10 Mistakes Hunters Make When Teaching Kids To Hunt: A Smart Parent's Guide To Hunting With Kids.

Because of this, kids are more than ever interested in shooting a bow! Archery sales have steadily grown in many states. Parents bring their kids into stores and onto the practice range to get them started, and we think it is awesome! (Let them look through these awesome bows online!)

Getting started in archery is a bit different than starting out with other sports. There is a bit more attention to detail needed, and it is usually best if your child starts out with a quality bow package along with 1 on 1 instruction. Remember, your child doen NOT have to be a super-athelete to become a good archer. It teaches them to have mindfulness and dedication without having to be the star baseball or basketball player.  Below are our best tips and strategies for properly introducing your son or daughter to the wonderful world of archery.

When purchasing your child's first bow, avoid going to a big-box or discount store. Many of the 'youth' bows that are sold in a store like that are designed with price point in mind. Hey, we all want to save a buck on things that our kids haven't become excited about yet! But understand that a $30 bow and arrow will more than likely discourage a child from enjoying the sport... you might as well ask them to eat a bowl of brussel sprouts! A cheap, 'one-size-fits-all' starter bow will be uncomfortable, and can often times feel like a toy when they compare it to your bow set up. Always look for an affordable NAME BRAND bow from a reputable pro shop or online store. Youth bows should look and feel like a real bow!

It's so important to choose a bow that will grow with your child. There are many companies that make a youth bow that comes with an adjustable draw weight and draw length (Like this one!). You want your child to use the same bow for years- a bow that can change with his or her growing strength. We also suggest that once you have a bow for your child, use accessories for it that come in their favorite colors! Adding some cool colors to their new bow can help them enjoy it as well. Kids always have a favorite color, so personalize it- it makes shooting fun.

Some parents want their child to start with a recurve bow or long bow- like the ones they see in the movies. Most experts agree that starting with a compound bow is the right choice, and we suggest using the BARNET VORTEX YOUTH BOW PACKAGE (Mossy Oak camo pattern, constructed to ATA/AMO standards. Draw weight: 19-45 lbs., Draw Length: 22-27 in., Let Off: 60-70 percent, Axle to Axle: 28”, Brace Height: 7”. Includes: sight, rest, 3 arrows and a quiver). Learning on a recurve bow takes more time to master and can be more frustrating for them, and can be much harder to pull back. **Looking for a great youth crossbow starter pack? Check Here.

If they are under 6 years old, we start them out without any sights or other accessories- just a 'kisser button'. Over 6, and we add a sight and a rest to start learning proper technique right off the bat. The 'kisser button' allows them to shoot the same shot again and again.

Once your child has a bow that is set up and looks awesome, we suggest that you get a target to shoot at in the back yard or other SAFE place to practice, providing it is legal to shoot it where you live. Let me again say this- make sure it is SAFE! Make sure that a loose arrow won't fly into the neighbor's space, or into the street where it could hit a person or drive by car.

Parents shouldn't buy just any target either. Buy a youth target or a target that is designed to be shot at with lightweight bows. It can be very discouraging to shoot an arrow at the target and score a direct hit with your arrow only to have the arrow bounce off the target. These lightweight targets also make it easy for youth to pull the arrow out of the target, which can also be part of the enjoyment. Remember- the more your child enjoys archery, the more likely it will be for them to become life-long archers.

One your kid starts pulling a little heavier weight on the draw, pick up some 3D targets for the back yard that are much more lifelike. Your child will enjoy it more, and it will prepare them for hunting by teaching them where to shoot an animal. Having the knowledge of the vital areas of the animal will encourage them to move from the archery range to the tree stand once the time is right.

Once you have purchased the bow package and the right targets, start them shooting closer to the targets to get the feel of the bow, and to let them have a win early on. When getting any child started with a bow and arrow, any child will have a harder time hitting the target from further away. We recommend starting them off at ten feet away from the target. The goal at the beginning is to simply hit the target. Don't worry about how accurate they are- just get them to hit the target with the arrow. Once they start constantly hitting the target, that's when you can start lengthening the distance between the shooter and the target.

We also like to start kids off shooting balloons attached to the target. They get a huge sense of excitement and accomplishment when a balloon POPS with a big bang! Remember- the goal at this stage is to make archery fun and exciting.

With so many great organizations around the country, look for archery related clubs in the school like the 'National Archery In The Schools Program', the S3DA (an organization that gets kids into 3D archery), and even many Boy Scout Troops who still teach archery skills, get your child in an environment with other kids their own age who can share a passion for archery. (Check with your local schools for more info.) These programs teach the sport of archery in a fun, engaging way that allows you to partner with them as they learn.

Archery, like other sports, requires practice. The more a child shoots their bow, the more accurate they become. Join a youth league at your local archery store (many are available), and watch them enjoy being competitive with others. Kids LOVE competition and games, so it is usually an easy task to get them interested in the sport. Kids need to have fun- they are designed that way! Wait until you see the look on their face when they hit their first bullseye- it's priceless!

Once your child has caught the archery bug, get them involved in the hundreds of youth archery tournaments that take place all over the country. Who knows... maybe they will become the next archery-slinging super-hero!