Thinking about setting up a running deer target using cables and pulleys on a foam deer target. Has anyone recommendations on how to set this up? Maybe another way would be to put in on wheels, but I'd like to hear how you did it. Thanks.
If you have a hill on the property just us cables and gravity.
All the ones I've seen at 3D shoots, just use a cable strung between two trees at an angle. Attach pulleys to the target so it can hang and roll down the cable. Attach a cord/rope to the target's butt and run it through an eye bolt attached to one tree, and back to the shooting area so you can retrieve/release it. Use the cord/rope to pull it all the way back to the high end of the cable, let go of the rope and shoot it as gravity takes it to the other end of the cable.
Of course, the speed is limited. If you want it to move faster, you'd probably need a motor?
Pay attention to your backstop since it's very hard to keep track of where the arrows hit when you miss a moving target. Clear the underbrush and try to have a hill behind it.
I used an old garage door opener that I used to pull the deer target along and it even had a remote controller to work it. Worked great!! Got me thinking its time to build another one??
We attend a Bowhunters Festival here in Pa. They have a variety of running targets and they run on a train track setup. They are always lined up the whole day.
Good Hunting,
Craig
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Zip line or a flipped garage door opener(more like a walking deer, chain drive works the best ) both are easy
We have to running targets at our range. A bear and a deer. Both use a cable strung between trees, with pulleys and a rope to pull it back. Works great!
The coolest ones I've seen used a cable running between two bicycle wheels with a 3D target hanging from it. They used an electric motor that you could shoot the target/ targets coming and going. They could change the speed on some of them too.
Not sure where you are in MD but the Baltimore Bowmen just north of Baltimore in Glen Arm has a running deer target set up. They have a cable between 2 trees going down a hill. From what I remember you shoot from a raised wooden platform so missed arrows just go into the ground.
If you use the cable and pulley system you need to use a stopper otherwise the target slams into the tree the cable is attached to and sometimes breaks the target.
The ones I have made for our club I took some type of rubber belting cut in 6" wide strip about 5 foot long. Drill a hole through the center every 10" or so then feed the hanger cable through each hole so the rubber looks like a rubber (baffle) to cushion the sudden stop.
I have the bicycle running deer system.
I took the wife's bike, she was none too happy but wasn't using it anyway :) .
Separated the front wheel from the frame and welded brackets on the fork and chassis to mount to trees. Strung cable between the trees about 70 yards apart (same trees). Put the deer attached with all thread rods through rear and neck on the cable and hooked the pull rope around bicycle wheels to front and back of deer.
Made a special bracket to attach 12v motor to drive of bicycle and then a weatherproof remote switch and deep cycle batteries.
Speed can be adjusted by using different sprockets on the 10 speed bike I used.
Everyone seems to enjoy it....never worried too much about back stop other than being safe! but then again, I sell arrows ;)
BigJIm