Fake Aspens for ELk hunting practice

[LPM]

In Masters of the Bare Bow Vol III Dale Karch passed on a great idea.

He had pipe insulation hanging in front of a target to help with practice shooting through simulated trees or brush.  

I liked the idea so much that I incorporated it into this year's preparation for Elk hunting season.  

I used pipe insulation and hung it from pine tree branches in front of my Elk target.  I passed rope all the way through the tubes to hang them.  A knot or something tied in the bottom of rope will hold them on.

I went one better and cut the tubes in various lengths so I could separate the tubes while they were hanging and push tree branches inside along the rope.  I also splashed on some white paint to make them look likle aspen trunks.

I happen to have a few aspen trees in my yard that needed trimming any way.  Any branch would do.

This has been a huge help for me.  I sometimes have a problem with vertical obstructions.

Of course windy days make them dance a bit but I practice mostly in the morning or in the evenings when things calm down.

Thanks Dale for this great idea

[Ray Hammond]

I have a similar "vertical obstructions" problem when I encounter a buck like the one in your avatar!!!!!!

The tine length is directly proportional to how hard my knees knock!!!

Good idea...and good luck on your hunt.

[tomh]

that is a great idea, thanks for the picture and description

[tim roberts]

Ya'll Mid-Easterners have way to much time on your hands  :D .  Not a bad idea though!!!

[Tom Greenwald]

Great idea Duane - thanks for sharing.    

Greenie

[el_kirk]

:confused:  

Yeah, but what if the elk of your dreams is standing in a stand of lodgepoles?  I think you need TWO shooting ranges!

Nice idea there.  Have a great time this season!

[J. Adams]

cool idea

[Smallwood]

Hey Duane ,
how about a close up of your elk target? that thing looks great!

[b.glass]

Neat idea! Thanks for passing that along! And, I like your location name! Osage Iowa! Cool!

[LPM]

Smallwood............... My target looks better at a distance.

It's made of plywood and cardboard.  The parts of the Elk that I shouldn't hit are the plywood parts like the head neck shoulders guts and rear legs.  

The vital area is replaced with cardboard that I staple up and paint to match.  It's life sized
and I set two posts with a cable to hold it in front of my straw bale / rubber mat back stop.

 A poor old back yard buck 3-D target leans against the bales in line with the vitals and hidden from view.  It keeps the broad heads from getting through to my rubber mat.

Like I said it looks better from a distance.  Beats the price of a 3-D Elk.

[George D. Stout]

I have to shoot through trees to shoot just about anywhere here in the Allegheny Mountains.
Now that's something I'm glad I don't have to be concerned with.  Now, fake shade is what you need if you have no trees.

[Shinken]

Thanks for sharin' LPM!

I like that 2D elk target - that's definitely in my price range!  I may even have to get some of those "trees" to shoot through.

Now all have to do is find a hillside with a steepness of 65+ degrees to set it all up on....

:~)

Have a great 2009 huntin' season!

Shoot straight, Shinken