Top Archery Equipment for Women and Youth

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When you look at hunting, and by extension bowhunting, there is no doubt the participation of women and youth is essential to the sport’s long-term viability.

As with all activities, kids are the future of the sport, and starting your son or daughter off early, and on the right foot, is an excellent way to help ensure their love for archery today translates into a passion for bowhunting tomorrow and beyond.

As far as women are concerned, while the overall number of hunters has declined over recent decades, the number of females participating in archery and hunting continues to rise. In fact, according to statistics from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s 2022 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation, 3.1 million, or 22 percent, of the 14.4 million people ages 16 and older who hunted in 2022 were women. Compare that to the 2016 survey, which showed only 1.1 million, or 10 percent, of the overall hunting population that year were female.

Helping to fuel the interest in women’s and youth archery in recent years has been a renewed commitment from within the industry to embrace the diverse audiences involved in the sport. While at one time it was hard to find a ton of equipment created especially for women and kids, today more manufacturers than ever are designing bows, archery accessories and apparel geared toward a woman’s frame or easily adaptable to a young archer’s rapidly growing body. From more compact, highly adjustable, lower-poundage bows, to hunting apparel that’s actually made to fit women and kids properly, this enhanced focus on the family aspect of archery and bowhunting has made it easier than ever for ladies and kids to get started in the sport.

Over the next few pages, we’ll explore some of the top new bows and other items that have recently been released. Whether you’re a woman looking for a bow built especially for your shooting needs, or you’re a parent in search of equipment and accessories actually designed with your son or daughter in mind, we’re confident you’ll find what you need to get ready for the woods and range.

Bowtech Eva Gen3

Female bowhunters in search of a bow designed especially for them won’t want to miss Bowtech Archery’s new Eva Gen3 ($1,299). Designed in collaboration with Eva Shockey, one of the most well-known names in the industry, this compound bow boasts exceptional adjustability, a lighter weight of 3.9 pounds and a draw-length range that’s tailored for women hunters. The bow produces IBO speeds up to 326 fps, has an axle-to-axle length of 28 inches, a 6.125-inch brace height, a 24-29-inch draw-length range and comes in 40-, 50- and 60-pound peak draw weights. Bowtech’s TimeLock and DeadLock technologies allow for easy and simple cam tuning — no bow press needed — for optimized arrow flight and a customized shooting experience. The bow is available in three solid colors, as well as Mossy Oak Country DNA.

Elite Allure

Elite Archery says its Allure ($1,249.99) is designed with “the serious female bowhunter in mind,” and it shows in every aspect of this new-for-2024 model. Built specifically for smaller frames, the Allure offers a draw-length range of 23-28.5 inches, adjustable in quarter-inch increments, and comes in peak draw weights of 40, 50 and 60 pounds, making it one of the most adjustable and comfortable women’s bows on the market. It measures 31 inches from axle to axle, with a 6.25-inch brace height, mass weight of 4 pounds and up to 90 percent letoff. Powered by the SPX Cam System with V3 Mods, this bow features all of the hallmarks of an Elite flagship bow, including the company’s Precision Grip; wide limbs for an incredibly stable shooting experience and Simplified Exact Tuning (SET) technology for quick and easy fine-tuning and adjustment of cams and centershot, helping to ensure perfect arrow flight and the “shootability” archers have come to expect from Elite Archery. The bow, which can achieve a maximum IBO speed of 340 fps with the Smooth Mod, comes in numerous solid and camouflage color options including Realtree Edge and Realtree Excape.

Prime NXT

Prime Archery’s new NXT ($429) is the company’s first-ever youth model, and one that’s designed to make the journey with your growing hunter. The bow features Prime’s Center Grip Riser design, making for easy aiming, even with inexperienced shooters. It has an axle-to-axle length of 26 inches, boasts a top IBO speed of 270 fps when set at a 26-inch draw length and weighs 2.8 pounds. The bow has a 15-45-pound draw-weight range and a draw-length range of 19-26 inches, adjustable in half-inch increments. Plus, it’s fully adjustable without a bow press. The NXT is also sold as a bow package ($499) that includes peep sight, bowsight with light, biscuit-style rest and quiver.

Hoyt Kobalt

Another excellent option for those starting out in bowhunting is Hoyt Archery’s Kobalt ($449), released as part of its 2023 lineup. Built for young archers but packed with Hoyt technology, this bow is adjustable from 18-28 inches, with the ability to adjust poundage from 7-45 pounds depending on the draw length. It has a 29.25-inch axle-to-axle length, 6.875-inch brace height and weighs 2.8 pounds. The Kobalt is available in various solid-color and camo finish options, including Realtree Edge and Realtree Edge Bone Collector. It also can be purchased with Hoyt’s Fuse Package that includes a ProFire 3-Pin Sight, Fuse Maxxis 4-Arrow Quiver and Whisker Biscuit Rest.

Bear Little Bear

If you want your child or grandchild to take a more “traditional” path into archery hunting, then check out the new Little Bear recurve ($199.99) by Bear Archery. This traditional bow measures 48 inches long and checks in at only .7 pounds, making it incredibly lightweight and easy to handle and shoot. The bow, which comes in right- and left-hand models, sports a clear maple riser, with the option of Brown Glass or Green Glass limbs. It’s made in America and available in 20- and 25-pound weight options.

Easton 6MM Venture

Matching your arrows to your bow is important for optimizing arrow flight and consistency, and a great option for low-poundage and short-draw bowhunters is Easton Archery’s new 6MM Venture ($39.99 per 6). The 6MM Venture features 100 percent carbon-fiber construction and is engineered to the same high-performance standards of all Easton arrows.Available in a 600 spine, it comes fletched with 2-inch, shield-cut, high-profile vanes, 6MM H Nocks and 6MM ST RPS 8-32 Inserts.

Carbon Express Sabre 2040

If you’re looking to add a fun element to backyard practice sessions, check out Sabre 2040 Lighted Arrows ($29.99 per 3) from Carbon Express. These .244-inch inside diameter arrow shafts are precut to 28 inches and have a 600 spine (14.1 gpi) designed for bows up to 40 pounds. The shafts are waterproof and non-toxic, and they light up with the included glowsticks. They come with Q2i 3-inch Fusion vanes, nocks, fieldpoints and five glowsticks in different colors, each lasting up to 12 hours. Replacement glowstick packs are also available.

Slick Trick Revival

While they may be on the more expensive side, an excellent cut-on-contact broadhead that’s worth the investment is Slick Trick’s new Revival ($99.99 per 3), a 100-grain head that boasts more than 4.8 inches of total cutting surface. The Revival is highlighted by a fixed, cut-on-contact, double-bevel main blade, complemented by half-inch bleeder blade, with the two pairing up for devastating results. The main blades are .044-inch thick, with the broadhead serving up a 1.125-inch cutting diameter.

Muzzy ONE

Since they start slicing upon impact, another good choice for bowhunters shooting lower poundage is the Muzzy  ONE ($49.99 per 3). Available in 85-, 100- and 125-grain versions, this fixed-blade head features a one-piece, machined stainless steel ferrule with cut-on-contact tip, allowing it to hit hard and achieve solid penetration. The three .046-inch-thick blades do the dirty work, and they’re also easily resharpened on a flat stone. The 85-grain model has a 1-inch cutting diameter, while the 100-grain has a 1.125-inch cutting diameter and the 125-grain offers a 1.25-inch diameter cut.

Ditale Outdoors Becca Adventure Jacket and Sofia Adventure Pants 2.0

Long gone are the days when women and children had to fit into hunting apparel designed for men. Case in Point is Ditale Outdoors, which continues to expand its women’s line, recently introducing the new Becca Adventure Jacket ($159) and Sofia Adventure Pants 2.0 ($199). The jacket, ideal for mid-season hunts, is made from a durable stretch fabric with a water-resistant finish. It comes in both regular and “curvy” sizes from XXS to XXL. Highlights include handwarmer slots; zippered, front hand pockets; chest pocket for a rangefinder or cell phone; safety harness port and more. The pants, which also come in regular and curvy sizing from XXS to 3X, offer more inseam adjustment options than the original Sofia Pants, as well as back pockets, new belt loops to accommodate tactical belts and a reinforced knife clip area on both front pockets. Other highlights include zipper bottom hem for easy boot access, deep front pockets, cargo pockets and two interior zip pockets.

TruFire Spark PTC Extreme

Nobody wants the added challenge of messing with a cumbersome shooting release when they’re just starting out in archery. That’s what makes the TruFire Spark PTC (Push To Close) Extreme ($49.99) ideal for newbies. This effective and highly affordable release features a simple design engineered to work seamlessly with smaller hands and wrists. Plus, the release aid is easy to use — simply close the jaws around the D-loop for a fast, solid connection and you’re ready to draw back. The Spark PTC Extreme is easy to adjust for proper length and trigger travel, with the comfortable yet heavy duty buckle strap ensuring proper fit every time, aiding in shooting consistency.

Millennium L-224-SL Pro-lite

Whether you’re up a tree or in a ground blind, family hunting requires special accommodations, namely the ability to hold at least one adult and one child comfortably. Fortunately, Millennium Treestands’ L-224-SL Pro-lite Two-Man Ladder Stand ($299.99) is built for these types of situations — it’s a super-sturdy stand that’s also super-comfy, allowing everyone to sit longer. The 18-foot-tall stand features powder-coated steel construction, with Millennium’s ComfortMAX contoured, tight sling seat. The platform measures 39.75 inches wide by 22 inches deep, while the seat is 40 inches wide by 16.5 inches deep. The L-224-SL Pro-lite weighs 78 pounds, has a 500-pound maximum weight capacity and comes with two 35-foot Safelink safety ropes, two fall-restraint harnessses and and carabiner systems.

Nukem Double Up System

If you hunt public lands and other locations where you don’t want to leave your ground blind out for extended periods. Nukem Blinds has an excellent concealment option — the Double Up System ($290.99-$340.99). Available in Mossy Oak 3D Leafy Obsession or Oak Habitat, the Double Up System is perfect for families and mentor situations since it can accommodate up to three hunters. It features two Nukem Blinds — renowned for their easy, one-pole breakdown — on the ends connected via a Double Up panel, providing up to 11 feet of concealment width. The setup, which weighs only 8 pounds, is perfect for chasing gobblers, while the blind’s reduced profile isn’t as alarming to deer as a newly erected, full-sized ground blind. The blind system has a mesh top with convenient shooting windows, reinforced corner pockets and bottom brackets for secure setup, along with straps and stake loops to add brush for better concealment. It’s available in regular size, for hunters sitting on the ground or a stool, and XL for those using chairs.

Block GenZ XL

Another awesome option for youth is the fun, stylish and lightweight GenZ XL ($54.99) from Block Targets. The GenZ’s open-layer friction-foam design is built to stop arrows with friction not force, allowing for easier arrow removal and longer target life. The target can handle fieldpoints, as well as mechanical and fixed-blade broadheads. It weighs only 8 pounds, measures 20x22x8 inches and is designed for bows up to 40 pounds.

Morrell Yellow Jacket Mod Pro

Everyone needs a good arrow stopper no matter the age, and some of the best on the market are made by Morrell Targets. New for 2024, the company has introduced the Yellow Jacket MOD Pro ($179.99), an outdoor range-style target that appeals to every family member, whether they shoot competitively or are simply looking for some backyard fun. This 29x13x31-inch target is designed to stop shots from bows and crossbows up to 435 fps. On one side, it has a shooting face with multiple bull’s-eyes for precision practice, while the other side features a blank target face built to hold any of the seven new MOD Pro target faces. The faces, which are secured to the target by Velcro, provide options for everything from focusing on precision accuracy and tuning, to taking aim at deer and turkey vitals as you get ready for hunting season. There’s even a face for fun and games, with a dart board, connect 3 and tic-tac-toe.

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