Bow For 7 Year Old Advice?

[pikeandchester]

  My 6 year old boy got to shoot archery at scout camp this summer and appears to have gotten bitten by the bug. He really wants one for his 7ths birthday this Sunday. I couldn’t fill a thimble with my archery knowledge.

  Should I get him a cheap one and see if he sticks with it or get a nicer compound that would be easier for him, and if so,  any make or model recommendations?  Tip to tip of finger about 45 inches, wrist to wrist about 36 inches.

  It would be a bonus if it could be used for bow fishing in the future. Thank you for your responses!

  

[DonBo]

It's all up to your budget.  He'll enjoy it more if he has a bow that fits him and is adjustable enough to grow with him.  Go to your local dedicated archery shop (not a big box store) and see what they have in your price range.  Youth bows these days are very nice and very adjustable from 20" - 30" in draw length and 20 - 60+ lbs draw weight.  He'll be able to shoot a good one for years to come.

Bow, matching arrows, release aid, quiver, maybe a block target to shoot in the back yard.  Plan on spending $300+.  Sounds like a lot, but you may be getting him started in a lifelong obsession that will get him outdoors and off his computer games.

[Wanderer]

Everyone is different so this advice may or may not be good for you:

 

Start with a simple straight or recurve bow and have him start shooting with finger tabs.  It’s about the purest form of archery and will help him develop his drawing muscles and aiming skills.  If you can get him into a 30-40 pound draw range, you could easily get him into bow fishing.

 

The equipment cost should be less, the shooting can be quicker and the skills will develop rather than the gear inventory.  If he truly likes the sport, he’ll love it.