youth hunts...poundage, draw length, etc

[Lee Robinson .]

I know my daughter isn't ready to bowhunt yet, but we are working towards that goal. When she will reach a level of competency that I am confortable will mostly be determined by her ability to make a consistent well placed shot, but I am also somewhat concerned about poundage and draw length. I don't know if she will have the accuracy needed by this season...but my plan are to continue to improve her abilities and maybe some time before next years season.

In the mean time, anyone out there have any "youth" or short drawing and light bow weight stories for whitetail? Until she is ready for whitetails, I will have to try to passify her on squirrel or rabbits...and maybe frogs and 3D tournaments.

Here is a video of her shooting her newly aquired Great Plains "Youth" recurve...which is 34#@26"; however, she only pulls it about 24" (~30#) at this time. She uses a 9 strand dynaflight97 string and shoots a Gold Tip 3555 with a 125 grain point + insert with a total arrow weight of 360 grains at 135-140 fps (verified by chronograph).

       

Until she is ready with a bow, she will still go hunting with me with her 243 rifle, so she won't be missing out on the "hunting experience."

 
**********Trad kill pix only, thanx**********

[Bonebuster]

My oldest son who just turned fifteen, has three whitetails to his credit with trad bows drawing right around 40 lbs.

At the age of eleven, his first trad whitetail fell to a Darton recurve made back in the seventies. He was getting an honest 39 lbs@26". His arrow was a Beman Junior carbon shaft 28"long, tipped with a Tusker Concorde. (long narrow two edge) Total weight of just over 400 grains. Ten or twelve yards, broadside. The broadhead made it out the opposite side. Good blood, short recovery. This old Darton bow was NOT a good performer.

I had some concerns about my kids hunting with light bows, and they were well founded. Just as with any bowhunter, the details are what`s important. Close shots, two edge heads, perfect arrow flight, and the ability to hit where it needs to be.

We talked about the importance of shooting at RELAXED animals versus animals already aware.
This may be as important as any other detail we had covered.

It requires alot of effort on both of your parts, but judging by her smile, it will be a labor of love...and well worth it.        

GREAT BUCK!!!

[Lee Robinson .]

Sorry about the pic above. I was just wanting to illustrate that she isn't missing out on hunting even if we wait until she can handle a heavier bow. I just don't want to give her something too heavy too soon, but she does indeed have the "hunting" spirit and is eager to go at the drop of a hat.

Here are some "trad" pictures of her shooting her youth Great Plains recurve (again...36#@26, but she only draws about 24").