everything has to fit,” I told him.

The answer didn´t please the man cub very much. He has a “toy” bow to sling arrows at targets. But here again is a kid that has shot a lot of game. And even at age 10, he wants to do the same thing with a bow. He wants to be in the game.

Of course, he can be in the game. Some companies make youth hunting bows. And a youth-specific bow could very well solve his/our problem.

Among the companies catering to young archery enthusiasts is Mission Archery, which is affiliated with premium bow manufacturer, Mathews, Inc., and provides high-quality, economic bows for beginners.

In the Mission arsenal for young, arrow-slingers-to-be are the Menace and the Maniac.

The Menace weighs under 3 pounds and has an adjustable module with a draw length range of 17-30 inches. As you change draw lengths, the minimum and maximum weight adjusts proportionally (see chart) within a full range of 16-52 pounds.

The Maniac operates on a similar system which utilizes cams that are optimized for an archer looking for higher draw weights. It also features a parallel limb design for a smoother draw, as well as higher speed and letoff. It weighs only 4-1/2 pounds and has a draw length range of 22 to 30 inches with an incredible weight range of 20-70 pounds.

The Menace is a universal bow that anyone can shoot, and is especially good for beginners and archers with smaller frames. Teenagers and Selecting Your First Bow mature beginners may prefer the Maniac for even higher draw-weights. Both bows provide the young archers power to hunt and progress through growth spurts with equipment that “fits” their exact size specifications.

Speaking of fit, why is it so important for a bow to fit an archer?

Well, the “fit” of a bow is as it is with a gun. A good fit equals comfort, accuracy and success. The fit is paramount. If the bow and the archer´s frame are not matched you will never truly be on target with your archery goals, be it placing shafts in bull´s eye, or bagging a trophy buck.

With bows like Mission´s Menace and Maniac, young hunters not only get a desired fit, but they also get the capability to adjust as the youngster grows. This feature allows the shooter to grow with his or her bow, while the bow is also in use long enough for the parent to consider it a worthwhile investment. Both these bows, The Menace and Maniac, allow a wellsuited progression in the sport of bowhunting— giving younger, smaller shooters what all archers want, even the grownups: comfort, accuracy and success.

Pick a Small Spot as Your Point of Aim

Bowhunting is definitely not point-and-shoot. Precision is everything with a bow.

The hunter often thinks not only about the flight of his arrow to his target, but to a very specific place on his target AND even where the arrow will pass through and exit. Shot placement is everything. To be lethal you have to put the arrow in the right spot.

You also have to know your limitations and know when to pass on certain shots. Knowing when not to shoot is as important as knowing where to shoot. Poor judgment in either case can result in failure or worse (i.e., a wounded, lost game animal).

One long-shared practice among archers is the “aim-small, hit-big” theory. Here is how it works.

It´s like when your baseball coach tells you to pick out a spot on the ball. You concentrate so intently on “the spot” that even if you miss, you are actually still on target.

For example, while bowhunting you pick a tiny spot out on your target, like a fleck of different hair coloring on a deer´s vital area. Then you really concentrate your aim on this small spot before releasing the arrow.

True, you may not hit that small spot, but you will find that by “aiming small” you will consistently put more arrows in the required zone—whether it be for a clean kill or a high score in an archery tournament.

So aim small to score big. It is a technique worth considering the next time you practice and later when you head to the field.

Selecting Your First Bow

Younger hunters looking for a first bow have several things to consider reports Bob Jenkins, Warranty Technician with Mathews, Inc. First of all, is “Where to buy the bow?”

“We recommend new archers to pro-shops, where there are experts with years of experience in taking people through the process of getting set up for their first archery experience. There are a lot of options in bows, accessories and gear, and the pro-shops are great places to find sound advice.” Many times there are indoor and outdoor ranges where beginners can test before they buy, practice with their new bow and eventually join competitive leagues.

These archery experts can also help you determine the best fit. The physical weight of the bow in hand and the poundage, or amount of pull it takes to draw the bow, are the important factors to consider in this aspect.

Tuning the bow to get exactly what you want to shoot accurately and comfortably is the next step. It´s another reason young hunters may want to consider purchasing a bow at a place that can set it up for them, match the draw length to the shooter´s arm and the draw weight to their strength.

“Having to shoot a bow that´s uncomfortable and inaccurate can give anybody a sour taste for the sport, and that’s unnecessary,” Jenkins explains. “Hunters of all skill levels should want their bows set up to their personal specifications.”

Jenkins also added that this is why the new Mission Menace and Maniac bows are great for young hunters starting out. To find an authorized Mission retailer go to www.missionarchery.com.