Looking to see a few set ups that folks have used with success for their arrow backstops. I've use a Block archery target for a while now with a few hay bales behind it and it works OK, but I figure that several on here have figured out their 'ultimate' backstop set up. I shoot and lose enough arrows yearly to invest in something a bit better.

We have about 6 acres of open field around our home with no close neighbors except a few cows. I am wanting to  keep it under a couple hundred bucks, not so junky looking as to get the ire of the boss lady, and relative easy to maintain for a few years.

Appreciate it folks. Pics would be very welcome.

Hang you some mineing belt behind it

There was a post a couple of weeks ago about targets and one about backstops.Look up backstop in the search button.

This may help
http://tradgang.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=086188#000000

I had enough trees around my target area I hung a curtain(heavy fabric) about 3 feet behind the intended target. the bottom hung loose and does a remarkable job slowing the arrows down. It was good for the young ones that miss ocassionally. Then when they went home I took it down.    


Good Shooting

Mike

Hang pieces of carpet as a backstop. from trees, hay bales, etc.

I have 6 acres and have 16 targets hanging around it but only the Rhineheart deer in the practice area gets a backstop.  I use a doubled up piece of old carpet suspended from a wire stretched between two trees.  It only catches the high ones as that is where I tend to miss.  It saves on looking time.

Thanks for the ideas guys and the link to the prior topic, I'd missed that one. There were several ideas on there that I can incorporate.

David

David,

A couple of years ago I was at the local farm and ranch store and they had a sale on solid "rubber" stall mats. I don't know what kind of rubber they actually are. They are about 3ftX4ft (they had larger ones as well) and 3/4 of an inch thick. They may have been made from recycled tires. I bought one as a backstop for my bag and 3-D targets and they work great. I think it cost me 50 bucks.

After about 6 months of having it flop around all over the place when I would shoot, I built a cheap 2X4 frame for it. I put 4 big brass grommets across the long edge and hung it on hooks I screwed into the board across the top. I think I spent a total of 30 bucks on lumber and hardware.

The frame has two feet perpendicular to the frame where the mat hangs so it is sturdy. The mat is pretty heavy so I wouldn't really call it portable unless you have a couple of buddies to help, but target points barely puncture and a broad head doesn't penetrate past the base of the ferrule. It is slightly "self healing" but I wouldn't shoot broad heads right into it as a habit.

Our local farm and home is an Atwood's, but I bet you can find them just about anywhere.

OkKeith

That sounds really good Keith, I have a fence near the barn where those mats would work perfectly.

David

Some might frown at this but, I just use two 1/2" sheets of treated plywood. If the arrow punches through the first one, it sure ain't getting through the second! I've not had problems with damaged arrows and there're fairly easy to pull back out. Keeping in mind the heaviest bow I shoot is 53#.
 

The best I have ever used is a doubled piece of short loop carpet.  To make it look better, you could split a piece of pvc pipe, place two layers of carpet and use some 1/4" lag bolts with wingnuts.  Cheap, too.

Best of luck.

Carpet is a great idea..!

I lucked into a "flotation" used under big docks on lakes. This has worked well for me for close to twenty years.


I usually miss low and this works perfect with the size and shape of the flotation... My buck is in the "move back and shoot the rear section" phase of target life.. Too many broadheads.. LOL


John III