My house sits on a couple of sloped, half wooded acres. Currently I have turkey, deer, hog, and bear 3d targets. I also have a block target that I use for broadheads. In addition to those I have a half dozen or so yellow foam golf balls scattered around the yard to shoot at (the ground is soft, almost sandy , so no arrow damage to worry about). When I want to practice from an elevated position I shoot off my back deck which, due to the slope of the yard, puts me about 12 or so feet up. I'd like to see pics of your backyard ranges. I'm always looking for ideas on how I can improve my setup. I'm especially interested in ways to weatherproof my 3d targets and not have to haul them out every time I want to shoot.
I have a 50 target course in my front pasture ( about 2-1/2 acres woods , 2-1/2 acres open ) it's a mix of 3D , homemade , bag targets. I'm at work now but will take some pics when I get back home. Have had my targets out for years and they are still fine , paint will fade but just spray paint them when needed. Have made up a bunch of 2D targets out of 4X8 sheets of corrugated plastic , cut out your shape and paint to your liking. I have deer , hog , rabbit , coyote , Griz , Black Bear , frog , goose , fox , elk , buffalo , antelope , turkey , sm game. All set up in a big walk through , who ever makes the best shot on a target picks the next shot. Lot of fun having friends over for a day of friendly shooting and a little trash talk is also involved...
,,,Sam,,,
I have a 50 yard course at blocks and a bale wall under a shed, and half a dozen 3D's in the woods that can be shot from various angles and ranges and get moved about once a week. I haven't climbed a tree since 2007 so everything is shot from ground level.
All three of these set-up's sound great guys.
Sam, I'd love to see some pictures of your set-up, especially the 2D cut-outs. Looking to do something similar here on my place, 2D's, a few 3D's etc, so I'll be following this one.
Best
Lex
Sam I'd love to see a pic of the 2d targets. I've been wanting to do a home built life size elk (can't justify the expense of a 3d elk).
Man I'd love to have an elk 3D but those Reinhart Elk are pretty pricey.
Nothing fancy on my end. 3 stacked hay bales with a 4x8 sheet of siding behind that and my neighbor's garage wall behind that. Thankfully, he's okay with it. Max out at about 37 yards but 90%+ of my shooting is 0-20.
No 3d targets here. I had a ton of leftover burlap from a project so I've spray painted on some animal targets onto burlap & just hung it. Takes a lot of shots. I'll shoot it ragged and it usually lasts one season. For broadheads, I just use some 2" insulating foam sheets from the local big box home improvement store. I'll spray paint a target to shape (deer or turkey) and make sure it's all hitting where it needs to go. The sheets can also double as an insulating layer on the top of my beehives.
3D targets sound good to me but I never could spend much money on something I wholeheartedly intend to destroy. For some reason, buying lumber to make a bow and have it break is a completely different thing, even though sometimes the result is the same. Thankfully, I never claim to be a rational person.
Man, I gotta up my game. I have one ragged deer target behind the house, and yesterday while shooting I made a perfect hit - a rare event, indeed. The unstable target fell over and snapped my arrow. What a bummer! But, this has got me thinking about buying several targets and making a small range. I have 65 acres in the country, so I have plenty of space. Does anybody know of a source for 2D targets? I would think that would be cheaper than 3D.
I have a block, a 3/D deer, a Rhinhart Ball, and a flat backstop with an Ames burlap target on it. I can shoot just about 35 yards max but most shots taken are 12 to 22 give or take a bit. This is all in my side yard behind my Garage. I do shoot almost everyday.........some times several times in a day. :thumbsup:
Sounds like a great way to practice! I'm so envious right now :thumbsup:
If you want to leave your 3Ds always in the field, and you don't have too many, you could use any waterproof sheet; just secure them so the wind does not take them away. Just my 2 cents ;)
Still at the fire station but when I get home I will take some pics. You can buy the corrugated plastic ( it like thick cardboard but plastic ) at the big box lumber yards home improvement store for $20 for a 4x8 sheet. I just looked up 3D targets and got the height and length of the animal I wanted and did big freehand outline then cut it out with a sharp razor knife then spray pain to match. I think they look pretty good , just place a stuffed burlap bag from the feed store behind the kill area and you have a pretty cheap target. They will last forever out in the weather also...
,,,Sam,,,
Trying to get some pics of my range loaded.... :banghead:
Mine in the new house goes out to 55 yards to the road. A Reinhart deer is over on the right with the tree as backstop. The closer picture shows the coyote target but when you get out farther the side wings will catch any arrows right or left. You just move left to shoot the coyote so the wings can catch any strays.
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50+ yards, no roof yet. Yogi is 20 and hasn't been inside yet.
A pretty cheap and durable medium that you can use as a stand alone block or to back up a 2D cut out is a compressed bale from Tractor supply. I have one wrapped with a Contractor bag that I have shot for 6 month and it is still firm.
Ok got home and shot a round today with a buddy , took some pics of my homemade 2Ds. They ain't perfect but they are the correct body size...
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Here are some I made out of old goose decoys , coyote decoy , and turkey decoys. Just filled them with odd foam bits then spray foam to hold it all in place. Been shooting some of them for years and they have done really well...
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The course has 52 targets , some real 3Ds but can only afford so many. Then have a bunch of the homemade 2D and decoy targets , then several burlap feed bags stuffed with all kinds of stuff ( if it looks like it will stop arrows I will stuff it in a bag ) I have been creative with my targets some are old couch cushions in a burlap bag hung from trees with an animal or big spot painted on it with spray paint. Anyway that's my walk through range it usually takes 1 1/2 hours to walk it with 2 guys. If anyone is ever in central Tx around Austin give me a shout and we can shoot a round...
,,,Sam,,,
Thanks heaps for the photos Sam,
Thats some great ingenuity there, and it looks like a heap of fun.
Given me some good ideas for what I can do here too.
Best
Lex
Man Sam that looks like a blast!!!! A little jealous :biglaugh:
Those look great Sam. They give me some good ideas.
I over did mine but made it to last. I shoot my field tips into the excelsior bales with paper targets and broadheads on my 3D targets. I can get 20 yards in my basement so I keep a set up down there for the winter or rainy days.
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Man... I can only get 10 yards at my place! You guys are lucky.
Sam, that is one monster range! Where exactly are you in central Texas? I'm smack dab in the middle of Austin.
Not far from you , I live in Georgetown , about 8 miles off I35. You ever want to come shoot just send me a PM...
,,,Sam,,,
I need to add some more, but it's a reasonable start
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Old Faithful . About five years old . Still got some life yet ,I'm hopin !!
I have several 3-D's scattered around but most of my shooting is done on this target butt made of compressed celotex. I have several friends and my sons who shoot on this target as well and a stack of celotex usually lasts me about ten years. I can shoot back to 75 yards on this lane in my side yard.[attachment=1]
Is it just me or is it a totally different animal shooting a 3D target with no backstop compared to a FITA type target on a large backstop?
Seems like if I eliminate the background noise and visual influence behind my target, I'm able to pop ping pong balls at 20yd, but with a small 3D standing alone in the field, my group spreads out considerably!
I don't know if it's just the comfort of knowing my arrow won't fly off into the nevernever or that shooting 3D has just made me a better target shooter, but either way I'm at the point that I want to get rid of my backstop and just spread out 3D targets around the yard and take away my safety net!
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I have a bag target, blob, and two 3-D's on my range. I can shoot out to over 60yd if I want. My stuffed bag course through the adjacent woodlot gets most of my attention though. That's where I keep all my stumps too.
Quote from: SAM E. STEPHENS on May 22, 2018, 10:20:30 PM
Ok got home and shot a round today with a buddy , took some pics of my homemade 2Ds. They ain't perfect but they are the correct body size...
SAM, YOU GUYS GOT SOME BIG ASS FROGS IN TEXAS! LOL...LOL