In my opinion, one of the best ways to instill a lifelong passion for the hunt in your youth hunter is to get them out into the woods during the archery season. I have nothing against the excitement and anticipation of the opening day of rifle, far from it, but nothing compares to the experience of being a still, quiet bystander as nature passes you by—literally. Once a hunter gets a taste of that wonder, there is no going back. That is why starting a youth hunter out with a crossbow in the archery season is a no-brainer for me. Get them on the range, and start ’em with a crossbow!
Whether they’re shooting at foam, or live critters, take the time to instill a passion for archery in a child at an early age with a crossbow.
Why a crossbow rather than a compound during the archery season? Well, for starters, most children being taken into the field for the first time do not possess the physical maturity and strength to pull back a compound at a draw weight sufficient to put down a full-size deer. This of course depends on your individual child’s age, whether they are a boy or girl and their physical stature. Shooting with a crossbow eliminates the “draw weight concern” altogether.
Along those same lines, hunting with a crossbow simplifies the number of factors demanding your young hunter’s attention. The arrow is already nocked, the field of view through the scope is larger and clearer than a peep sight, and there is no need to concern themselves with much else other than making a great shot! Especially with the younger ones experiencing the adrenaline rush of “a deer! a deer!” for the first time, you don’t want them to have to worry about much else. Shot placement is everything and should be their only real concern at the moment of truth.
Starting a youth hunter out with a crossbow is cost effective. Our oldest son started hunting with a crossbow when he was 10 years old. My husband and I did not have to go out and buy a separate “youth” crossbow; he was able to effectively use either of the crossbows we already owned. That is the beauty of the crossbow. The entire family can shoot with it!
The Authors son, Ethan, at age 10 with his first Pennsylvania Spring Gobbler and the CAMX Chaos crossbow.
I started taking our oldest son hunting with me when he was nine, and we started out in a ground blind. There is simply no safer and easier way to hunt with a young child. Being still and quiet for hours on end is difficult for children. Ground blinds disguise excessive movement and allow for snacks and small entertainments like reading a book. Shorter compound shooters may have difficulty clearing the windows in certain blinds. However, a rock-steady crossbow setup on a field rest is the perfect solution!
Another factor in favor of teaching a child to use a crossbow: immediate results. Once a crossbow is sighted in and resting on a firm platform, your child should be able to hit the target quite successfully. This is very important in building their confidence level. This is not to say they don’t have to practice regularly! Practice helps safety practices become habit and helps to build sequence memory (gaining your field of view, removing the safety, breathing, knowing your trigger, proper follow through, etc.) Practice is also particularly important if your blind setup will require shooting either up or downhill. Practice the way you intend to hunt.
There are several considerations when buying a crossbow—especially for a youth hunter. Your primary concern should be safety, not blistering speed. The number one injury to crossbow users: severed thumb/finger(s). Look for rail guards or stocks built in such a way as to make it impossible to get your hands above that rail! Never put your hands above the rail, and never load an arrow with your hand crossing the plane of the string stops. If the string could touch you in any way, you’re handling your crossbow incorrectly! Make it a point to DRILL safe handling and shooting practices into your youth shooter.
Two crucial safety features, particularly on a youth bow, is to have a safety that automatically engages
Ethan, at age 11 with his second Pennsylvania Spring Gobbler taken with a Bowtech Strykezone 350.
when you cock the crossbow as well as an anti-dry fire mechanism. Even though safety practices should be drilled, a safety that doesn’t engage automatically is just one more thing you have to remember, and in my opinion, is an accident waiting to happen. The same holds for the anti-dry fire. There are times when forgetfulness can cost you BIG. These two safety features help keep you and those around you safe—and your bow in one piece!
My other consideration would be the reputation of the company making the crossbow. Do they build a good product and stand behind it? Look at the reliability of their crossbow line-up. Doing the research in the internet age has never been easier. There are several great companies/crossbows out there; companies with solid reputations and crossbow lines. They may not be the cheapest choice out there, but crossbows are not toys, they are a weapon. If you wouldn’t hunt your “buck of a lifetime”
with it, then don’t buy it for your youth hunter. You get what you pay for has always been true.
Four crossbows I would recommend without hesitation, not only for a youth hunter’s first season, but for the whole family’s enjoyment are: The Mission Sniper Lite, Parker Challenger, Wicked Ridge Ranger, and the CAMX Chaos. All four of these crossbows are made in America, by companies with a rock-solid reputation, and they have all of the aforementioned safety features.
The Mission MXB Sniper Lite is an excellent choice for a child of any age.
As a parent, it’s my desire to create a positive outdoor experience. While that may or may not include taking an animal, I still want my boys to be confident if an opportunity presents itself. When ease of use, confidence in their weapon, and experiencing nature up close and personal all combine for a successful hunt, you will have started your child on a journey of a lifetime!
Crossbows can be the perfect introduction to a child’s archery career. The author’s son started with a crossbow, then moved on up to take his first deer with a vertical bow.
