Youth bow hunting questions

[chadt1234]

I have a 12yo and 8yo that are enjoying some archery as of late. The older will be taking an archery class at school in the fall. They are now talking about going hunting with me. This is a first from them. I have a couple of questions. What is the minimum draw weight for bow hunting in Texas? What do I need license/education wise, per the state, for them to hunt? The younger is a scrawny little dude so I'm looking for a crossbow for him to participate. He is also very ADHD. Never stops moving. Anyone successfully invented a child mute button?

My next series of questions will revolve around where I can inexpensively take them hog hunting.

[lk05077]

my 11 year old just got a deer last year she. was pulling 32 pounds. could be wrong but no minimum draw weight in texas. get some good cut on contact broad heads and practice then practice some more. shoot placement will be key. should only need a youth license all though I did have both my kids do hunter ed and bowhunter ed. Look into texas youth hunting program for hunts great program. the 12 year old can do bow hunts would need hunter ed. minimum age to hunt with them is 9 with a rifle

[4tonns]

I was in your shoes a few years back and had the same general questions. According to the Texas regulations, there is no minimum draw weight. My kids are shooting 35-40 lbs and the targets are 20 yards or closer. They have not been successful with their bows yet, but still give it a try every fall. I am by no means an expert on archery, but this site has great information.

I can not say enough great things about the Texas Youth Hunting Program(TYHP). They have several archery hunts and some of those allow crossbows. Sometimes these archery hunts offer the bow hunting education course before the hunt begins. We drive from Louisiana to attend as many of these hunts that we can get drawn for. Both of my kids have great times visiting with other kids and have harvested several deer with crossbows and guns. Good Luck....

[Kdog]

A crossbow is a great for training them up for bow hunting. Just be careful and watch their fingers and make sure they don't get up into the string. I would also suggest a quadpod of you are hunting from the ground.

My son is shooting gold tip falcon arrows with his https://www.goldtip.com/Youth/Falcon.aspx

He has a 2 blade broadhead. I have him shooting 100 grain Silver Flames, but you probably don't need anything that expensive. Just make sure they fly right and are sharp. I think cut on contact are the best bet.

I have limited his shots to perfect broadside, 15 yards. He is a pretty good shot with his bow, but it took a while and a trip to the archery shop to get him dialed in. My 2 cents but a bow that isn't set up right isn't going to shoot right. We practice out to 40 yards and he actually is a decent shot from that distance, most of the time. At 15 yards though he is deadly.

Good luck, there is nothing better than hunting with my son.

Kevin

[Gunswayne]

Take your boys to the hunters ed class that the Houston SCI is putting on next month. It is free. Lots of good information put out there.

[Huntindad]

good advice above...

get a blind that will hide them well.