Do you remember the first bow you ever got? Does the memory bring back the smell of peppermint hot chocolate on a Christmas morning? Or do you smell the freshly cut grass of summer as you practice in your yard? Whatever image your first bow conjures, it’s probably a good one, so you undoubtedly can’t imagine simply throwing it away. The good news is that you don’t have to. You can donate the older bows you’ve outgrown to your local shops and give someone else the opportunity to make their own memories with it.
If the reason you’re donating the bow is that you’ve outgrown the poundage or draw length, you can donate it to your local shop for them to use in their youth programs. Lower poundage bows with a short draw length are perfect for younger beginner bowhunters. Your donation could make a huge difference in shaping a young bowhunter’s future by giving them the opportunity to try the sport out with your bow.
You can also check out ATA’s state contact map to find contacts for various organizations that offer youth programming like ASA, NFAA, S3DA and USA Archery. Contact the representative for your state’s organizations and ask whether they have an address where you can send the bow for their future lessons or tournaments. These organizations often offer divisions for both archers and bowhunters so someone will be able to use your bow whatever their preferred discipline is.
If your bow is a higher poundage and/or a higher draw length and you’re donating it because you’re upgrading to the newest model, you can donate it to the shop for them to sell in their used bow section or to use in their adult archery lessons.
Some shops might give you a credit in their shop as compensation for the bow. You can use this credit for your next bow purchase, lessons or new gear. Other shops might take your bow sell it on consignment, and give you a portion of the profits. Talk with the shop technicians to see what benefits they offer for donations.
As you progress in your bowhunting abilities, building muscle for a stronger draw weight and honing your skills for a more advanced setup, you can donate your older bows to your local archery shop and give the next generation of bowhunters a chance to experience the sport. At Bowhunters United, we’re all about growing awareness and opportunities, so donating your bows is a great way to contribute to the industry we all love.
Join Bowhunters United for more tips and tricks. There’s no charge, and you’ll also gain firsthand access to legislative Action Alerts and our monthly newsletters. We hope to see you at our public expo, the Archery & Bowhunting Supershow, Jan. 9-10, 2027, in Indianapolis.
