Raising the Next Generation of Bowhunters

In this episode of the Pennsylvania Woodsman, Mitchell is joined by Matt Mentzer for a deep dive into archery, bowhunting, and raising kids who genuinely enjoy the outdoors. Matt shares how shooting a bow with his kids grew from casual evenings in the backyard into competitive 3D archery, coaching, and eventually bowhunting together as a family. The conversation explores the challenge of keeping kids well-rounded, allowing their interest in the outdoors to develop naturally, and the role parents and coaches play in building good habits from the beginning. Matt also breaks down his approach to the mental side of archery, target panic, shot execution, release selection, and why learning to trust the process can matter more than chasing a score.

From there, the conversation shifts from the target range to the treestand. Mitchell and Matt discuss the similarities and differences between competitive archery and making an ethical shot on a whitetail, setting up hunting bows for young archers, broadhead selection, tuning equipment, and the confidence that comes from knowing your setup. Matt shares what it's like preparing for hunting season with three young bowhunters in the house, along with lessons he's learned coaching both his own kids and other young shooters. Whether you're introducing a child to archery, trying to improve your own shooting, or simply getting fired up for another Pennsylvania bow season, this conversation is a reminder that good shooting is built through practice, patience, confidence, and time spent together.

 

--

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.