Archery Hunters- What Do You Use
 

It won't be long and I'll be shooting the bow and setting up the tree stands.


My question is, what do you bow hunters use for target practice (deer target, box target), and is what do you set behind it in case you miss? I'm going to assume that 99% of you never miss the target, no matter how far back you are, but for that 1%, is there a combination of straw bales and carpet you use? something else? I'd like to keep all my arrows, and keep them undamaged if i can.

My brother and I got into a bunch of shooting last year where we shot from all over and different distances, different heights, etc.. 1 arrow each. We occasionally miss due to new area, misjudged distances etc, and we lost a couple arrows. I'd like to prevent that if i can.

Lets here it.

Arrowheads I find next to the river.

At home I have a bag target against a tree. I'll shoot from the ground, the deck and once in a while climb the kids playset just to practice angles. Sometimes I'll set a ladder stand up in a tree, and have been caught in a climber on a power pole in the yard before....I don't use a backdrop at home.


I'm in an archery club and we use retired hot-tub covers. If you go to a dealer, they'll have a big ass pile of them and be all to happy to get rid of some.

Closest hot tub dealer is probably in Sioux Falls which is over an hour away. Interesting idea though, would probably be worth the drive. I mean i can always stop at Scheels and The Outback Steakhouse as well. :)

Hay bales seem to work fairly well for me. Either that or my ****ing fence if I've had enough beer.
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Shot all the time when i was a kid. just walked across the street. Done alot of bow fishin, easiest way to get an arrow back i reckon.

The problem with bales has been that the arrows go right through 1 square bale, and if you hit a crack (giggidy) they go right through a back to back stack of 2 square bales..

Round bales are a pain in the ass because the arrow goes so deep it's a pain to dig the damn thing out.

I'd love to find something that doesn't allow full arrow penetration but doesn't destroy the arrow. And if you say hit the target i'm gonna find you with my blunderbuss....

I've got one of those "Block" layered targets. Arrows are easy to pull out and I use a strong ass PSE with small carbon arrows. My old man uses a 750 dollart cross bow, (bad shoulder) and has no problems pulling arrows from it. You can find the cheaper off brand ones at Sportmans guide.com and they work just as well.
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12 gauge-pump .. slugs or double-shot ....

I'm telling you that a hot tub cover is your answer. They're pretty much weather proof, the foam is thick enough to stop the arrow, easy to pull out, and you can fold them in half and put them up when you're done.

i've done it before, smartass:thumb:

last couple years i've just used a block target. if i want to practice from a stand, i just take it back in the woods w/me.
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I shoot at "the block" brand block for practice. Usually from my deck into the ground, or behind my pond dam with the dam as the back ground. that way if I miss, I'm not on my knees diggin for arrows that are parallel to the ground.

I'm gonna have to check into this.

I use a target block and have a little hill that is behind it. Yeah I have lost a couple of arrows but its part of the process.

Bag target against a tree. Shoot from the ground almost all the time. Nothing behind it, but on the rare occasion I miss(after shooting too much for the day etc) It faces a block of woods. 50/50 if I can find it. Right before season I'll set up a climber to practice from height and dial in the sights.