I've tried all sorts of targets       another lifetime target (and shooting deep into my round hay bale to     the nock) does anyone still use/sell Excelsior bales?

I wish i knew where to get some. I liked excelsior bales...

Strange you should mention this. We were talking about this yesterday. It has become difficult to locate those bales. There was a distributor in The LA area because our club bought some from him about 5 years ago. Some one said they were made in Tuson, Az.? Of course shipping will be a killer.
The club went with Pacific Butts recently, now that I do not pay the clubs bills anymore I do not know what they cost.

I had issues with them in the past. When shooting some wooden arrows into them the friction created enough heat to make bits of the excelsior stick to the shaft. Not all finishes did this. Other than that I did like them.

I agree with Sam. You can't go wrong with Pacific Bow Butts. They are relatively expensive but they will last a very long time. I have one in the basement that I shoot almost daily for ten years and it is still good as new. I have replaced the cover once and could do it again. They are unbelievable. If you use them outside they need to be protected from the weather.
Jack

They sell Excelsior bales in Philadelphia. I beleive the cost is like $70 a bale. Just Google and you can find the place.

There are pics of the Pacfic butts on Bearstate Bowhunters website. The pics are of club members assembling them. Looks like they came with covers, frames etc. I will see how they are holding up when I go to San Diego in July.
Where I shoot now, (Ben Avery range) here in AZ. they use the carpet bale targets. They run about $500 with shipping.
Any chance you could hook up with a local club that buys targets from a local store? That would save some of the shipping costs.

I setup my old club in NJ with Pacific Bow Butts, I know who and what they are thank you
,but I'm looking for Excelsior bales

When I lived in Florida (almost twenty years ago) my club bought it's bales from a company that supplied a casket maker. Apparently, they used the stuff for coffin padding. If I remember correctly, we drove to Louisiana to get them.

They also sell bales in Mancos Co. They were getting 50$ a year or so ago. I don't remember the name of the place but its the only lumber yard in town.

There's a lumber yard in Mancos?

Everyone used excelsior bales not too many years ago. Put a plastic cap on them to keep the rain from soaking into them and they'd last forever.

Sam with wood arrows you have to wax your shaft to keep the fibers from sticking to them.

http://americanexcelsior.com/wood-fibers/applications/power-stop-archery-targets/  

 http://www.excelsior-wood.com/

Another option is to buy the compressed hay bales from places like Tractor Supply Company or Coastal Farm and Ranch.

http://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/standlee-premium-western-forage-premium-alfalfa-grab-go-compressed-bale-approximately-50-lb