A friend of mine and I are going moose hunting for the first time this September. We are going to Alberta and are using Ryk Visscher as our outfitter. Besides all the logistical problems of getting our stuff there and getting moose meat back to Missouri, we knew another issue we faced was getting a feel for how big these animals really are. Even a big whitetail looks pretty small compared to a fully grown moose. To that end we decided to make life sized moose targets to practice shooting at. This post is the process I went through to make mine.
The first thing I did was go to the shot placement thread on this forum and download the moose pictures. I am an engineer/computer guy by trade and I have access to a slew of computer graphic and drawing programs. Using these, I was able to trace around one of the moose pictures showing the vitals and then scale it up to life size. For reference, I figured the top of the moose's hump would be 6' 6" from the ground and scaled everything accordingly. This is the profile I came up with.
(http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q240/dhaverstick/Moose%20Target%20Stand/MooseTargetProfile_zps1ultcrgq.jpg)
So I had my moose target shape, now I needed to figure out what to make the target out of. After much research and pondering on the subject, I decided to cut the target out of a 4'x6'x3/4" rubber horse stall mat. These are relatively cheap ($40), fairly common and would definitely hold up against the barrage of arrows I would be throwing against it. One problem I saw with this, though, was that the arrows could be difficult to pull out so I bought a 2'x2'x2" piece of high density foam (6 lb) that I cut into the shape of the vitals area. I fastened this onto the rubber with some zip ties and my moose target was complete!
Now I needed to design and build a stand to hold the moose target or my bag target. Again with the help of some solid modeling software, I came up with the following design. This is a view with the moose target.
(http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q240/dhaverstick/Moose%20Target%20Stand/MooseTargetInYard_zps2osmsk8q.jpg)
And this is a view with the bag target.
(http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q240/dhaverstick/Moose%20Target%20Stand/BagTargetInYard_zpssrqecfij.jpg)
My wife always tells me that my computer models look a lot better than the actual product but this time I think I got pretty close. The top of the hump of the actual hanging moose target is 6' 8" from the ground instead of the 6' 6" I designed for. The one thing I really didn't count on was how heavy the rubber target is. It is definitely a chore to hang it up and take it down! But it does work very well.
Picture of the actual moose target.
(http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q240/dhaverstick/Moose%20Target%20Stand/MooseTargetSmall_zpshfvu1pam.jpg)
Picture of my bag target and clay bird attachment.
(http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q240/dhaverstick/Moose%20Target%20Stand/MooseTarget2Small_zpsjtpflxy5.jpg)
It was a fun project and I sure hope it pays off with moose meat this fall.
Darren
Nice!
That is very cool and well executed from the models! Good luck on your hunt :)
Darren,
You can use the lifting of your target into place as exercise for when you're lifting your moose's head for photos!!
Good job with the target, BTW. Those stall matts are a real chore to move around-they're so big, heavy, and don't roll up. I've got 50 or 60 of them in our barn for a floor. Found out-after I was done, of course-the easiest way to handle them is with 2 sets of vice-grips clamped on the mat.
You did a great job on that, cool. :thumbsup:
Thanks for the horse stall mat idea too, I may use that some day. If you'd keep us posted on how well it holds up over time, I'd really appreciate it.
I'd love to be able to hunt moose some day, and of all the wild game I've eaten, It's my favorite.
Good luck on your hunt, I hope you guys both kill a slammer.
Bob
:thumbsup: Excellent job!! :notworthy:
hey Darren
good choice on Alberta. I will be back there again this Sept for my 4th trip. It will be interesting to compare our experiences. What week will you be hunting? Do you know where?
I will be hunting 9/17 to 9/24. Some where in the vicinity of Slave lake. I am a little concerned about all of the wild fires currently burning out of control in Alberta right now.
Hopefully the fires will be put out and are not in the areas of both of our intended targets.
Man that is too cool. The day I stand next to a mature Moose at full draw is the day I think I can die happy. Good luck!
Littlebigman, we will be hunting just north of Edmonton. Our dates are 9/26/15 - 10/4/15. Ryk asked us if we wanted to stay in his lodge and drive to the hunting area or have a wall tent camp in the hunting area. We, of course, chose the wall tent camp. Can't wait!
Darren
Good Job!Might have to copy your stand!
Sure hope
you do a couple of (On Location)Post and a couple of pictures on your hunt! :thumbsup:
Ernie
Ok I have a good idea of where you will be . You picked a good week!
Here is the one I killed in that area in 2007.
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4122/4903974415_27ebe9027e_z.jpg)
here is a teaser photo for you to think about over the next couple of months.
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/7/6163/6188766451_510f107d6c_z.jpg)
can't wait to trade stories!
Darren, I fully expect some moose steaks to accompany your legendary buttermilk biscuits this Fall! :pray:
Love your target.
Best of luck, Skychief
A good buddy of mine has hunted moose with Ryk and is three for three with his longbow, he and another friend just got back from Ryk's bear hunt with 4 bears and two where real whoppers ...
best of luck to you :campfire:
Good luck on your hunt. If I'm drawn for a NH tag in a month, I'll be plagiarizing your outline.
I've used one of the stall mats as a backdrop for several months now. FYI, in case you don't know – a broadhead will slice right through, the shaft will be tightly gripped, and it will be a tough and dangerous job to remove the arrow if the head is glued on ...
Littlebigman and Elkken, you guys are getting me fired up!
Skychief, I don't know where you heard about my biscuits but if you ever get in my neck of the woods I'll make you a batch.
If anyone wants the plans and bill of material for the stand, just send me a PM.
Darren
Very nice target setup, I really like the looks of it! Great job!
ElkNut1
Wow Darren! Whole lot of cool right there. I am going goat hunting in BC as you know...now you got me thinking about how to build an all white goat target! Pretty awesome man :thumbsup:
Good job, that's quite a project!
Thats an impressive job you did; from computer to complete. Are you going to leave it all black? A great target idea! Good luck in your moose hunt!
Feliciano, aka Cacciatore is going to be hunting moose and elk with me in the same general area about that same time...we should try to connect...we do not have a problem here with moose sized targets as most Archery Clubs have, or have had, a 3D moose target...to really appreciate the size of a moose you need to see one hanging from the meat pole...if you shoot a big one be ready to take back 400 pounds of deboned meat
DDave
If you do a search of Sheepshooter you will see the moose Randy shot last fall and the year before...he lives very close to the area you will be hunting...as you will see from his posts you need to be ready to make at least a 30 metre shot which is not all that difficult since as you know a moose has a big kill zone...just make sure to stay well back from the leg bone and scapula...the compound guys kill moose here all the time with their whitetail rigs
DDave
:archer:
Wait until you see one in real life. Man, those legs are long, or tall when he/she is standing there. Getting one in stik bow close will be a real rush.
You'll have fun for sure. Good luck.
I'm going on this hunt with Darren. He got me thinking about a target and I whipped this one together shortly after he did his. Difference is, I barely have time to shoot at it much less post pictures. Anyway got around to a couple pictures tonite.
So here is my homemade moose target. I'm in construction so I decided to use up some scrap laying around. I used a couple pieces of 1 1/2" pink styrofoam and sandwiched some other foam I had around between them glued with spray foam. Couple 2x4's for legs and an old piece of rubber from a backyard pond.
Here it is. 7' tall to the hump and almost 9' long. It's pretty easy to miss when you back up a ways.
(http://i458.photobucket.com/albums/qq309/dnlnovo/003_1.jpg) (http://s458.photobucket.com/user/dnlnovo/media/003_1.jpg.html)
(http://i458.photobucket.com/albums/qq309/dnlnovo/002_1.jpg) (http://s458.photobucket.com/user/dnlnovo/media/002_1.jpg.html)
(http://i458.photobucket.com/albums/qq309/dnlnovo/004_1.jpg) (http://s458.photobucket.com/user/dnlnovo/media/004_1.jpg.html)
I left some brush on front to add some realism.
Looking good Darren and Dan.
I bet Brian has some antlers to hang on these targets so you won't get target panic as bad.
Dan looks like the target building experience paid off from the old Gateway Bowhunters days.
Looks great! I am working on hitting my white tail target in the vitals at 30 yards consistently. I figure if I can do that I should be able to hit a moose's vitals. Good luck!!
I was drawn at the end of June for a 2016 NH moose permit, and I had the good fortune earlier to obtain Darren's plans for a moose target. I kept my existing stall pad as a backdrop and made a target face from rigid foam and burlap, painted in early caveman style to resemble a moose.
It's getting a good workout these days. Picking a spot on that dark form is significantly more difficult than on most target faces!
Fifty-eight days and counting!
(https://c8.staticflickr.com/9/8445/29000678271_85f98b25f7_m.jpg)
Good thread yall got me fired up and I aint never seen a moose. Post plenty of pics when yall return and best wishes.
I missed this post last year. I'd aim a little further back than Dan's group above.
Also be aware the hump on a Moose can be deceiving. Aim for the lower third!
Nice targets guys. Another idea that's easier if ya have access to round bales is get a big piece of burlap and get your measurements and using spray paint create the animal ya want. I made one of an elk that worked great. I had a pic somewhere.....
Many years ago I made an elk target out of a sheet of plywood, burlap, and some scrap lumber. Be advised though my wife was not impressed when she came home from work and it was in the yard. (http://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g438/Biathlonman4B/photobucket-10637-1368865915845_zpsb8fef72a.jpg) (http://s1101.photobucket.com/user/Biathlonman4B/media/photobucket-10637-1368865915845_zpsb8fef72a.jpg.html)
QuoteOriginally posted by Gun:
I missed this post last year. I'd aim a little further back than Dan's group above.
Also be aware the hump on a Moose can be deceiving. Aim for the lower third!
The principal reason I like Darren's plan so much is the care he took in making an accurate representation of the vitals.
I chose to use it as an outline, highlighted only slightly in the same color as my paint scheme. It's really not visible until you're next to the target, so the setup forces you to locate that spot you're talking about. Screw up the shot and it's very obvious once you walk up to the target. :knothead:
I have broadside shots back to 20 yards and a nifty quartering away shot back to 25, with the opportunity for threading shots through woody vegetation of various diameters and heights. Short of throwing blunts at live moose (NOT advocating that!), I'm hard-pressed to see how to improve on Darren's target plan as I get ready for this hunt. (I do a lot of roving as well, BTW.)
Nice, Darren! That's using the old noodle!
Cool idea ! Nice job making it a realization
Before my Maine hunt I made a partial full size target out of heavy cardboard backed in the kill zone with thick closed cell foam. Served me well and was able to pass it on to a friend for his moose hunt prep.
(http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o691/toddgregory1/moosetarget_zpsqmtw3iya.jpg) (http://s1338.photobucket.com/user/toddgregory1/media/moosetarget_zpsqmtw3iya.jpg.html)