About the Author: Austin Murphy is a skilled hunter with a passion for archery. With 17+ years of experience, he possesses extensive knowledge of various archery equipment, including the compound bow, recurve bow, and crossbow. His expertise in these accessories allows him to pursue his love for archery while honing his hunting skills with precision and finesse. As participant in NFAA and ASA competitions, Austin own around 8 Recurve Bows, 6 Compound Bows, and 2 Crossbows.
Wondering if do you have to be 18 to buy a compound bow? Or legal age to buy a bow and arrow? Well, I got you here!
Well, if you just want a compound bow to practice archery then there is no legal age to buy a compound bow because then the compound bow will be considered as normal sports equipment but if you want to buy a compound bow for hunting then that compound bow will be considered as firearm and then there will be a legal age (18 in most cases) restriction depending upon different states.
Read More: How Much Does It Cost to Tune a Compound Bow?
How Old Do You Have to Be to Buy Compound Bow for Hunting?
It’s different for all states so It is also important to have all the information regarding the legal use of a compound bow in your state and for that:
| State | Legal Age to Buy Compound Bow | Legal Draw Weight for Hunting |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 16 | 35 lbs |
| Alaska | 10 | No limit |
| Arizona | 10 | No limit |
| Arkansas | 16 | 35 lbs |
| California | 18 | No limit |
| Colorado | 10 | No limit |
| Connecticut | 12 | 40 lbs |
| Delaware | 16 | 35 lbs |
| Florida | 16 | No limit |
| Georgia | 16 | 45 lbs |
| Hawaii | 10 | No limit |
| Idaho | 10 | No limit |
| Illinois | 18 | No limit |
| Indiana | 18 | No limit |
| Iowa | 12 | 40 lbs |
| Kansas | 10 | No limit |
| Kentucky | 12 | 40 lbs |
| Louisiana | 17 | 40 lbs |
| Maine | 10 | No limit |
| Maryland | 12 | No limit |
| Massachusetts | 12 | 45 lbs |
| Michigan | 10 | 35 lbs |
| Minnesota | 10 | No limit |
| Mississippi | 12 | No limit |
| Missouri | 16 | No limit |
| Montana | 10 | No limit |
| Nebraska | 12 | No limit |
| Nevada | 10 | No limit |
| New Hampshire | 16 | 40 lbs |
| New Jersey | 10 | No limit |
| New Mexico | 10 | No limit |
| New York | 12 | No limit |
| North Carolina | 16 | 35 lbs |
| North Dakota | 12 | No limit |
| Ohio | 10 | No limit |
| Oklahoma | 16 | No limit |
| Oregon | 12 | No limit |
| Pennsylvania | 12 | No limit |
Read More: How to Tune a Compound Bow
you can contact any hunting organization or archery club, some of them I know are:
| States | Hunting Organizations | Archery Clubs |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Alabama Wildlife Federation | Alabama Archery Association |
| Alaska | Alaska Department of Fish and Game | Alaska Archery Association |
| Arizona | Arizona Game and Fish Department | Arizona State Archery Association |
| Arkansas | Arkansas Game and Fish Commission | Arkansas Bowhunters Association |
| Colorado | Colorado Parks and Wildlife | Colorado Bowhunters Association |
| Connecticut | Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection | Connecticut Archery Association |
| Delaware | Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife | Delaware State Archery Association |
| Florida | Florida Sport Shooting Association | Florida Archery Association |
| Georgia | Georgia Wildlife Federation | Georgia Archery Association |
| Hawaii | Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources | Hawaii Archery Association |
| Idaho | Idaho Fish and Game | Idaho State Archery Association |
| Illinois | Illinois Department of Natural Resources | Illinois Archery Association |
| Indiana | Indiana Department of Natural Resources | Indiana State Archery Association |
| Iowa | Iowa Department of Natural Resources | Iowa Archery Association |
| Kansas | Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism | Kansas Archery Association |
| Kentucky | Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources | Kentucky Archery Association |
| Louisiana | Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries | Louisiana Archery Association |
| Maine | Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife | Maine Archery Association |
| Maryland | Maryland Department of Natural Resources | Maryland Archery Association |
| Massachusetts | Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife | Massachusetts Archery Association |
| Michigan | Michigan United Conservation Clubs | Michigan Archery Association |
| Minnesota | Minnesota Department of Natural Resources | Minnesota Archery Association |
| Mississippi | Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks | Mississippi Archery Association |
| Missouri | Missouri Department of Conservation | Missouri Archery Association |
| Montana | Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks | Montana Bowhunters Association |
| Nebraska | Nebraska Game and Parks Commission | Nebraska Archery Association |
| Nevada | Nevada Department of Wildlife | Nevada Bowhunters Association |
| New Hampshire | New Hampshire Fish and Game Department | New Hampshire Archery Association |
| New Jersey | New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife | New Jersey Field Archery Association |
| New Mexico | New Mexico Department of Game and Fish | New Mexico Archery Association |
| New York | New York State Rifle & Pistol Association | New York Archery Association |
| North Carolina | North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission | North Carolina Bowhunters Association |
| North Dakota | North Dakota Game and Fish Department | North Dakota Archery Association |
| Ohio | Ohio Division of Wildlife | Ohio Archers Association |
| Oklahoma | Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation | Oklahoma Archery Association |
| Oregon | Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife | Oregon Archery Association |
| Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania Game Commission | Pennsylvania Archery Association |
| Rhode Island | Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management | Rhode Island Archery Association |
| South Carolina | South Carolina Department of Natural Resources | South Carolina Archery Association |
| South Dakota | South Dakota Game, Fish, and Parks | South Dakota Archery Association |
| Tennessee | Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency | Tennessee Archery Association |
| Texas | Texas State Rifle Association | Texas Archery Association |
| Utah | Utah Division of Wildlife Resources | Utah Archery Association |
| Vermont | Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department | Vermont Archery Association |
| Virginia | Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources | Virginia Bowhunters Association |
| Washington | Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife | Washington State Archery Association |
| West Virginia | West Virginia Division of Natural Resources | West Virginia Bowhunters Association |
| Wisconsin | Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources | Wisconsin Bowhunters Association |
| Wyoming | Wyoming Game and Fish Department | Wyoming Bowhunters Association |
Maturity and ability:
Other than fulfilling the legal requirements it is also important that you know how to use a compound bow. Other than that you also have to follow the safety protocols to ensure that you do not hurt yourself or anyone else.
If you are a young adult then you have to consider your physical strength, coordination, and ability to use a compound bow for archery or hunting. Until you are sure that you can follow all the safety protocols and easily handle the compound bow yourself it is important to have adult supervision at all times.
Read More: Can You Hang a Compound Bow by the Cam?
Who can Buy a Arrow?
Do you have to be 18 to buy Arrows? Well, Arrows are mostly used as archery and hunting equipment. There are no specific regulations regarding the purchase of arrows in most of the states. There is no specific age restriction either.
In Fact, they are easily available at sporting goods stores. Although it is possible that in your state you have to be of legal adult age to buy arrows so you must have all the information regarding the laws and regulations regarding arrow purchase in your state.
It should also be noted that a person who is buying arrows should be responsible and mature enough to follow the safety protocols. All of these facts are true regarding the purchase of bows or compound bows as well.
Bows and arrows combined together are used as a hunting weapon and can cause serious harm if the safety protocols are not followed properly. That is the reason why some states have an age restriction regarding their purchase.
Read More: How Long Does a Compound Bow String Last?
How Much Should You Spend on Your First Compound Bow?
Compound bows are available in a lot of varieties. Some are equipped with modern features and technology which makes them expensive while some are ordinary compound bows which are available at a very low price. Some of the very cheap compound bows cost around $25-$100 only but I would not recommend them for you because they are highly unreliable and easily breakable.
Some of the high-quality compound bows are available for almost $1200. But they have such advanced features that only a person who is an expert at shooting from compound bows can take full advantage of them.
If this is your first time buying a compound bow then I would advise you to spend around $350 to buy the perfect compound bow. This is the average price for compound bows these days. At this price you can easily find a high-quality bow with all the necessary features of a compound bow and which is also easy to use for beginners.
| Age Range | Recommended Spending Range (USD) |
|---|---|
| 8 – 12 | $100 – $200 |
| 13 – 15 | $150 – $300 |
| 16 – 18 | $200 – $400 |
| 19 – 22 | $250 – $500 |
| 23 – 25 | $300 – $600 |
| 26 – 30 | $350 – $700 |
| 31 – 35 | $400 – $800 |
| 36 – 40 | $450 – $900 |
| 41 – 45 | $500 – $1000 |
| 46 – 50 | $550 – $1100 |
| 51 – 55 | $600 – $1200 |
| 56 – 60 | $650 – $1300 |
| 61 – 65 | $700 – $1400 |
| 66 – 70 | $750 – $1500 |
| 71 and above | $800 – $1600 |
Answers to Questions that MOST Ask:
How old does someone need to be to use a bow?
Children who want to become archers should start polishing their skills from an early age and that is why the average age to start using the compound bow for archery is 8 years. However, it is important to have parental supervision while using a compound bow.
After a few years of training when the child has gained enough experience, strength and maturity he can be allowed to use the compound bow on his own. Although some states have an age restriction on the public use of compound bows, you must make sure that you follow the laws and regulations of your state regarding compound bow usage.
How much should you spend on your first compound bow?
Like I mentioned earlier in this article, your first compound bow should not cost you anymore than $350. In this amount you can easily find the perfect fit with all the necessary features and accessories.
Is archery a life skill?
That depends upon your own perception of life. However, according to me, archery can be considered a life skill because it serves a lot of benefits in your personal life.
Archery helps you to focus and provide attention to every tiny detail which helps you in achieving your goals. It also provides you with the patience, discipline and mental strength that is a very important aspect of having a happy and fulfilled life.
It is also a good way to relieve stress and have a fun afternoon with friends or family.
Although many people might not consider it an essential skill, it serves its benefits to archers and keeps them motivated, focused and physically fit.
Is archery good for the brain?
Apart from being a good sport for maintaining physical fitness, archery is also considered a very good exercise for keeping the brain sharp and alert. People who have been doing archery for years are known to have increased focus and mental stability.
It helps you to pay attention to every tiny detail and keeps you motivated. It also helps to relieve stress which has a positive effect on your mental health and keeps you happy and fresh. That is why it is a very popular sport these days.
Is archery OK for kids?
Archery is not only OK for kids but it is also a recommended sport for kids. Children who are as young as 8 years old can start archery, although they are required to have parental supervision until they are mature enough to follow the safety protocols.
This sport helps the kids in sharpening their minds. It also helps in making them more motivated and focused towards life goals. It is also important that the kids are supervised all the time and that all the safety measures are taken to ensure that no one gets hurt.
How many years do Olympic archers train?
The number of years varies from one archer to another. It depends upon several factors such as natural talent, resources or number of hours spent each day in training.
Another important factor is the starting age of training because those archers who start at a very young age train for at least 10 years before competing for the olympics.
The average number of years spent by an olympic archer to train who did not start at an early age are 4 to 8. During this time the archers spend countless hours in training everyday.
Read More: How Fast is a 50 lb Compound Bow?
End Note
It is important to know all the laws and regulations regarding the usage and purchase of compound bows in your state.
You should also know whether or not you have to be of legal adult age to use a compound bow. It should be noted that the first responsibility of an archer is to follow all the safety protocols regarding the usage of the bow and arrows.
Archery or Hunting is a highly productive sport which makes you physically as well as mentally fit. It increases your focus and attention to detail which helps you in achieving your life goals.
