The future of our archery/bowhunting is our youth. Ignore this, and archery/bowhunting, over time, will fail.
by Jace Bauserman
Few things trump getting a youngster involved in archery/bowhunting. Not only are you passing on a time-honored tradition, but you’re passing on something that has likely, in many ways, shaped who you are as a person. Seeing that fire ignite in another — watching them grow in their newfound discipline — provides a level of enjoyment that is hard to match. The key is making sure their experience is a positive one. Overlook a few basic things, and that full of piss-and-vinegar shooter may put down the bow forever.
Proper Fit & Feel
The welt on his arm was growing. He was flinching at the shot and having difficulty getting the bow to full draw. The bow was a hand-me-down from his father. It was old and had limited adjustment capabilities. His father was encouraging him, but you could see the joy fading from his eyes. He didn’t want to send another arrow down that indoor lane.
You must get the youth you’re mentoring into a bow that will work for them. The good news is that you don’t have to spend much money to do this. I highly recommend visiting a quality pro shop and letting a trained professional guide you through this process.
Some of you may have to swallow your pride to do this. I did. I do my own bow work and test and tinker with many different bows yearly. I’d have no trouble setting draw length, adjusting poundage, twisting cables, and so on.
With that noted, I quickly discovered it was best for me to be just a dad in the bow-find process. My son wanted the experience he’d seen me have many times over. He wanted to walk into a pro shop, have a pro shop employee measure his draw length, and help him find a bow that was perfect for him.
Pro Shops Help
You can be a dad, mom, or a friend when you go the pro shop route. It’s incredible to watch a youngster test a few different bows — have their draw length measured, and discover the poundage that will work for them. All you do is relax and smile.
Find a bow that fits them, and that they shoot well out of the gate, and you’ll have a happy archer. Take a bow that doesn’t fit them and try to make them fit the bow, and you’ll see a youngster toss in the white towel.
The same holds for arrows and accessories. While many youth bows come outfitted with accessories, you may need to find a sight, rest, stabilizer, and quiver that works with their setup. Arrows also can’t be overlooked. I can’t tell you how many youth archers I’ve seen at tournaments shooting 300-spined arrows out of a 35-pound draw-weight rig that are too long. Youngsters will never get the accuracy they are capable of if you don’t match an arrow’s spine to the weight they’re pulling.
The Right Release
Release manufacturers don’t make only a single release. Instead, they create multiple models and offer index-finger, thumb, tension, and hinge-style options. There’s a reason for this. One archer may shoot a single-caliper index finger well, while another will struggle with the release. It is essential to let your new shooter experience multiple release types and styles. I’ve seen lots of young and old shooters shoot a release with a nylon strap attached to the head of the release very well. Give that same shooter the same release with a rigid bar attached to the head, not a nylon strap, and they struggle.
Why?
Simple. Feel. Archery is a very gear-specific sport; finding a release that provides confidence is critical.
Proper Practice
I taught elementary school for nine years. Currently, I coach high school basketball and numerous youth summer sports. Teaching my oldest son, Hunter, to shoot his bow was a nightmare. Why? I really didn’t know how to teach him. I knew what I expected him to do but couldn’t verbalize it well. He got frustrated, and so did I. The bow got put in the garage. Great move, dad!
I learned to shoot my bow via the school of hard knocks. I never spent time with an archery coach until a few years ago. Wow! What a difference it made. I’m not telling you to shell out lots of greenbacks on a coach, but I would recommend a few lessons or possibly enrolling your young shooter in a class. If that’s not an option, think outside the box. When things went south with my son, I contacted a good friend. This friend is an accomplished 3-D archer and a successful bowhunter. He came over to the house multiple times and got Hunter going. It was great. I could be a supportive dad, and let my friend do the coaching.
Big Mistake!
I see too many young archers trying to shoot too far too soon. This is a problem; if you can, nip it in the bud from the get-go. Yes, there is a time and place for long-distance practice, but the first week, month, and even year isn’t that time for a new shooter. Archery is a close-range sport, and young shooters need to experience success and be able to track their progress. Be sure the archer you’re mentoring spends lots of time at 20, 30, and 40 yards. For some shooters, especially if they are very young, the focus should be on shots at 10, 15 and 20 yards. Trying to back up in distance too fast will lead to target panic and poor shooting habits.
Let ‘Em Hunt
I know gagger bucks and bulls get the “likes” on Instagram. I know you’d love for your new-to-bowhunting youngster to send carbon through the lungs of a bruiser with heavy horns atop its head. It’s possible, but it shouldn’t be the goal. Young bowhunters need to have success. They need the green light to drop the hammer on does, cows, spikes, and fork-horns. Few things boost confidence such as shooting games, and the more games they shoot, the more proficient they will become. Young shooters have plenty of time to kill big critters. When they first start, though, and until they’re ready to hold out for more mature animals, let them shoot what they want.
Great Youth Gear
Diamond Pro Max
New from Diamond, the Pro Max hits a top speed of 314 fps, is draw-length adjustable without a bow press from 16 to 31 inches, and draw-weight adjustable between 20 and 70 pounds. This means youth hunters can begin with this bow and shoot it well into adulthood if they decide to do so.
Starting at $549, the Pro Max comes fully outfitted with Octane and Diamond accessories, and top-tier Binary Cams sit between the top and bottom solid limbs.
TRUFIRE Spark 2.0
Ideal for small-handed shooters, TRUFIRE’s Spark 2.0 is a budget-friendly index-finger release that will be perfect for your son or daughter. Slim and sleek, the park 2.0 is ultra-ergonomic. The dual-caliper, stainless-steel jaws with nickel-boron coating open/close easily, are quiet, and reduce D-loop wear and tear. The trigger is straight, not curved, allowing an immediate feel.
Quality Archery Designs UltraRest HDX
I see a lot of youth shooters with a Whisker Biscuit attached to their bows’ Berger hole. This is fine. The Whisker Biscuit is an excellent rest. However, as your archer progresses and wants to step back in range, a cable-driven drop-away like the tried-and-true UltraRest HDX will eliminate arrow/vane contact and prevent launcher bounce back. This drop-away rest will also ensure an exact tune.
