I'm not a fan of losing my arrows or... as Robtatto says 'returning them to the wild'.
I did a search on TG, after a lot of time was wasted searching for an arrow. I did a lot of reading and looking at pictures(the pictures worked best) so I would like to see more pictures of your homemade backstops.
We all know that natural earth banks work well, it's not an option in my yard.
I would appreciate any pictures of your backstops that you've made for your yard that work well and are cheap but effective, durable, and weather well.
Oh! and easy to construct since I'm more handsome than handy.
Thanks in advance!
God bless,Mudd
I'm not savvy nuff to put up a pichur, but you would not believe the number of old auto tars that adorn my yard. Sumtimes I like to try shutin at reely long yardage. Iseldum brake or lose arras.
Larry
You might try some celotex fiberboard cut into one foot wide strips stacked up then clamped together with a 4x4 top and bottom pulled tight with all thread. It works for me. Sorry but I don't have any pics. Martin
Roy,
not a new idea, but if you can find any old conveyor belting you can hang it up and put a bag or something else in front of it. Arrows shot out of normal weight bows don't stick. In the absence of belting, you can hang 2-3 layers of old carpeting, but it gets wet, will eventually rot away and arrows will stick in it at odd angles.
Mudd,
If I was at home I could take a picture! maybe later.
What has worked well for me is a 4'x4' backstop that 16" deep. The base is made out of plywood and I have mine on two old 4x4's, then make a 2x4 frame for the front and back that are fastened to the base.
Cover the two sides with plywood and then cover the front and back openings with pieces of old carpet or I use a mesh that I get from the cheese factories in our area. You can nail them on but I have used screws with washers so it is easier to replace when worn out.
Then get a bunch of free plastic shrink wrap from most any business that gets shipments of goods on pallets. Stuff the shrink wrap in the top and keep compressing down by stomping it down, when it's close to being full screw a piece of plywood across the top and your ready to shoot! The arrows pull super easy and you won't lose points and inserts like you will in some other type of backstops.
I've had the same target for 15 years and it's still going strong. Bugs and critters won't bother it and if you use treated lumber it will last for a long time. We have used this type of target for many years at our outdoor range for our archery club. I'll try to remember post some pics.
Mudd, we have the same problem.
Your post reminded me of this Mac davis song.LOL
Oh Lord it's hard to be humble when you're perfect in every way
I can't wait to look in the mirror 'cause I get better lookin' each day
To know me is to love me, I must be a hell of a man
Oh Lord it's hard to be humble, but I'm doin' the best that I can.
All in fun :)
Are you looking for a target or something to put behind your target? Those matts that they us for horse trailers work very well with field points.
Gilbert
I use old mud flaps I have found along the road. I tack it up behind my straw and keep arrow from flying through the bail. Similar to conveyor belt listed above only free.
Dave B
Mudd, I was using a plywood 4X8 sheet behind my bag target but it was too loud when it.
Now I am using a 4x8 piece of sounds board (made by temple inland) in conjunction. You can get it at home depot for about $9.
Its green and black so its somewhat camo.
I have no idea about long term use it may just fall apart but its very quiet and we'll see.
http://www.templeinland.com/BuildingProducts/Fiberboard/QB/default.asp
Good luck
Mudd, Mine are under the snow right now.But Iuse seed bags stuffed with plastic shopping bags and cut up rolls of sheet poly.Wal-mart sells it.
Mudd,
Like HackBow said on the belt. I'm gonna use coal mine belt (I'm an underground coal miner)
I Don't know if you got underground mines in your area, but if you know any underground miners you can see if they will get you a piece.
I'm gonna use 48" belt cut 5' long and put two post in the ground with a 2x4 across and screw the belt to the frame, Put me a pallet on the ground maybe a little roof over top so I can set a few staw bales behind my intial target and go from there.
Do you go to cloverdale in june. If you do and can't get any belt I will be glad to bring you a piece. I can get all I want. Might just take a whole load of it with me.
Kris
Mudd I dont miss,But for the kids the neighbor fence followed by the house works for them...LOL :archer:
Hey Mudd--I use a horse stall mat--but I mount it on a piece of 5/8 outdoor plywood attached to a fence--works really well for non broadheads--and from my 46 pound @26 longbow a 2 blade zwickey
penetrates the horse stall mat and the plywood by only about 1/2 inch--from about 20 yards-[these are the ooopps shots.]
The stall mats are about 4 ft.x 6 ft.
my friend used to HANG an old carpet, or maybe it was a pc. of rubber, behind the target. if you missed the arrow would hit the carpet/rubber. and because it just hung there, the arrows would either barely penitrate, or hit and fall to the ground.
gaff
Mudd
Get a piece of carpet and hang it from a rope that is stretched between two trees or posts.
connect the carpet to the rope with electrical wire ties.place your target a few feet in front of the carpet.most arrows will fall to the ground,a few may stick but they come out eazy
BC
Mudd: Actually it was a combo of humor and truth. I was making fun of myself,(not you). Where I live, passersby cannot easily see the things that go on in my yard. Years ago I built a big arch, and draped it with conveyor belting. Over time it became sunrotted to the point that it no longer stops arrows well.I have numerous 3-d targets which I purchased at auctions. Behind them I have several piles of worn out auto tires. Not everybody could get away with this , but it serves as apretty good backstop. There are times when my friends and I get crazy and shoot at distances over 100 yards. Thats not to say that we do well , but we have fun. I must admit that the only place you're likely to see sumthing like this would be in the Ozarks. Larry
Hey Cool Arrow can you post a picture. Your range sounds interesting. I used to be able to shoot out to 74 yds here at home but with my bamboo thicket that's been cut back quite a ways.
Is it flat where you live? I have no idea what your great state looks like. I assume some is mountainous but that's just a guess. A guess based on reading about elk hunting there.
Thanks!
God bless,Mudd
PS I'm trying to not get off target(no pun intended) just trying to visualize your range with its backstops.
God bless,Mudd
I'm with elf. Horse stall mat works great!! Thats what I use.
I have heard of people, crazy people, using garage doors.
The rubber mats made to protect the bed of pickups are great, hang it between a couple 4"x4" posts and it will stop any arrow. New they are about 85.00 but you might be able to get one from a junk yard cheeper. The thing will last forever.
I like others use old carpet suspended on wires in back of my Rinehart deer. I ususally miss high so that's what it covers. The range I have on the property has no backstops, just suspended targets. Don't miss.
Mudd, I don't know how far You are into mid-Missouri, but I have some rubber matting that came off of a school track. It was headed to the trash so I saved a few pieces to use for backstops.
I would gladly donate some Your way. It is 1/2" thick and should last a long time even exposed to the weather 24/7.
I live about 20 min. from Cabella's in K.C. let Me know if Your interested maybe we could figure out how to get some to You.
bretto
That's a wonderful offer bretto ! Thank you! I wonder if there's anyone coming this way to the UBM on 2/6/2010? I'm in Ashland, which is half way between Columbia and Jeff City on Hwy 63. Folks from all over the state will be traveling to Jeff City that weekend for the UMB Festival.
I'll start the search to see if I can find a piece of it a ride.
Thanks again!
God bless,Mudd
im with the cattle mats as they are called in my area tractor supply stores have them not sure the price?
I've been wanting to get downtown to buy one of the "horsestall/cattle mats". ;)
4x6feet
$38 at Tractor Supply
http://www.tractorsupply.com/equine/horse-stalls-accessories/rubber-matting/royal-mat-rubber-horse-stall-mat-4-ft-x-6-ft--2219003
Let Me know if You find someone Mudd. :thumbsup:
This was made using CeloTex. It is a siding material which can be bought from HomeDepot or Lowes etc. Comes in 4x8 sheets. I cut it in 16" strips and stack them. With a roof over it to keep it dry, I shot one for 12 years by moving the layers around from time to time. Cost was less than $100.
(http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff176/srtaphotos/range4.jpg)
I threw an old carpet pad over a rope and let it hang double thick behind the target. But that is inside my garage, not out in the rain.
Hey cherokee scout, how does that stuff work with broadheads?
Great idea right there.
I just had a vision, 3/4 inch plywood sheet covered with Formica and made like a lean to behind the target with 2-hay bails at the bottom.If the arrow hits it with the angle and smoothness of the Formica it should angle into the hay bail.Someone make it and let me know how it works. :thumbsup:
Stiks- No broadheads. They are very difficult to get out and they will ruin the material.
Ipcjon2- that may bend or break the shaft is angle is too steep.
Could always go with half or three eighths ply and let it give a little more.
Mudd,
Just west of you in Booneville, MO is a place called Heubert Fiberboard. They make targets for the conservation departments archery ranges. They sell a 4x4 target that makes a perfect backstop/target. Do a google and it will come right up.
I got one for $123 including tax. The only problem is they weight a lot so you need some help to move them.
Chris
Mudd,
One more thing...My opinion is the fiberboard targets will last forever especially if you cover the top with something. Tough stuff.
Lancaster Archery Supply sells 2 different Types, that are made to hang off of Airplane Cable. GOOD Idea, and if I EVER get my Backyard Fenced, thats what I want to use, or something like it!!
Byron Ferguson uses a "Hanging Curtain Type BackStop' as well! I am sure he wouldnt mind telling You about it! He is Awsome to talk to!!
I use a hot tub cover that a friend of mine was replacing. It works great at stopping a misplaced arrow.
Hey Mr. Mudd
Here is a pic of the targets we use @ the house and hunting camp. I have to replace the carpet every year on the out side target but its cheep. You build a 2x6 frame and tack carpet to both sides leaving the top of one side lose and stuff it with plastic bags using a broom stick to pack it down. When its full tack the remaining area and start shooting. It will stop anything except Brodhead's.
Its works great and because you use all recycled materials its cheep
Jerry
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v81/graybuffalo/IMG_0917-2.jpg)
Can't post a pict but I will give you my best description.
Get a 2X8 or 2x6 x 8 ft , Small piece of 2x4 approx 12 inch, 2-5/8 threaded rods 4 foot long. Also 4 washer , 4 nuts. And all the large cardboard boxes you can find. I get mine from a bike shop and raid the hardware store dumpster.
Cut the 4x8 in half. now you have a top and bottom frame. Cut the 2x4 in half and nail to the edges of the 2x8, These will raise the bottom 2x8 off the ground by 4 inches. It is the bottom of the frame. Drill holes about 5 inches in from each side of the 2x8. Note it is best to lay on 2x8 over the other and drill two holes directly throgh the top and bottom frame so the holes allign.
Start cutting cardboard into 14" x 42" strips and keep stacking it on the bottom frame until it reaches 36 - 38 inches high. You need a fair amount of cardboard. Run the theaded rod through the bottom frame so it is sticking up. Keep stacking the cardboard. Lay the top of the frame over the cardboad and run the threaded rod through the holes in the upper frame. Put on the bolts and then keep tightening to compress the cardboard as tight as possible. I find I need to rotate sections of cardboard from the outer edges every so often and re-compress the cardboard. I have had this set up for two years in the back of my garage. Arrow tend to penatrate about 50% through. Sometimes you get a soft spot if you shot into the same area all the time some mix it up a bit.
Works pretty well, weighs a ton, I think I spent $25. for wood and rod, cardboard was all free.
The target ideas are great! I'm sure a lot of folks will benefit from your suggestions but what I need is something to stop arrows that for whatever reason fail to get snagged in the target. It needs to be really "big" and really "cheap" and realy "easy" to make. I'm not very handy, just handsome!
The big isn't so much for me as it is for any of my buddy's that drop by and want to fling an arrow or two.. like Gray Buffalo, Butch Speer, Loyd.. and others that I want to come back. When they lose arrows here they have a tendency to stay away after-wards...
There's not enough brush in my back yard for an arrow to be sustained on for long periods of time when released back into the wild.
Thanks!
God bless,Mudd
Hey Mudd--I understand--really cheap--and really easy to make-----------but----How big is REALLY
Big?--lol.------------Elf.
4X8 would be big enough for most... but I bet there still might be a couple that could get by that with some of the kids shooting..lol
God bless,Mudd
I use judos in the backyard and I hang a heavy polyester mesh as a backstop. It is 50=60" high by about 9' (3 yards). Cost is inexpensive for the size coverage. works great. shoot at a small target and be confident that your arrows won't go into the neighbors yard....
There was an indoor range where we used to live and the backstop was phone books stacked up with the open pages facing the shooter. They must have been compressed a little, but I have yet to see a better backstop. Not sure where the guy got that many books, they were stacked to the ceiling, and from wall to wall....my guess 8ft tall and about 20ft wide. I have been saving phone books to make my own.
I have access to large round haybales so that is what I have been using. Cheap but they can be a handful to move. Merle
I like the CeloTex idea and the carpet/ horse matts. I'm going to try them.
mudd,
i didn't take the time to read every post so this may be a repeat. i stack 3 straw bales and compress them with 2x6's and allthread. just put a 2x6 on top and on the bottom with holes drilled in the appropriate places, insert the 6' allthread and tighten. weathers pretty good and very inexpensive.
you could also have the bails banded together at a lumber yard with the same stuff they band bundles of wood with.
I made a great backstop out of an old hot tub cover.
The advantage of the mesh fabric is that it's cheap, light, easy to put up and take down (in minutes) and doesn't leave an eyesore because you can remove it when you are done.
QuoteOriginally posted by Mudd:
The target ideas are great! I'm sure a lot of folks will benefit from your suggestions but what I need is something to stop arrows that for whatever reason fail to get snagged in the target. It needs to be really "big" and really "cheap" and realy "easy" to make. I'm not very handy, just handsome!
The big isn't so much for me as it is for any of my buddy's that drop by and want to fling an arrow or two.. like Gray Buffalo, Butch Speer, Loyd.. and others that I want to come back. When they lose arrows here they have a tendency to stay away after-wards...
There's not enough brush in my back yard for an arrow to be sustained on for long periods of time when released back into the wild.
Thanks!
God bless,Mudd
If big and cheap is all you want....then the double thick carpet idea, draped over a cable or rope or something is IMO the best idea. You can get remnants from local carpet store (may even be given to you) and the rope and posts are easy too.
I have the double carpet as my backstop and it is the bees knees!
Here's my carpet backstop on my deer target. It'll catch the high ones and I seldom miss low.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0603/reddogge/Archery/IMG_1456.jpg)
Mudd: This is 2 landscape timbers, 2 2x4 and 2 pieces of rubber converyer belt.
(http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/nn301/CKRADA/conveybackstop.jpg)
This one is same as above, except has 4 pieces of carpet screwed to the frame.
(http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/nn301/CKRADA/carpetarrows.jpg)
The arrows were shot from a 52# bow. Only cost in this one was the posts $1.59 each from sale at home depot. 2x4 were scrap. Carpet was free from a remodel at a friends.
(http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/nn301/CKRADA/deercarpetback.jpg)
Mudd. I work at the Post Office and some of the mail comes in very large bags. Just like the bag target material. My post master gave me a few and I save all our plastic bags to fill them up. I have 3 full now. They are about 3 ft tall and 2ft wide. They work great and I leave them out all yr. And they are free.
Old carpets, hung double or triple work very well.
Just make sure they hang loosely to teh ground so they can move a bit.
My club has them on our 3D range and they work good up to 60 # of draw weight when hung double.
Hope that helped,
Axel
Mudd,
According to my missus I'm cheap but in my mind just.....cheap :banghead: (that word again)easy and tough. When it is weathered enough I still have the other end of the table to make another.
Mudd! The photos that (rice) has posted are the same design I use and have had very good use from them. Mine are three years old and still back stopping my targets. If it becomes worn or weathered just hang another carpet over top . Also you can move them around the yard without a forklift. Maxx
Havnt read all the posts on this but my solution for a behind a target stop is to hang a 4'x8 dence rubber shop Mat you can get it in 1/2 or 3/4 inch thick. They are not cheap but work excellent
Mudd,
If you have an old tarp you can buy four bales of wheat straw. Buy the ones with the nylon strings. Stack them two wide and two tall. Stack them on the cut edges of the straw.
Place your tarp on the ground where you want your target and fold the tarp to be as wide if not a little wider than bales. Also buy one can of the expanding foam. Place two bales width wise facing your shooting lane on the tarp with the length of the tarp towards your lane. When it's over you want to wrap the bales like a burrito. When the two bales are facing your lane and side by side (tip to tip) you can then spray a layer of foam on the tops of the ground level bales and then stack the last two bales on top of the other two in the same fashion. The foam will be a sealant between the bottom two and the top two. Then take the tarp and wrap the bales to keep them dry. Let the foam set up, about 24 hours, and that prevents arrows from going through the bales at the seam. Do the ends too if you have enough foam.
Four bales - $16 roughly
Brand new tarp - $20 roughly (use an old one then get the new one to replace the intent of the used one)
Spray foam - $5 roughly
If you go three high by two wide you might need post supports on the back side of the bales to keep it stable. You could just go three high.
After you shoot up the bales or they start to rot you can use the to plant tomato plants in....a bale garden.
This is great for field points. Broadheads might cut the bale strings.
Here's my three bale tarp covered target stop.
(http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f94/Equismith/4292011004.jpg)
Two layers of straw bales.
Set the first layer up sideways and the second layer on end. Put some wood dole rods behind or on corners to hold it up if needed.
With 2 layers the arrow doesn't pass through. Lasts a loooong time for only 15-20 dollars.
I am shooting a 53lb recurve bow into that and no issues yet.