How low can you go ...

[canoeman]

... and still have fun shooting?  My wife is disabled and has weight restrictions on what she can lift (or pull).  However, she loves traditional archery and would love to begin to shoot.  I know she's looked thru my 3Rivers catalog at least 5 times (every page, not just flipping thru).  She would probably love just walking around the yard with the bow, leather back quiver, and arm guard almost as much as shooting - the style part of it.  

So tell me ... What's the lower limit on poundage that would still be fun to shoot?  

Recommendations on reasonably priced equipment would be appreciated as well, but I can search the classifieds once I get a better feel on a good draw weight.

[Spectre]

Pretty darn low. They shoot mighty small draw weights at Olympic competition---30# and such, they shoot pretty nice. I think its all in the arrow weight.

[HATCHCHASER]

My son has a 15# maddog.  It is scary fast for a little bow.  I think you could go way down in weight just get light arrows.

[Tim Fishell]

My wife shoots a 28#@24" longbow.  Her draw is 24" and I have her set up with some 1616 Easton Jazz arrows.  She loves going to the range and shooting with me.

[Saltydog]

My girlfriend shoots 25#@26" and shoots 3D every weekend with us. But like said above, matching spine to bow weight is paramount.

[LBR]

My son started shooting with me when he was 2 years old.  He shot a tiny osage selfbow.  You'd be amazed how far and fast even featherweight draw weights can fling tiny aluminum arrows.  If you get bored, you can play "bow darts" with them.

Chad

[cacciatore]

Yes she can enjoy also a 15# bow with the proper arrow,and maybe can increase her strenght with the practice.

[Ground Hunter]

There is only one way to find out.  H

[JC]

Tim hit it, get you some tiny jazz arrows and a really lite bow....she'll have a ball.

[Jerry Jeffer]

I have a 20# longbow that is a bunch of fun.

[ChuckC]

As above  really low.  My son and I have just made a couple teeny bows for  some friends.  One of them is plain tiny,  yet,  I would not want to get in the way of an arrow it launched.  

Match the right arrows to the bow and 15-20 pounds can still reacj out there a ways.

Shooting targets and "stumps" is a ton of fun and you can get shots all day, unlike hunting.
ChuckC

[Chris Shelton]

I had a little 20# recurve and those Jazz arrows, when I was young, had a blast, I think if I just wanted something to mess with now, and could draw much, I would go for 30#, I know some chicks that hunt and they were shooting 35#!  30 is our legal draw weight . . .

[Chesapeake]

My 5 year old has a little 15# fiberglass long bow and we use the kids wood arrows they sell at sporting goods stores. He has all kinds of fun and the bow isnt all that bad. The arrows arent tunned to the bow at all but you could never tell him that.

The only problem we have is that the arrows will bounce off my target bag. They stick fine in my layerd foam target. I just use a few pieces of 2" thick closed cell foam for his targets.

I have a 15# Lil-Sioux long bow with fiberglass limbs and plastic riser. The limbs just insert into slots in the riser. I plan to try and make a decent little wood riser for the limbs so he can have a little 3 piece bow. Something to play with anyway.

[Steve H.]

I made a 12# bow for "Auntie" Paula, the lady from Rogue River (tapered cedars) a number of years back.  There's no reason you can't have fun zipping 200-300 grain arrows across the lawn!

[acadian archer]

start close with a low 15-18 pound, works form and fun to shoot

[canoeman]

Thanks for all the replys.  I appreciate the feedback and will get started in my search.