On a recent camping trip with our friends the Lee’s, I had the opportunity to introduce their family to fun sport of archery and both of us dads shared our love of BB guns with all the kids. Archery and other shooting sports teach great hand eye coordination, body control, and personal achievement. Additionally, when you are teaching a group of young kids, they also get to brush up on important life skills like patience, safety, and how to encourage each other through a new challenge. The kids had such a good time shooting that before we knew it we’d be slinging arrows and shooting BBs for an entire afternoon.
Because we have been shooting as a family for several years now we have a collected a nice variety of bows and arrows that cover the needs of the youngest beginner archer, all the way up to a high-powered compound bow for the more accomplished shooter. In between these extremes we have two additional bows that fill in different ranges of draw weights and lengths for the progressing shooter. It was fun to work with each of the kids to help instruct them on good posture, safe shooting technique, and to watch them enjoy the success of hitting one of several targets we brought along.
Because we have been shooting as a family for several years now we have a collected a nice variety of bows and arrows that cover the needs of the youngest beginner archer, all the way up to a high-powered compound bow for the more accomplished shooter. In between these extremes we have two additional bows that fill in different ranges of draw weights and lengths for the progressing shooter. It was fun to work with each of the kids to help instruct them on good posture, safe shooting technique, and to watch them enjoy the success of hitting one of several targets we brought along.
A minimal setup is easy and cheap
Getting into archery with a family doesn’t really take a lot of expensive gear, time, or learning some complicated techniques. Best of all a family can outfit themselves with one or two bows, a quiver of arrows, and a target for less than $150. Here are my suggestions for a quality beginning setup that will provide hours of enjoyment while out camping or in your backyard.
- Essential equipment includes: A basic bow, 10-30” arrows, and a simple target.
- Optional equipment includes: Arm protection, finger glove, a 3D animal target.
The basics
PSE Silver Snake Recurve Bow, ~$55.00 at Gannett Ridge Hunting
22 pound draw weight and is 60 inches tip-to-tip
This bow is a very basic setup, easy enough for anyone to shoot, and is perfect for either right or left hand shooters. And even though the length is petty tall for a small shooter, the lightweight material makes it a good first bow for even a young children. This simple bow can be found at most archery stores including a local shop like Gannett Ridge Hunting (in Fort Collins) or a big box outdoor store like Bass Pro, Cabela’s, or Sportsman’s Warehouse. We like to support our local archery store and so we buy as much as we can from them. Additionally, a local shop will probably provide a little free shooting advice for your young shooter when they purchase their bow so you don’t have to be the expert. Besides, you’re not going to get that kind of advice at every Walmart across America, however, our Walmart does happen to be staffed by some really helpful hunters who are more than willing to answer questions, give advice, or help you out with your options.
This type of bow is known as a recurve because the tips at each end bend back towards the front of the bow, increasing the potential power that it can store up when the string is pulled back tightly. When you are shopping you’ll come across “kids bows” that might look cooler or that are compound bows but be leery, these bows tend to be heavy, not terribly accurate to shoot, more expensive, and don’t aid in helping learn the basics of good technique. Kids don’t need the bells and whistles to learn how to control their shots and find success.
A bow like this also does not have built-in sights to aid in aiming the arrow and so your young archer will learn how to shoot instinctively and will become better sportsman for leaning in this traditional manner. Later on if they progress to a competition or compound bow they can learn how to shoot with the aid of mechanical sights that are calibrated for shooting targets at specific distances. Overall, the PSE bow will also be a good investment because the younger kids will be able to use it for a long time and as they progress it will become your “go-to” teaching bow for introducing others. It also has enough power that an adult can have fun shooting it as well.
22 pound draw weight and is 60 inches tip-to-tip
This bow is a very basic setup, easy enough for anyone to shoot, and is perfect for either right or left hand shooters. And even though the length is petty tall for a small shooter, the lightweight material makes it a good first bow for even a young children. This simple bow can be found at most archery stores including a local shop like Gannett Ridge Hunting (in Fort Collins) or a big box outdoor store like Bass Pro, Cabela’s, or Sportsman’s Warehouse. We like to support our local archery store and so we buy as much as we can from them. Additionally, a local shop will probably provide a little free shooting advice for your young shooter when they purchase their bow so you don’t have to be the expert. Besides, you’re not going to get that kind of advice at every Walmart across America, however, our Walmart does happen to be staffed by some really helpful hunters who are more than willing to answer questions, give advice, or help you out with your options.
This type of bow is known as a recurve because the tips at each end bend back towards the front of the bow, increasing the potential power that it can store up when the string is pulled back tightly. When you are shopping you’ll come across “kids bows” that might look cooler or that are compound bows but be leery, these bows tend to be heavy, not terribly accurate to shoot, more expensive, and don’t aid in helping learn the basics of good technique. Kids don’t need the bells and whistles to learn how to control their shots and find success.
A bow like this also does not have built-in sights to aid in aiming the arrow and so your young archer will learn how to shoot instinctively and will become better sportsman for leaning in this traditional manner. Later on if they progress to a competition or compound bow they can learn how to shoot with the aid of mechanical sights that are calibrated for shooting targets at specific distances. Overall, the PSE bow will also be a good investment because the younger kids will be able to use it for a long time and as they progress it will become your “go-to” teaching bow for introducing others. It also has enough power that an adult can have fun shooting it as well.
Looking for a great starter bow for young shooters? Check out the Infinite Edge bow by Diamond. It's a bow that Lucas and I can both shoot and changing the setup between each of our draw lengths and weights is super easy. |
Allen Carbon Arrows, $3.50/arrow at Walmart
Now you can spend a lot on arrows (anywhere from $8 - $16/arrow) but for family target shooting I always look for the lightest, cheapest, and fully assembled options to ensure shooting is enjoyable and low cost. You want to look for arrows that are made of carbon and weigh around 10 grams and are sized at a length between 26 and 31-inches. Don’t buy plastic or composite arrows, even if they claim to last a long time, because they won’t be any fun to shoot. A poorly shooting arrows will only lead to disinterest because the kids won’t be able to fling them as far, or as fast, as a decent carbon option. A nice light arrow will travel flatter for longer distances and will help your young archers (of any age) have quick success with sticking their arrows down range.
Now you can spend a lot on arrows (anywhere from $8 - $16/arrow) but for family target shooting I always look for the lightest, cheapest, and fully assembled options to ensure shooting is enjoyable and low cost. You want to look for arrows that are made of carbon and weigh around 10 grams and are sized at a length between 26 and 31-inches. Don’t buy plastic or composite arrows, even if they claim to last a long time, because they won’t be any fun to shoot. A poorly shooting arrows will only lead to disinterest because the kids won’t be able to fling them as far, or as fast, as a decent carbon option. A nice light arrow will travel flatter for longer distances and will help your young archers (of any age) have quick success with sticking their arrows down range.
Also ensure that you are buying completely assembled arrows because boxed packages that you find at Cabela’s or other stores often don’t have flights attached (these are the feather like plastic veins at the back of the arrow), point holders installed at the “business end”, or that have even been cut to the correct length. One word of advice is to look at the purchase of arrows as no different than buying golf balls or cheap kites, they are going to get lost and broken so just buy a bunch and keep picking up a few every time you’re in the store. It also helps to choose a shooting area free of rocks and other hard objects, so that when arrows miss their intended targets, they fall back to the earth softly and last a bit longer.
Additionally, when you buy arrows at Walmart (or most stores) you will need to buy points to screw into the “business end” of the arrow. Simple field points are cheap, like a few bucks, come in packs of 10 or so, and simply screw into the point holder. Field points come in blunt bullet looking shapes (slightly safer) or a more pointed shape that tend to stick into targets easier. Since my kids have a bit more experience, and I always supervise shooting, I generally buy the thinner, sharper field point because they tend to stick into targets with less velocity behind them, this can be really good for young archers. However, If you have kids that are prone to not listening or can’t seem to watch for others walking into their shooting lane, a more blunt tip may be a better option. Or better yet, don’t let them shoot until they are grown up enough to take direction from an adult well.
Additionally, when you buy arrows at Walmart (or most stores) you will need to buy points to screw into the “business end” of the arrow. Simple field points are cheap, like a few bucks, come in packs of 10 or so, and simply screw into the point holder. Field points come in blunt bullet looking shapes (slightly safer) or a more pointed shape that tend to stick into targets easier. Since my kids have a bit more experience, and I always supervise shooting, I generally buy the thinner, sharper field point because they tend to stick into targets with less velocity behind them, this can be really good for young archers. However, If you have kids that are prone to not listening or can’t seem to watch for others walking into their shooting lane, a more blunt tip may be a better option. Or better yet, don’t let them shoot until they are grown up enough to take direction from an adult well.
Foam or bag type target, $25-$50
The last element of required equipment is your target. There are a lot of inexpensive options on the market, and for young archers, I would select a light weight and larger sized target that is easy to get an arrow into. As you are learning, especially with young children, they won’t be confident or strong enough to sling an arrow towards the target with much velocity and so a softer foam or hay-type target is more desirable. If they are finding success getting their arrows to stick it will help build confidence and strength. However, don’t go to large with your target because you might want to be able to stick it into a car for transport to an open field or park. Another consideration is a plastic mesh bag but be aware that the first 50 or so arrows you put into it will take a little bit more power because the surface of the bag is pretty tight and arrows need some speed to get through. However, the more you shoot at a target like this the more they soften up and they’ll generally last longer than a foam target.
The last element of required equipment is your target. There are a lot of inexpensive options on the market, and for young archers, I would select a light weight and larger sized target that is easy to get an arrow into. As you are learning, especially with young children, they won’t be confident or strong enough to sling an arrow towards the target with much velocity and so a softer foam or hay-type target is more desirable. If they are finding success getting their arrows to stick it will help build confidence and strength. However, don’t go to large with your target because you might want to be able to stick it into a car for transport to an open field or park. Another consideration is a plastic mesh bag but be aware that the first 50 or so arrows you put into it will take a little bit more power because the surface of the bag is pretty tight and arrows need some speed to get through. However, the more you shoot at a target like this the more they soften up and they’ll generally last longer than a foam target.
Optional stuff
Arm protection, $10-$25
One thing to keep in mind when you are shooting is that the bow string is going to be passing by your forearm at a high rate of speed. And when you are new to shooting you’ll often get your forearm in the way causing a skin burn or even some bruising. Correct handling of the bow can be a painful technique to learn but you can eliminate this pain by wearing a thick sweater or better yet buying a simple arm guard. All arm guards do the same thing but range in cost based on the materials used and the quality of the gear. We have had good luck with inexpensive plastic arm bands for the kids and leather sleeves for the stronger shooting bows. Once an archer learns good technique you don’t hit your forearm too often, but it still happens from time to time, and at higher draw weights can be very painful.
One thing to keep in mind when you are shooting is that the bow string is going to be passing by your forearm at a high rate of speed. And when you are new to shooting you’ll often get your forearm in the way causing a skin burn or even some bruising. Correct handling of the bow can be a painful technique to learn but you can eliminate this pain by wearing a thick sweater or better yet buying a simple arm guard. All arm guards do the same thing but range in cost based on the materials used and the quality of the gear. We have had good luck with inexpensive plastic arm bands for the kids and leather sleeves for the stronger shooting bows. Once an archer learns good technique you don’t hit your forearm too often, but it still happens from time to time, and at higher draw weights can be very painful.
Finger gloves, $15-$25
Another really good buy for your beginning archer is to get them a nice three finger glove. This simple glove basically puts leather covers over the fingertips of the shooting hand that they are using to pull the string back, immediately allowing them to pull back harder on the bow, without their fingers feeling pinched or strained by the thin bow string. Make sure to pay attention to the current size of your children’s fingers and don’t worry about buy them to grow into the gear, buy what you need in the right size from the start.
Another really good buy for your beginning archer is to get them a nice three finger glove. This simple glove basically puts leather covers over the fingertips of the shooting hand that they are using to pull the string back, immediately allowing them to pull back harder on the bow, without their fingers feeling pinched or strained by the thin bow string. Make sure to pay attention to the current size of your children’s fingers and don’t worry about buy them to grow into the gear, buy what you need in the right size from the start.
3D targets – Start at $100
3D targets come in many shapes and sizes including game animals like deer, elk, turkey’s, or pigs and you can even find them in the shapes of bleeding zombies and a variety of dinosaurs these days, as well. These targets are really fun once your archer begins to gain confidence, they will aid in the improvement of targeting skills, and keeps them engaged longer because of the higher level of difficulty. Because these targets are shaped like an animal, it requires the archer to aim more carefully than they might with a large foam target. I enjoy using a small buck deer target because it forces me to practice aiming at a very small portion of the chest area so I am able to take a very ethical shot when I get into the field. When preparing to shoot real animals it’s best to aim small so you miss small.
Additionally, 3D targets are harder to hit by design and so you will find many more arrows flying behind your intended destination. When using 3D targets you should always shoot into a large backstop area, free of obstacles, and full of grass or straw bales.
3D targets come in many shapes and sizes including game animals like deer, elk, turkey’s, or pigs and you can even find them in the shapes of bleeding zombies and a variety of dinosaurs these days, as well. These targets are really fun once your archer begins to gain confidence, they will aid in the improvement of targeting skills, and keeps them engaged longer because of the higher level of difficulty. Because these targets are shaped like an animal, it requires the archer to aim more carefully than they might with a large foam target. I enjoy using a small buck deer target because it forces me to practice aiming at a very small portion of the chest area so I am able to take a very ethical shot when I get into the field. When preparing to shoot real animals it’s best to aim small so you miss small.
Additionally, 3D targets are harder to hit by design and so you will find many more arrows flying behind your intended destination. When using 3D targets you should always shoot into a large backstop area, free of obstacles, and full of grass or straw bales.
Don't forget the classic Daisy Red Rider - $30 at Walmart
And when your fingers get tired of flinging arrows you should always have a few classic BB-Guns laying around, and we don't look any further than the Classic Red Rider by Daisy. This is a lever action air pump gun that is great for kids and beer can shooting dads. It propels BBs at 350 feet per second and can shoot up to 195 yards. The best part is that is holds over 650 BBs at a time so you'll run out of your cold beverage before you have to reload, which is good because your last can will be all full of holes anyway.
If you have a beginning shooter who is looking to hone their marksmen skills, or even a bored dad who is tired of playing in the camp fire, the Daisy Red Ryder BB Gun is a great option to get them started.
If you have a beginning shooter who is looking to hone their marksmen skills, or even a bored dad who is tired of playing in the camp fire, the Daisy Red Ryder BB Gun is a great option to get them started.
An afternoon of fun with friends
In conclusion, with a bit of common sense instruction and some basic safety discussion with everyone involved, kids and adults can really enjoy the challenge and fun that shooting sports provide. The kids spent two days shooting targets and the only injury we had was a pinched finger and some minor bruising from bow strings hitting forearms on occasion. We're already looking forward to our next trip to the mountains to enjoy an afternoon together.
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