Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Bowhunting Starter bow for an 11 year old

My son wants to bow hunt. I don't, but I am happy he wants to. I may start too, who knows. But I need you guys that do to recommend a good starter rig he can maybe grow into for a couple years. I don't want to spend a fortune, but want something that he can actually learn with. Thanks guys, mtmuley

MTMuley,

You might want to take a look at the Hoyt series of bows. I got my son a Hoyt compound a year ago and it is a really nice set up. The main reason I got it for him was the ability to increase both the draw length and draw weight as he grows. I think you'd be happy with this setup.

Diamond Infinite Edge or Mission Craze. Both great bows that can get a kid started and stay right there with them till adulthood. Both great shooters. Both ultra adjustable. The Diamond run you around $349 for bow, sight, rest, quiver. Mission pkg around $550ish. Mission package accessories are a bit fancier but the Diamond is very serviceable for a beginner. Both tune extremely well

My son is 12 in February. He has been shooting the mission craze for about 7 months. He is shooting effectively to 20 yards. I like that the bow will adjust for him well into his teens.

This was a solid investment for him.

Another vote for the Mission Craze

With either bow, i suggest replacing the factory strings with a custom set. The Mission strings stretch pretty bad and the strings on the Diamond require a rubber tube to align the peep. Have done one Craze already and as mentioned in another thread here am awaiting a set for another.

My wifes Diamond Edge and a Mission Craze I did earlier this year

I've heard good things about the Edge and the Mission

For good reason. Both great bows. The Edge offers a tad more adjustment in the weight range. But cant see where anyone could go wrong with either bow

Both of these are great bows and in my estimation the best options on the market.

I bit the bullet and bought my 10 year old daughter a Mission Archery Craze. She's a lefty, so that threw a wrench into finding a cheaper model. It also had to be pink.

Total cost with good sights, rest, quiver, arrow, I was about $450 into it. It has a draw length from 19-29" and adjustable from 20-70#.

It's a real, real quiet, shoots smooth, and I like it as much as she does. She'll be able to use it as long as she wants to. If she "needs" a different one she can buy it. I'm going to get one for my son this summer for his birthday/Christmas this summer . not pink though.