Ron, for his size, I would be looking at adult bows. The choices are endless.
Each manufacturer is different, but most will have a 10-20 pound variance in draw weight. So if you get a bow that has 60 pound limbs, that rating is when the bow is maxed out. The draw weight can be lowered to probably 45 pounds safely. That way when he gets his muscles use to drawing the bow, the weight can be increased, and you don't have to get another bow for him...
Draw lengths are adjustable. Some, like most of the Mathews bows require that the cam be changed, and other have a module that can be switched out. The module system is easier and cheaper.
My son is 16. He is 5'10" tall and weighs 180 pounds. He has a draw length of 26 inches. I am 6'2" and 220 pounds, and I have a draw length of 27 1/2 inches.
It all depends on how long a persons arms are.
My sons bow is set at 58 pounds. He can easily draw my bow when I had it set at 70 pounds. With the speed of todays bows, there really isn't a need to shoot at70 pounds.
Heck, Ted Nugent shoots everything he hunts with his bow set at 50-55 pounds.
There are a lot of great bows available. Mathews, Bowtech, Hoyt, Martin, Bear and others. I have owned bows from just about every manufacturer, but for the last 8 years or so, I have been shooting Mathews. My wife and son also shoot Mathews.
They are a great bow, but not necessarily much better than any of the other brands. The big difference is the way the bow draws. Each bow is different.
I like my Mathews because they draw really smooth, and have a good valley. That means when the bow is at full draw, it doesn't try to creep on you, and release.
Some bows are terrible for that. Usually the fastest bows are the worst.
Martin offers some great bows, and they are typically a lot less $$$ than the others. They have outstanding customer service, and are still a family owned company from Washington. You don't have to spend $1,000 for a bare bow to get started. I would buy a cheaper price bow at first to see if he sticks with it. Many people start shooting and realize it isn't as easy as it looks. They get discouraged and the bow sits in a closet...
It is very helpful if you can deal with a local shop that you trust. They will always help someone getting started. They can make sure the bow is set up perfectly for your son, and most will give a beginner lessons. Having the bow set up correctly, and getting some pointers will make it a lot easier for your son. He will be less apt to develop bad habits, that can be very hard to break.
I could type on this subject all day.
The best place for information is on ArcheryTalk Forum. I spent a lot of time on there when I was getting started.
Lots of very helpful people there. Ironically, the website is owned by the Martin Archery family.
