Help! Need Archery Set for 12 y.o.

Blue_Runner

Blue_Runner

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My 12 year old daughter wants a bow and arrow for Christmas. Not for hunting, but for target practice.......I think she really digs that movie Hunger Games....apparently!

Anyway, I see Walmart has a couple. I looked at the "Bear Archery Youth" set. Problem I see there is people were buying them for 5 year olds. I don't want to spend money on something she will view as a joke.

Help me out! Willy, Stinky, I'm sure ya'll can weigh in on this and provide some good advice. I don't want it to be too hard to pull back, yet I don't want it to come across as a cheap toy either.

Thanks guys!
 
Look at the bear apprentice. No other bow ive seen has the draw length and weight range of that one. I plan on getting my daughter one when i can. It goes low enough to learn but still maxes out at 50lbs so theres no buying another "grown up" bow to hunt with once they grow into it.
 
Way too small for a 12yo, my 7yo shoots one of those with no problem.


About the Bear I mentioned the specs are:

Specifications:

  • Speed IBO: 265 FPS
  • Weight: 2.9lb
  • Brace Height: 6.125 inches
  • Axle to Axle: 27.625 inches
  • Draw Weight: 20-60lbs.---- lot of growing room
  • Draw Length Range: 15-27 inches----This is a BIG variation
  • Let-Off: 70%
  • Color: Pink, Camo
  • Dexterity: Right or Left HandReady To Hunt package includes:
    • Whisker Biscuit
    • 4-Pin Sight
    • Stabilizer and Sling
    • Quiver
    • Nock Loop
You are basically getting a bow that a kid from 8-16 or more could shoot and hunt with. Goes up to 60lbs on the new one old ones were 50. Either weight plenty to kill a deer or other game with the right arrow/broadhead setup.


I have looked at some Diamond and other youths bow but none have the versatiliy this one does. I have always had Bear and the reliability is great and cust service amazing. As I said my daughter will have one of these to shoot with me as soon as I can afford it.
 
If she is looking for youth compound go with what Stinky and others suggest as I know little about them.
If she is going for a recurve I need to know how big she is, tall, is she strong or a little wisp of a thing.
Does she really want to shoot and have someone who can show her the ropes.
 
Been a loooooong weekend and I'm just getting back in the saddle.

Willy, she's about 5 ft. tall and pretty stout. Turning 13 in January. She will be well supervised with it, although I'm not going to be much help with techniques cause I've never gotten into shooting a whole lot. Just dabbled and a while back at that. I know enough to help her get started.

I looked at the apprentice - nice bow for sure. Maybe a little too nice ($$$). I don't know how serious she is.....so maybe I need to start with something cheaper in case she just lays it down after a day or two.

I believe she is expecting a recurve style bow, although I think the compound would be better and more practical.

Looking through Craigslist now. Thanks for the help. Smoke - that one looks better than the one I was looking at!
 
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I got the Mathews for my son he is still to small but he loves looking at it. I seen a hunting show the other day were a 12 Y.O girl took a big doe with the Pink Genesis at 25 yards. Good bows are $$ but you get what you pay for all the top end bows are pretty equal. My advice would check out all of them on line size, weight, Ect. Then go look and hold them some may feel like a lesser quality than others Kind of like picking fishing rods.
 
Got it last night. Lucky for me there's no chance of getting a Bear Apprentice in pink camo a week before Christmas or I would be out of three hundo....sooooooo, I'm only in for $60 and this will do for now. I have a feeling she is going to have to hide it to keep it from her sister. J/k cause they ain't shooting it without me!

Had the guy install a knock stop on it also. I think it is going to be pretty sweet to get started with.

Thanks for the help guys! :party:
 
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