My son is 9 years old and he is dying to get into bowhunting. Anyone have any suggestions for a 1st bow?

The Mission line from Mathews seems to receive a lot of praise. I just bought my 11yo son a Mission Craze for his birthday. Still getting it set up for him, so can't really comment on it too much yet. It does have a ton of adjustability... it's not a bow he's going to outgrow anytime soon, if ever.

I got my 11 year old a Craze as well. Tons of adjustability.

But I will say that I think that bow is a little heavy for a kid much smaller than my son.


Travis

The Craze is what I would get my kids (hopefully not for a few years... )if there isn't another bow out there like it.

The Craze is the youth bow that adults are buying for themselves. The reason I did not suggest it at first is because I didn't know if a 9 year old could draw the minimum length at the minimum weight. I bought one for a big 13 year old (who was not available for fitting) and the shop set it up for 35 pounds and 26 inches of draw length. I had to back the weight down to about 28 pounds and the draw length needs to be shortened about 2 inches. While I suspect that 15 pounds will work for a 9 year old, will a 19 inch draw length work?

I damn near bought one for myself.



Travis

Bought a Diamond Razors Edge for my 10 year old, his older brother has the Mission Riot, which is a step up from the Craze. While they are both good bows, I like the Mission package a little better, ie better components were packaged with it.

I actually set up a Craze for myself, to use from box blinds.

The bow shot great and was very easy to set up.

I ended up giving it to my youngest grandson last week.

I'm looking at one for my soon to be 8 year old also.

The Mission Menace and the Bear Apprentice II are the ones I'm considering for him.

The Menace will go down to a 17 inch draw length with a weight range from 16 to 24 pounds and the Apprentice will go down to 15 inch draw with with a weight range from 15 to 30 lbs with the 50lb. limbs and 21 to about 40lbs with the 60 lb limbs.

It all depends on how your son is built. Mine is small for his age ( I measured him between 16 and 17 inches) so the Bear Apprentice will fit him better now and will still have plenty of adjustment as he gets older, if I can find the 50 lb version. So far all I have found are the 60 lb bows.

The Craze specs show a minimum of 15 lbs draw up to 45lbs at that minimum 19 inch draw length, which is a lot of adjustment to play with if the draw fits him.(Too long of a draw length will start all sorts of bad habits, ask me how I know )

All three are basically the same price, just at or below $300.00 although the Bear comes with a Whisker Biscuit and sight included, the Mission's are for the bow only.

I have shot Mathews bows since they came out and would normally lean that way, but the Bear looks like a good deal for a young person starting out.

Bob.

My nephew shot a ton of stuff with his Mission Craze. He was soon able to shoot as well as the big boys with our Mathews DXT's. Don't think you can beat the Mission line for price & reliability. Very easy to shoot for kids.

I got my son a Hoyt Ruckus, he is 10 years old and handles it really well.