kids bow question

[wtnhunt]

OK, bit of a dilemma here. My oldest daughter is 12, we looked at youth bows at bass pro over the weekend. They had the diamond I think it was the edge package, and a parker bow that offered the grow up limb replacement deal, which seems great, but they were in the $300-$350 price range for complete bows with wb rests and kind of cheapy sights. A bit more then I really had planned to spend on a bow for my daughter who realistically will not be ready to actually bow hunt just yet with only drawing 25 lbs. Really thinking more so that she needs a good bit of target practice and working up to a 35 lb min draw for hunting, which may take some time.

The tech led me away from the genesis bow which was really more what I was interested in with having three little girls ages 12, 6, and 2. The genesis bow would see plenty of use I am sure over time and would likely be a good buy. Seeing now there are other similar options in a browning discovery bow, I kind of feel like that would be a better option for now.

My 12 year old was able to draw 25 lbs without too much trouble. My wife shoots a browning micro adrenaline that is a 40-50 lb bow. Eventually I could see my oldest daughter working up to shooting her bow granted her interest continues, but in the meanwhile kind of curious what some of you would do? Do you suck it up and go for the hunting bow with the grow up plan that she would not out grow, or get a bow that would see more potential use and if she continues interest later on go for the hunting bow when she is ready for it?

[RangerClay]

Funny you should mention this. I was talking with my dealer just yesterday about getting a Genesis for my 6 year old daughter. During the conversation he was telling me about his 12 year granddaughter who shoots small game (rabbits & turkeys) all the time with her Mathews Ignition. Maybe that could be an option?

[Guest bowhunter56]

I use to work at Bp in the archery dept, and dealt with this a lot.

the Genisis is more of a kids bow, with poundage and draw, just about anyone can shoot from kids to adults..i look at as how serious is a child, with the genisis bow, you watch the arrows arc to the target, kids want to hit something when they shoot, i use to have boy and girl scouts come into the store for short classes, they want to hit something, with a better bow like the diamond or parker, you will spend more money but you get what you pay for,,,i always thought the genisis were over priced, for what you get,,,then there is interest, some folks have the money and get the best some don't and get what they can afford..i think it all boils down to interest,,and future interest, archery is a great sport, but i often heard parents buy the parker and tell the child, i want to see you shoot this, not have it lay in the closet...if it were me, i would measure the interest the child has, and go from there, bows have very little resale value..i think the parker replacement limbs is a very good deal, if the interest is there,

i think it all boils down to does a child wanna just shoot and have fun, get the genesis, if the child is serious, start out with the best you can afford...but we know kids change ...good luck, hope this helps....

[wtnhunt]

I use to work at Bp in the archery dept, and dealt with this a lot.

the Genisis is more of a kids bow, with poundage and draw, just about anyone can shoot from kids to adults..i look at as how serious is a child, with the genisis bow, you watch the arrows arc to the target, kids want to hit something when they shoot, i use to have boy and girl scouts come into the store for short classes, they want to hit something, with a better bow like the diamond or parker, you will spend more money but you get what you pay for,,,i always thought the genisis were over priced, for what you get,,,then there is interest, some folks have the money and get the best some don't and get what they can afford..i think it all boils down to interest,,and future interest, archery is a great sport, but i often heard parents buy the parker and tell the child, i want to see you shoot this, not have it lay in the closet...if it were me, i would measure the interest the child has, and go from there, bows have very little resale value..i think the parker replacement limbs is a very good deal, if the interest is there,

i think it all boils down to does a child wanna just shoot and have fun, get the genesis, if the child is serious, start out with the best you can afford...but we know kids change ...good luck, hope this helps....

Thanks for the replies. To kind of better help with understanding, my 12 year old is very interested now, and yes she does hunt and has killed one deer so far with a gun, however I know that here where we hunt bowhunting is a real challenge, statistically there are a very small number of deer taken in this area each year with bow. Getting her shooting and keeping her interest and building her ability is the goal at this point, and the jump from the $169 target bow to the $350 hunting bow is a huge jump, especially if she for some reason loses interest, which at 12 I am realizing that as a possibility.

Remember seeing Randy post about the darton ranger bow, looked at it online, no darton dealers within 100 miles of us. Wonder if he has gotten it in yet, and if so how it is working out?

[HUNTINGMAN]

I bought my wife a browning discovery for her to learn how to shoot and she likes it ok,sometimes I find myself shooting it and leaving my switchback xt in its case.If I was buying a bow for my kids I would get another one of these because they have a big bow feel and can be shot by all of your young kids and even adults.If your daughters outgrow it,they make great little bowfishing bows.

[LifeNRA]

I look at it this way. So you spend the $180 now, then dish out the $300-$400 later. Either way your spending more, but you will have two bows to help out with anymore that are growing older! But once again, they will out grow that bow, then its another $300-$400 purchase!

$180 - Kids bow

$350 - First hunting bow

$400 - For second upgrade

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$930 plus all taxes

$400 for the Parker or Diamond bow

$100 for two upgrades, Since both bows start out at 20-30 pound draw

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$500 and change, a lot better deal! Plus you will save about $500!

I just like the fact that I can only send the bow back to Parker, and upgrade the limbs instead of buying another bow once they grew out of it! Better to spend $50 on an upgrade then another $300-$400 for yet another bow! I see this route actually saving you money down the road. We already agreed about getting our daughter a bow this spring. I am going with the new Parker BuckShot for her, they just haven't hit the store yet. Yeah the sights and rest are not the best, but still very usable! But then again this is why they are kids bows.

I know from my own daughter she also like the fact that she is getting a real hunting bow right from the start! This alone has her wanting to start shooting!

[Griz]

William my youngest Daughter is 13. I just bought her a Mathews Ignition. I'll tell you what now. For the price, it's an awesome bow. I have hers at 30/40 lbs. As far as changing the draw. All I have to do is take it back to my dealer and he will change the cam out at no charge.

Just thought I would pass this along to ya...

[Randy]

Remember seeing Randy post about the darton ranger bow, looked at it online, no darton dealers within 100 miles of us. Wonder if he has gotten it in yet, and if so how it is working out?

I did get it and it is a pretty sweet bow. You change the modules instead of the limbs. I took a bit to figure it out but, my proshop actually really liked it. My son Avery really likes it too!

[wtnhunt]

Thanks everyone for the replies. Sure wish we had more options in shops closer to us. Really dont know what I am going to do.

[MUDRUNNER]

I believe when the time comes to buy a bow for my daughter I'll probably spend a little extra money and get her a bow she could maybee at least hunt small game with.The Genesis just wouldn't seem to fit the bill.I would want something that you could adjust to fit her properly.

By the time your oldest out grows and is ready for an upgrade ,the next in line should be ready to take that bow over.

[wtnhunt]

Think I have decided on the darton ranger II or ranger III bow. Kind of like the idea of the bow being adjustable all the way up to 45 lbs, and it comes with everything you ever need to make the adjustments, by changing modules. No sending it off for limb upgrades and no later additional charges for those upgrades. Found a place where I can order one online too, so do not have to drive 100 miles to the closest shop either.

[Guest nirwi]

I'm getting my son into it this year, he is 12. I'm sort of loyal to the Bowtech/Diamond line so I bought him one just like dads. His is the Edge in the 30 to 40 pound range but for your daughter you can safely take it down to 25 and you save even more money on an extra set of limbs that you really don't need to buy. Alternatively, you should be able to go past 40 pounds maybe up to 43 or even 45 pounds regardless of the specs and still shoot safely. That's now two sets of limbs that you have saved money on.

I look at it this way, it's a good quality hunting bow for $200 and with the accessories that are included it makes it the $300 price. Also, better get used to shooting a hunting bow for practice anyhow if he or she is going to be getting out with you and spending quality time together. Over the next 3 or 4 years that bow will have more then paid for itself. You can also keep it for a backup bow once they outgrow it or you can also use it to help their friends get accuanted with and in to the sport.

Overall, don't pass up the deal for either the Diamond Edge or the one that Parker has. I don't know about the Matthews, on average they are another $100 to $300 more then the other two that I mentioned.

Good luck

[HOYTnMUZZYboy]

My first compound was an Omega from cabels. Great kids bow.

[wtnhunt]

Thanks for all the replies everyone. Ordered her a darton ranger III, it should be here Monday.

[Michiganbowhunter_SQ2]

Sounds like you made a good decision William

I like the idea of the genesis bow, just to get someone interested in the sport, but as you said, she is already very interested, no point in wasting money on the genesis when they now have youth hunting bows that have a wide range of draw length and weight...good luck to both of you:)