coueshunter84 Report post Posted October 4, 2005 Any of you parents out there.. I have a 12 year old, who wants to hunt with her 42# recurve. She is already applied for archery pig, and thinks it would be neat to take a deer also.. The first problem I have with this is her shooting. She can just barely keep 5 arrows in my javy target at 8 yards with maybe one in the kill zone. I realise there is plenty of time before January, but I cant get her to practice. My biggest problem is trying to get her to understand that she wont be hunting unless she can get her groups into the kill zone. I dont want to push her so hard that she quits, But I also wont let her out to hunt unless she is profecient with her equipment. She refuses to shoot firearms, and does not like compounds. Period, we have had that discussion several times. She will sometimes shoot as many as 2 dozen arrows a week never any more then that. The bow fits her well and she draws it well. never complains about any pains. But she will actually use homework as an excuse to not shoot. Anyone have any helpful advice??/ I would surely appreciate it. Shane Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
<-{- Report post Posted October 4, 2005 Shane, I doubt this will help, but; Take her hunting (rabbit, javalina, deer or whatever). Just set yardage limits on her shots. We all should have limits. She?ll either need to become a better hunter or a better shot, hopefully both. ( I?ve taken 2 javelina @ under 5 yards and a 85? Coues @ 3 yards with a recurve, so distance is not everything) If you feel she?s truly interested in hunting traditional; archery,,, It will require work. If this is her first recurve, it?s probably too heavy poundage, especially for everyday practice. Make sure her bow is set up correctly and the arrows are correct. Shooting a recurve or longbow is as much an art as a skill. Skill comes from practice, but art is born of passion. If you don?t have to pry the bow from her hands or hide her arrows, she, most likely, will never be a proficient traditional archer. But you never can tell. Dan Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kevin Report post Posted October 4, 2005 Dan, truer words were never spoken! Shane, do you or someone else shoot with her? Sometimes having someone around for encouragment can help. Also, take her "stump shooting". I get bored and practice becomes counterproductive shooting at targets. I enjoy going out in the desert and picking something to shoot at- just make sure there is a sufficient backstop and use judo points or blunts so that she doesn't lose her arrows. Making practice more fun will get her to shoot more and make her focus. She'll come around, just don't push her to hard and make sure she knows her limits and why it is important to stay within them! Good luck, Kevin Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bowsniper Report post Posted October 4, 2005 Sometimes kids just have to learn the hard way. It might just take several hunting trips without seeing an animal or getting a shot, then finally getting a shot and missing to convince her to practice. Hopefully she'll miss the animal completely. Bowsniper Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
az4life Report post Posted October 4, 2005 Shooting a recurve or longbow is as much an art as a skill. Skill comes from practice, but art is born of passion. If you don?t have to pry the bow from her hands or hide her arrows, she, most likely, will never be a proficient traditional archer. But you never can tell. Dan <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Dan Wow, That is Really some DEEP thinking! Well Said! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
coueshunter84 Report post Posted October 4, 2005 Thanks for the input, so far. I do occasionally shoot with her, if I'm at home. She is allowed to shoot when ever she likes as long as either I or the wife are at home and can contain the other little ones. I shoot just about every day I'm not working, and she is invited every time. Every one in the family has their own bow and its not often anyone shoots alone. All of the kids have had one from about the age of 3-4, and the wife shoots a bowtek stalker lite. As for the bow. Her form is pretty close to what I would conscider perfect for traditional. Most of the weight on the forward foot. She dosent hit her arm with the string. Has a solid anchor point. She draws it easy enough. I havent seen her strain at all. Seems like abig bow for a 12 year old but she is already mature, and probably as big as she will ever get. 5'6" about 150# or so. ( leads her vollyball team in aces, and she is the cleanup hitter for her softball team) And carries a 40 lb book bag around at school all day. I hadnt thought about stump shooting. I think that might be a great idea. I will be trying it sometime this week with her. She has been out hunting with me several times on mostly archery hunts. I take it kind of easy on her. NO 4 hour stalks or anything like that. She does well for her age and size. LAst year she took her bow along to plink at rabbits and whatnot. She got one shot and missed. I whacked several, then had one I hit a little back with the Judo, ended up not being able to find it ( after a 3 hour search, lost it in a hole). Lost both the rabbit and the arrow. ( who would have thunk a rabbit woud run off dragging an arrow with it). That was the end of the hunt for her. SO will have to keep it to clumps of grass and other things, But sounds like a grand idea. As for taking her out so she can miss a few times. I dont know about that one. I'm leary of turning her loose to shoot at big game animals until she profecient. I dont want her to wound one and have to live with that. After me losing a rabbit, and what happened after that one. Also I respect the critters to much for that. I have no doubt I can put her on pigs. My last 5 filled tags were all shot from within the herd. The longest shot was 15 yards, and that was passing on a bunch of smaller ones at my feet. But maybe thats what she needs. When we go out stump shooting I will let her know that its her decision as to whether she shoots at critters or not. See what that does. I dont have a problem finishing a rabbit if needed. Another strange thing is after the rabbit incident I did not think she would ever try again, and I did nto push her at all. This year she asked to be put in for javalina, declined turkey, then said she would like to try for a deer also. So the motivation is there, I think I just have to channel it. Again thanks for the input, and keep it coming. I'm a little anxoius to have a full time hunting partner. Thanks again Shane Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
25-06 Report post Posted October 4, 2005 Shane, Sounds to me that your daughter is on the right track. I would just keep on her about practice, practice, and more practice and the rest should fall in place Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Ernesto C Report post Posted October 4, 2005 Shane, does she have friends her age that also like to shoot?Or maybe your hunting partners have kids her age that also shoot wiht bow? Sometimes shooting with kids her age really helps alot. I dont know if she already has a Hunter Safety Course,that may help too because at range day they get to shoot bows also and like I said,with another kids involve. Another suggestion I'll like to make is showing her hunting videos with women hunters,there are videos with women that harvest deer with their bows........maybe that will help too.........you may try.......you have nothing to loose. Are there any 3D shooting ranges where you live? have her try for that elk,deer,sheep,turkey etc etc. if any. Work on her motivation................is there anybody out there that she admires like a sport athlete,actor,singer etc etc?explain her that they did not became the best from night to morning...............tell her that behind their succes there were hours and hours of practice,practice and more practice,that to became the best she needs to be consistent..........or maybe you already tried this. What is what you doughter like to do the most?? can you relate those two activities together? Hope everything goes ok,best whises and God bless. Ernesto C Be sure of your target and what's beyond Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BowhuntCoues Report post Posted October 5, 2005 Shane, Sounds to me that your daughter is on the right track. I would just keep on her about practice, practice, and more practice and the rest should fall in place <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Shane, Just keep on her about the practice. Also check with local archery shops, alot of times they have a league night that she could shoot. You could have a great father daughter time doing something like that. Good luck and let her have fun doing it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
coueshunter84 Report post Posted October 6, 2005 Again thanks for the input. I dont think there is anyone else her age that she is willing to "hang out with" that hunts. Trying to find a hunters Safety course close right now. She is really conscerned about the course though. She refuses to shoot a fire arm. I dont know how the instructors are going to take that one. I dont know if the shooting portion is mandatory or not. As for archery shops , we dont have one here in Benson anymore. We made one of the 3d shoots over in Tucson a while back. She wasent to thrilled with it. However I think thats also good idea. Would give her a chance to see for herself that she needs more practice. We have the Javy target here at the house, along with the regular targets. She usually only shoots the javy target. I have been trying to get her to shoot the other target, so she has a smaller target to focus on. Still leaving it up to her. Going to try and take her out Friday afternoon stump shooting, and see how that goes. At this point she hasent shot all week. The last arrow she flung was Sat. And now she has tryouts for Soft ball this week. HMMMMM. oh tthe fun of parenting. LOL Thanks again folks for the advise. Shane Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
coueshunter84 Report post Posted October 6, 2005 One more question, Does anyone know when the Women in the Outdoors is having another clinic, and do they take youngsters? That might get her going. Shane Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
<-{- Report post Posted October 6, 2005 Shane, Shane, There?s an archery shop in Huachuca City, Shooters Den. It has 20 yard indoor range. Huachuca Mountain Archers and Bowhunters have a two day 3D shoot at Sonoita/Gardner Canyon this Sat. & Sun, Oct 8-9. and have a 3D shoot every 2Nd Sunday of each month on Fort Huachuca. There web site is www.huachuca-archers.com I also hear Frank Pearson has a archery range somewhere there in the Benson area. Dan Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Ernesto C Report post Posted October 6, 2005 Shane,email Amanda and ask her the same question,I think she's an instructor for Outdoor Woman;I'm not sure but she may know. Thanks and God bless. Unload guns when not in use Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KGAINES Report post Posted October 7, 2005 coueshunter84, I was following this pretty close due to the fact that I have two very young daughters and I hope you the best. I did notice that she has several school activities going on and school itself aside from shooting her bow, I would try to keep her as interested as possible without too much pressure, and take her hunting with a definate limitation on range, I think you have got some great advice from these guys and I hope it helps out. Good Luck and God Bless. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
coueshunter84 Report post Posted October 8, 2005 Well, Was going to take her and the 8y/o out this afternoon chasing grass and bushes. Alas, She is doing well with the soft ball tryouts, and wont be home until dinner time. LOL... But if she makes the soft ball team she will be the first 5th grader to make the team in quite some time. Got to love being a parent. very proud of her,, But she still hasent shot this week. Shane Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
