Shooting Aerials....

BowHuntingFool · February 06, 2010, 10:58:00 PM

What a blast! I went out with a buddy and his kids today to get some practice in for a pheasant hunt! It took a couple arrows but I surprised myself on how close I would actually get once I waited for it to top out! Then when I started hitting them I was like a kid in a candy store, I didn't want to leave!

What do you guys use for Discs? He had some made up from card board glued and taped on the edges, works perfect!

Now I just hope these darn pheasants fly just like these discs did today, with a little hang time!

wv lungbuster · February 06, 2010, 11:05:00 PM

I would love to try some aerial shooting, sounds like you had a blast. And good luck with the roosters.

Mike Most · February 06, 2010, 11:23:00 PM

Plastic bucket lids break arrows. but softballs work pretty good.

Great fun

Coonbait · February 06, 2010, 11:25:00 PM

We use old nerf footballs the kids have laying around. And they are about the same size and shape as a pheasant.
GLENN

BowHuntingFool · February 06, 2010, 11:31:00 PM

Glenn, that is a great idea, I would of never thought of that one!

February 07, 2010, 12:50:00 AM

We prefer clay pigeons, but I wish they made ones that only broke if you hit them or ones that did not break at all. I take longer shots at pheasants than I do at deer, the clays get out there far enough for the rangey shots we get around here.

Rick P · February 07, 2010, 12:54:00 AM

Nerf balls, doubled up card board and the styrofoam craft balls all work, I have even used hand thrown clay pigeons. My favorite though is made from the same 3 inch thick foam as many targets and is the size of a frisbee, I got it at sportsman's warehouse for about 4 bucks! I just checked and it says "hips targets" on the face above and bellow the bulls eye. You think the targets are fun just wait till you start busting birds! I have everything from Bunnies to bears available to hunt but it's ducks that get my vote for most fun with trad gear!

Rick P · February 07, 2010, 01:05:00 AM

Got a link, geuss I got mine on sale or have a bad memory the site sells them for $9.99

http://www.hipstargets.com/products/aerial-target/

badbadleroybrown · February 07, 2010, 01:07:00 AM

How many layers of cardboard is ideal for an aerial target?

Chuck Hoopes · February 07, 2010, 02:44:00 AM

Years ago I had a traditional get together on my farm. I had a 3d course, a 100 field shot at a standard 4'x4' target face w/a 9" Bulls eye , speed round shooting, shooting from horse back Of,etc. all these events shooting at helium filled balloons was the most fun. In a cut 20acre hayfield, with tank of helium (rented) we released them down wind from the shooters. Balloons released 10-15yds out front of shooters in 10-15mph down wind. Simulated a slow flushing pheasant flying downwind. Often you could get off a second long shot at one. It was about as much fun as you can have w/ your clothes on.

Friends call me Pac · February 07, 2010, 03:20:00 AM

I use an old frisbee. Made for throwing and works great.

ishoot4thrills · February 07, 2010, 06:55:00 AM

I use a disc I cut out of an old foam broadhead target. It was flat and about 2 inches thick and I cut a disc about 10 inches or so from it. I use rubber blunts on my arrows so they don't stick into the disc so there's no danger of the arrow sticking in it and then breaking off when it falls to the ground because the disc is relatively heavy.

BowHuntingFool · February 07, 2010, 10:46:00 AM

QuoteOriginally posted by badbadleroybrown:
How many layers of cardboard is ideal for an aerial target?

Not to sure on how many layers but my buddies are about 1.5 inches thick. He made about a dozen of them which is perfect, shoot at 12 and go collect your arrows that way you don't loose them.

I'm going to make mine so the fit just inside a 5 gallon bucket for easy storage!

WVeer · February 07, 2010, 10:54:00 AM

I glue up cardboard to a thickness of about 1 1/2 inch. Then I draw circles of various diameters using cans as a templetes. I try to use all available space on the card board sheet so I have various size discs from 5 inches to 12 inches. I then cut them out with the band saw. We throw them up in the air as well as roll them on the ground to simulate rabbits. You don't have to use fluflus when you roll them.....just a good blunt.

Ron LaClair · February 07, 2010, 11:14:00 AM

A fun target that I use to use is Frisbees with Styrofoam cups taped to the top with masking tape. I think that makes more realistic practice for bird shooting. Here's an old video clip from Fred Trost Michigan Outdoors TV show.

http://www.tradgang.com/videos/ronlaclair/ronl-4.wmv

Don Batten · February 07, 2010, 12:09:00 PM

http://tradgang.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=39;t=000321

Here's a video out of the classics. Don

ottertails · February 07, 2010, 12:41:00 PM

I bought a case each of 7" & 9" cardboard pizza circles...aka cake circles, from a rest. supply co. Tape 4-6 together for aerial shooting & 10 together for rolling on the ground. Also use Nerf footballs, tennis balls, you name it. My sons & I especially like taking turns kicking the nerfs around to simulate bunny hunting... they take those unexpected hops....Great practice, great fun!

GangStarr · February 07, 2010, 01:16:00 PM

i went to HomeDepot bought a 4x8 sheet of foam siding backer the green stuff.
cut out 8,10,and 12inch disks. then with clear packing tape, taped 3 disks and cardboard on the out side together sprayed a dot and shooting we awent!!
you get about 10-12 targets total from a 4x8 sheet of backer
i prefer shooting the 8 inch disks
and yes FUN FUN FUN!!!!!!!!!!!

Chris Shelton · February 07, 2010, 05:34:00 PM

I think the pheasants will be easier in a way, but I really dont know for sure. From some of the videos I have seen it looks pretty darn hectic, but on the flip side they seem to sometimes stall like right in your face? I use the good ole foam target, but I dont think I will after seeing what you all are using!

oxnam · February 07, 2010, 10:02:00 PM

If you really want to get ready for a pheasant hunt, shoot at clay pigeons coming off a normal thrower. I haven't found anything better for hunt prep. It helps in training you to get that shot off before the bird gets out there too far. Everything else is fun and rounds out your shooting skill, but if you are serious about pheasants, stick to clays out of a thrower.