One of the greatest traditions in bow hunting is passing it on. This means introducing the next generation to the joys of chasing animals with archery tackle, and using woodsmanship and keen skill to take the game.

The downside is that many hunters must wait for the right time until they’re able to use a full-sized bow that is strong enough to kill the game at a distance.

The answer here is to look towards the new breed of youth bow models that offer several advantages such as reduced overall weight, reduced pull weight, and other features that can help new hunters enjoy archery sooner and a lot more.

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The 4 Top Kid’s Compound Bows of 2021: Outdoor Empire Reviews

These are our top recommendations for youth and kid compound bows:

1. Best overall: Get the PSE Mini Burner
2. Get the Bear Archery Brave
3. Best package #1: Get the Barnett Vortex Hunter
4. Best package #2: Get the Genesis Original Kit

*Looking for a specific feature? Check out our quick-reference chart below:

Model	PSE Mini Burner	Bear Archery Brave	Barnett Vortex Hunter
Axle-to-Axle	26 in	26 in	27.5 in
Draw Weight	4-40 lbs	15 - 25 lbs	45 - 60 lbs
Brace Height	6 and 5/8 in	5.5 in	6.8 in
Let Off	70%	65%	60 - 70%
Draw Length	16-26.5 in	13.5 - 19 in	25 - 30 in
Weight	2.5 lbs	2 lbs	2.3 lbs
Cost	Check Price	Check Price	Check Price

1. Best Overall

PSE Mini Burner

$249.77

View on Amazon

08/15/2023 06:45 am GMT

Too often there’s this idea that you should get a cheap and flimsy copy of an adult tool to give to your child. But that’s no way to get them into an engaging hobby for the rest of their life!

You won’t fall into that trap with the PSE Mini Burner. It’s a miniature version of PSE’s legendary hunting bows and is fully capable of everything a “proper” compound can do while being lighter and smaller.

The Mini Burner takes standard accessories. This means that you’re not stuck with the arrow rest or pin sight that comes with the bow. You can replace them with better versions as you see fit.

Features

• Comes with a three-pin sight, arrow quiver, arrow rest, stabilizer, and three carbon arrows
• Can be upgraded
• Meets the minimum draw weight for hunting deer in many states when set to the maximum

Specs

• Draw Weight: 4-40 pounds
• Draw Length: 16-26.5 inches
• Brace Height: 6 and 5/8 inches
• Weight: 2.5 pounds

You can set the PSE Mini Burner to draw 4 pounds and 16 inches and teach a 6-year-old to shoot this bow. It’ll grow with them until they can pull 40 pounds at a draw length of 26.5 inches, so your child can practice with the same bow for a very long time.

2. Bear Archery Brave 

Bear Archery Brave Youth Bow – Black

$59.99

View on Amazon View at Bass Pro Shops

08/15/2023 06:49 am GMT

A starter bow for a youth hunter needs to have several qualities.

This is a great option from Brave that is perfect for starting a hunter off just before they’re able to hunt until they begin to chase game more seriously and at extended ranges.

Features

• Great bare bones kit for getting a youngster ready to hunt.
• The kit includes a basic pin sight, a whisker biscuit arrow rest, and a basic clip on the quiver.
• It is very much a basic, quality kit for little money.

Specs

• Draw weight: 15 – 25 lbs
• Draw length: 13.5 – 19 in
• Brace height: 5.5 in
• Weight: 2 lbs

A little on the longer side for a kid’s bow, this is still great for a 5 or 6-year-old ready to respect the safety rules and begin to learn how to hunt with archery tackle responsibly. It is ideal for hunting small, thin skinned game.

3. Best Youth Compound Bow Package #1: Barnett Vortex Hunter

Barnett, a name normally known for their crossbows and accessories, brings this excellent small-framed bow to the market that comes with everything that a youth needs to get started in the woods.

Features

• Four arrows, a fixed pin sight, quiver, and an arrow release are included in the package.
• If you need an affordable yet effective bow for your youngster and you want a one stop shop for arrows, sight, and a bow ready to go, this is the best route.

Specs

• Draw weight: 45 – 60 lbs
• Draw length: 25 – 30 in
• Brace height: 6.8 in
• Weight: 2.3 lbs

This is one of the strongest compound bows for youth hunters. It is effective for hunting thin skinned game like whitetail deer and small hogs. It is something that can be used for season after season until the kid hunter is strong enough to move on to a full-sized bow.

4. Best Youth Compound Bow Package #2

Genesis Original Kit

$221.46

View on Amazon View at Bass Pro Shops

08/15/2023 06:54 am GMT

If you’re looking for a good starter compound bow kit for your child, why not use the official bow of the National Archery in Schools Program (NASP)?

NASP’s official bow is the Genesis Original. It can be used to teach anybody the basics of both compound and recurve bows thanks to its light weight, light draw, wide draw length, and single-cam design.

The kit comes with Easton #1820 aluminum arrows, which are the same ones required by NASP for their competitions. Honestly, though, you may want to get higher-quality carbon arrows, since these are not known for durability.

Features

• Comes with a bow, quiver, five arrows, 3/16-inch hex wrench, and an adjustable arm guard
• Long draw length for a youth compound bow
• Single cam for shooting with less noise and vibration, though this means it has no let-off
• Drilled and tapped for standard accessories such as arrow rests and pin sights
• Available in many different color options

Specs

• Draw Weight: 10-20 pounds
• Draw Length: 15-30 inches
• Brace Height: 7 and 5/8 inches
• Weight: 3.5 pounds

The Genesis Original is a great youth bow that can be used to teach anybody, even adults, how to shoot. However, it has a maximum draw weight of 20 pounds, so it’s only good for teaching, practice, and NASP competitions.

How Youth Bow Differs From Regular?

Size

A compound bow made specifically for the youth hunter is smaller than an adult bow. Smaller meaning shorter draw length, less weight, and shorter axle to axle length.

A long, heavy bow is easier to shoot for adults but is difficult for a young hunter to hold it up and balance. Especially for a shooter hunter, they may have trouble banging their bottom axle on the tree stand steps while trying to shoot at an animal.

Overall Package

Packages for youth hunters are often just leftover pieces of gear from adult setups that don’t fit the bill, as well as purpose-made equipment does. Smaller sized arrow rests, releases, sights, and quivers all make for a light bow and easier to use setup.

Another important part of a bow setup is a larger peep and more silencing materials.

• A larger peep helps a younger shooter settle on a sight alignment and make a good shot.
• More silencing material is important because youth bows tend to shoot slower and string jump is a real threat.

Arrows & Broadheads

Youth sized arrows must be shorter because the draw lengths are shorter. The good news is, the quality of bolts that both adults and kids use have the same standards.

Just because a hunter is younger or inexperienced doesn’t mean you should have to use subpar equipment. For marksmanship training, use cheaper arrows until they stop losing them, and then get a good set for hunting.

Stay away from expandable broadheads. They sap energy and can limit penetration. Plus, youth bows already lack power and speed. Use a high-quality fixed broadhead until they step up to a standard draw weight.

Accessories

Accessories for archery tackle can be just as important as the bow. A high-quality release aid and comfortable sling both make using a bow joyful. Even little things like an arrow puller, a fun target, and realistic shooting gear makes hunting and training a blast.

Tip: If you’re stuck between two items, pick the one that the youth hunter wants if safety or ethics is not a concern (as of the moment) while hunting.

9 Aspects to Consider For Kids Bow

When you are shopping for a new bow for a youth hunter, remember a few things. Buying one is much like getting an adult’s compound bow with a few key differences because of who they are designed for.

Game Hunted

Most youth hunters chase whitetail deer. For the lucky little guys who get to go out on a western elk or a black bear hunt, each game needs a different kind of compound bow. The bigger and tougher the game, the stronger bow is needed.

No one needs a 90-pound draw weight, including the youth. The rule of thumb is 45 lbs minimum for even the largest game. Use your good judgment when choosing.

Expected Ranges 

As ranges move out, speed needs to increase so that you can ensure a flat trajectory to make a reliable hit. This can mean ratcheting up the draw weight to get a faster arrow speed or using a slightly lighter arrow.

Most youth hunters should hunt at closer ranges where the target distance is more forgiving, around a maximum of 25 yards. That way, there’s room for error if they get nervous. Unlike a 40-yard shot that most adults can make, but with much practice.

Axle to Axle Length

As a rule, longer is better. But with a youth bow, you must reach a happy medium.

Many bows have gone with a fad of short and light weight but they are hard to shoot. Youth bows should be smaller but avoid the tiny novelty bows and awful recurve bows that do not shoot effectively.

Draw Weight

Every state has a minimum draw weight for both compound and recurve bows; they also impose recommendations that a hunter should look for.

A good rule of thumb:

• For the medium thin skinned game like deer, 35 lbs is a decent weight that’ll kill it down reliably every time.
• For a big boned game like elk, bear or large hogs, 45 lbs is a battle.
• For any game, including state minimum, 25 lbs is usually the norm.

Overall Weight

The overall weight of a bow should be as light as possible.

Hand shock isn’t as big of a deal as it used to be in old school lightweight bows, so go as light as possible. Use a lightweight bow to begin with and use lightweight sights, slings, quivers, and arrow weight.

It doesn’t matter as much during hunting, but your kid will certainly feel it during long practice sessions leading up to the opening day.

Let-off

Let-off is the weight reduction due to the shape of the cam on a compound bow when held at full draw.

Most have 60-85% let-off. This isn’t a big deal as many people make it out to be, especially with a youth bow. Youth hunters rarely hold their shot for very long so it has little use in the field.

It can be a bad idea if the shooter gets complacent with the shot and lets the bow string creep forward. This sudden yank of the bow while attached to the string at the wrist can scar a kid for life.

Durability

Youth bows will often be put together with much looser tolerances than others. This isn’t inherently a problem because these are only used for a few years anyway.

Camo Pattern

Some of the novelty camouflage patterns that has come out in the past few years featuring pink, lime green or blue are fine for the youth hunter. Camouflage is icing on the cake anyway. So if your kid happens to like the novelty camo, go for it.

Hunting should be first and foremost FUN!

Cost

High-end youth bows exist. But the more expensive the bow is, the harder it is to justify. Unless of course, you have an unlimited budget. Most likely, this youth bow will only be used for a few years and will ultimately become a keepsake.

It just needs to be capable of serving for a couple of years and doesn’t need any luxury features of levels of quality. A final price should be around $300 total for a package and arrow setup.

Before You Start

Introducing a new hunter to the outdoors is a fragile time.

You must walk a tight rope of providing a fun, easy-going hunt but you also want to show them the tough side of hunting. This is applicable to every youth hunter, especially to those into archery hunting.

Intentionally limiting your range and lethality by using archery tackle is a big deal for youth and dialing in their bow is important. Equipment goes a long way to make sure you get to see the game and be successful on your hunt.

A good youth bow is smaller with higher let-off and a lighter draw weight. Bells and whistles are hindrances, and so is trying to get a bow to do it all. Search around for a plain-Jane gear, train up for the opening day, and get the little ones to the woods!

The post Best Youth Compound Bows Reviewed (Hands-on Kid Bow Guide) appeared first on Outdoor Empire.

If you do more than one thing outdoors and want a quality piece of gear, shopping around is critical. You’ll quickly find there are rangefinders advertised for hunting and others for golf. So what’s the difference between hunting vs golf rangefinders?

Key Elements of Hunting vs Golf Rangefinders

Just like any other electronic equipment, rangefinders can be expensive and confusing. You have to understand first its two main categories: rangefinders for golf and those for hunting and shooting.

While there is a crossover between these units, it’s essential to know the key attributes of each type to help you choose what’s most important to you.

End Goal & Features

The purpose of a laser rangefinder is to give you an accurate distance between you and the target, they all do that at least. So you should decide which kind of features you’d like to have at a given budget

Most major optics manufacturers make laser rangefinders, and they carry the name of the brand. They are similarly priced to their other product lines and are a match in both quality and design.

Of course the more the features, the more you’re going to spend.

The table below outlines the major differences between the two types of laser rangefinders. As a general rule, each product category follows these trends to make a functional item while a top-notch product has them all no matter what.

Many of the high-end models have all the positive features because they’re expected to be used for both, or they’re expected to be used a lot. The quality, especially of the optics, is crucial the more you use the rangefinder.

Not All Features Are Created Equal

It may seem silly to add things like lanyard holes or carry cases, but it’s also essential to have an idea on how to bring it. Of course, the more critical features such as battery life, size, weight restraints and the range the unit is good for should be considered first before anything else.

Hunting rangefinders can get away with cheaper components because you’re likely only to use it no more than a few seconds per hunt. They typically have faster measurement times and easy-touch buttons that function before the animal runs off.

Significant Features of Hunting Rangefinders

The purpose behind having a laser rangefinder for hunting is to get an accurate distance for bowhunting and extended gun hunting. For close-range rifle hunting, under 300 yards, you won’t need a laser rangefinder if you know your rifle well.

For bowhunting, features are now coming out to help you predict your shot. It gives you the horizontal distance between you and your target if you’re hunting in a tree stand. It can make you a deadlier bow hunter if you get used to it.

Other nice to have features include a lanyard strap to keep your rangefinder ready, a common battery size, one-button aiming and reasonable weather resistance.

It goes without saying, don’t have bright-colored gear. It doesn’t have to be camo, but white or pink is going to draw attention while on the stand and in camp!

Significant Features of Golf Rangefinders

Having a more accurate rangefinder for golf is great to zero in on smaller targets like flags and small dips in terrain. Target priority in the golf course rules because it can help smooth out terrain differences and make sure you get an accurate measurement.

You will typically use your rangefinder more on the golf course than in the woods. So factors like battery life and optical quality are essential. Cheap low-quality glass in the optic can give you a headache from looking through the rangefinder.

The attributes you want for the golf course are long battery life, a handy carry case and more magnification for looking further out towards the flag.

Getting the Best of Both Worlds

Working from outside to choosing the right model to serve double duty for the fairway and the wood lot is picking a well-rounded unit that does most things well.

First, make sure you don’t choose a color that stands out. The white models are prominent and the camouflage gets you laughed at so pick a black or brown color.

Choose the most accurate unit. This will pay dividends every time you use it. Make sure you get one that has a battery life that is long enough to use all day on the course. Get the best optical quality possible so you won’t have a headache.

Target Priority

If there’s one “best to have” feature for both the golf course and the deer woods, get a model with target priority.

This means that the unit searches for the type of target you designate to make sure that it gets a good read on what you’re looking for. That way, you’ll be able to find the deer or the sand trap.

Simple is Better

The differences between laser rangefinders for the golf course and hunting or shooting aren’t as much as the ads lead you to believe. Small details can make life easier, but the basics of just having an optic to measure distance are all you need.

Decide on what you’d like your tools to have. Choose based on your budget and get out there, use your new gear to enjoy doing what you love!

The post Hunting vs Golf Rangefinders (Differences Explained!) appeared first on Outdoor Empire.

Rangefinders are no different, and the vast majority of hunters won’t ever try to modify or even understand how their gear works. This is a shame because when you know how they function, you can appreciate how cool they are and how to maximize them.

They all work the same — bouncing a laser beam off a target and measuring how long it takes to reflect the sensor inside the unit.

4 Steps to Find Range

There are four steps on how a laser rangefinder finds your range.

1. Target Identification

The first step to measure the range between you and the target is of course, finding it. This is easy on your end. All you need to do is line up the reticle with the desired target, press the button and wait for the rangefinder to spit out a number.

The problem occurs when the sensor doesn’t detect what exactly you’re pointing at. Interference such as bushes in between you and the target, maybe a tree off to one side, or even other targets on a steel course can throw off the measurement.

There’s never any shortage of stuff to reflect the laser beam back to the unit, especially if you use a rangefinder with an unusually large beam.

2. Divergence

The beam size, called the divergence, is a feature of each model that determines how much a rangefinder “sees.”

It can be explained almost like the dot on a red dot sight. This means that the further you are from the target, the more laser divergence you have and the more the laser rangefinder “sees.”

The way the unit copes with this depends mostly on its cost and design. Most of the cheaper end models have large apertures with small divergence to make sure they collect the data from the beam but can lack accuracy.

The more expensive units use programs called target priority that work by identifying the profile of certain objects, like branches and bushes, and ignoring their signal.

3. Measuring the Reflection

The reflection is measured back at the unit after the laser beam has bounced off. The sensor has an aperture, just like on the beam, that limits some reflected beams that comeback to the unit’s sensor.

The beam comes into the unit and stops a clock that was started when you pressed it. This clock reports to the computer that crunches the numbers to see how far the light traveled by measuring how long it took to get there and back.

One of the biggest problems with the reflection method is that anything can reflect the laser — everything from grass to thick fog.

It’s hard to counter things like this and the measurements can get squirrely. This is the area that the high-end models start to come into their own.

4. Check for Accuracy

Most models display whatever the first reading is that comes back.

This is common on the lower end models that don’t have software or other measures to ensure tight accuracy and proper target identification. Some of the higher end units pulse dozens of measurements a second and compare them.

This can be done by taking a spike of close readings, by averaging the readings the unit is getting, or by looking for a similar reading and picking the median of the cluster.

Whichever way it’s done, these measurements happen quickly. And if you can, you should beam at least two or three measurements to every target you plan on shooting at. Just like measuring with a ruler, things can happen that alter the analysis.

The Brand Differences

It takes manufacturer highly technical information about the electronics and required specifications to balance the beam divergence with the aperture size, and the careful selection of electronic components inside the unit that make it all work.

That is the primary source of quality and brand difference in this market.

Specialized Ballistic Features

Some laser rangefinders can provide information such as rifle dope, arrow clearance through the bush and the actual flight distance of a projectile. To understand how this works, you must digest these:

• Bullets and arrows do not create lift. Therefore, they must have an arched trajectory.

• External ballistics – the qualities and conditions associated with how projectile flies.

Taking those two things into account, the computer inside the laser rangefinder creates the trajectory of the projectile in mind, and then uses the information collected by the laser beam used in a scan mode, and runs calculation.

These formulas include ways to factor in angles, elevations, and ground distance to find the arching path of the bullet or arrow as it flies and then makes a decision.

This can mean alarming you about a branch in the way or the extreme angle you’re shooting at and predicting the effect on the projectile.

These units are becoming better at predicting relationships between projectiles and targets to make it easier to range further out with greater accuracy and lethality.

Make it Work for You

Knowing how your laser rangefinder works is going to help you by doing several things.

You can predict what the laser will bounce off or before you beam out a laser and you’ll be able to know when something is wrong and diagnose it.

The most common misuse of a laser rangefinder is when you use it at a distance, past 200 yards, and get interference from any number of sources.

Using a general expectation of how far away your target is, using your experience and eyes alongside your rangefinder, can mitigate a lot of problems with bogus measurements.

You can’t go wrong if you pair some critical thinking on using your rangefinder. The technology that goes into these units is incredible and never ceases to amaze hunters every year with just how easy it has become to get an accurate distance using the gear.

The post How a Laser Rangefinder Works (Explained!) appeared first on Outdoor Empire.