There was a time when young hunters interested in archery and bowhunting were limited to lightweight trad bows, or hand-me-down adult bows that were cranked out to the lightest draw weight possible. Fortunately, those days are long gone. Jump ahead to 2022, and you’ll find the greatest collection of bows built for youth hunters ever created.
Today’s bows for youth, or smaller framed shooters, offer the best of the best in features and function. Don’t let the compact size fool you. These bows are built to deliver all the performance necessary for a young hunter’s next big game hunt.
Here’s a look at the best bows for youth hunters.
Mathews Stoke
Mathews was ahead of the game when it came to offering high-end bows designed for youth or smaller framed shooters. Their Stoke compound bow is one of the baddest youth bows to ever hit the market. It’s built with the highly efficient Crosscentric cam system for performance and accuracy.
At just over 27 inches axle-to-axle, with speeds up to 314 feet per second, this bow was designed to be compact, lightweight and offers young shooters the best of the best in craftsmanship.
Price – $999
Mathews Prima
The Mathews Prima is the perfect bow for young ladies that want to take their archery and bowhunting game to the next level.
It weighs in at just 3.93 pounds, has a 30 inch axle-to-axle length, and a 5 1/2″ inch brace height. Like the Stoke, the Prima features the Crosscentric cam to deliver a smooth draw and consistent accuracy while delivering massive downrange energy.
Price – $1,099
Mission Switch
The team at Mission says the Switch is the most versatile platform in their lineup of bows built for every shooter. It’s a highly adjustable bow built to deliver maximum performance throughout a variety of draw weights and lengths.
The bow measures 31” axle-to-axle for a stable shooting platform and a generous string angle for archers on all ends of the spectrum. It easily grows with the shooter with a draw length range from 18 inches all the way up to a 30” draw, and a draw weight range from 11- 70 pounds.
Price – $419
Mission Hammr
The Mission Hammr is a super-compact bow that’s easy for kids of all ages to handle on the line or in the woods. It’s highly versatile, with quick and easy draw weight adjustments in half-inch increments to grow with young shooters.
The Hammr adjusts from 17 to 29 inches in draw length and 16-70 pounds of draw weight. With its compact 28” axle to axle length and mass weight of 3.4 pounds, the Hammr provides excellent handling and maneuverability.
Price – $319
Elite Basin
The Elite Basin was designed to cover a wide range of options for the up and coming archer, or the veteran alike. It’s an incredibly versatile option. It was built to grow with any young archer, and like the Ember compound bow that came before it, it’s built with the best in components.
The bow is backed with Elite Archery’s industry-leading Lifetime Warranty and Hunt Guarantee.
Price – $549
Bear Legit
The crew at Bear says they built this bow to legitimately fit all ages and skill levels. It was engineered to be adjustable from a 14” to 30” draw length range and from 10 to 70 pounds of peak draw weight. Best yet, all these adjustments can be made without the need for a bow press.
The Legit weighs only 3.6 lbs. and fires arrows at 315 feet per second. The new and improved dual cam system provides a smooth draw cycle.
Price – $420
Bear Royale
If you’re looking for a bow for the smallest of shooters, the Royale is hard to beat. It’s an incredibly lightweight bow that delivers a great option for a child’s first bow, yet one that’ll grow with them over the years.
The draw weight starts at a superlight 5 pounds and can be adjusted up to a beefy 50 pounds as they grow. The draw weight is easily adjusted from 12” to 27”. All adjustments can be made without the need for a bow press.
Price – $320
Diamond Edge XT
The Diamond Edge series of bows has been one of the most popular youth bows ever designed. It’s been the “first bow” of countless kids across the country. The latest offering in the series, the Edge XT continues to build on the popular bow for young men and women.
It has a strategically engineered caged riser design to increase stability and accuracy. It’s easily adjustable without the need for separate modules or cams. The bow features a 50 pound draw weight range and 12.5 inches of draw length adjustment.
Price – $430
Xpedition Xperience
Xpedition has carved out their place in the archery and bowhunting world in recent years, offering some really slick shooting compound bows for shooters of all shapes and sizes. Their all-new Xperience bow is designed to deliver the ultimate in performance and adjustability, yet at a price that’s easy on the bow budget.
It features 8” of total draw length adjustment and ample options for draw weight. The company says the Xperience raises the bar on shootability and performance for young archers and bowhunters.
Price – $429
PSE Uprising
The PSE Uprising is another great bow designed to grow with your child. It comes with the perfect blend of adjustability and affordability in one compact package.
It features a wide draw length range from 14″ to 30″ and a draw weight range from 15 to 70 pounds. The bow comes in several camo finish options and with speeds up to 310 feet per second, it delivers plenty of downrange performance.
Price – $400
Whether your child is just getting started, or looking for an upgrade for the fall hunting season, be sure to check out the bows mentioned above for the best bows for youth hunters in 2022.
