When stump shooting are you particular about which stump you shoot? I've tried it and want to do more but it seems a hassle to dig my arrrows out with pliers every time. Is there something I'm not doing, picking the wrong old stumps, or is this just normal?
I use blunts, never had to dig out an arrow, I shoot at stumps, dirt lumps, patches of dandelions old cattle bones, pretty much anything.
Hex blunts are much easier to pull from a punked stump.
Thanks. I've been using fieldpoints.
There's a recent post on the forum here where a guy talks about putting a washer behind his field point, might be a solution if you don't have any blunts on hand
I do a lot of stumpshooting, have for years; my favorite form of practice. It's so simple... but there's little things you learn around the way.
First off, you want to use the right points, and that's either judo's (by far my favorite) or blunts (I like the Ace hex blunts, but still use judo's). Field points would be a royal pain, as you're finding out. Even with judo's, they still bury in a stump on occasion; a sturdy fixed blade knife is my tool of choice to dig 'em out. I consider the knife a necessity, along with the bow, arrows, and glove. Blunts can sometimes stick, but not often. I don't use blunts much because I break more arrows with 'em, when hitting harder stumps or whatever. Judo's absorb some impact by way of the narrower point penetrating, and the spring arms help with this as well. With the blunts, pretty much the full impact is transmitted to the arrow.
But the blunts are a whole lot cheaper, and some arrows are gonna get lost - and sometimes just the tip and point break off and disappear.
As far as choosing your stumps (and there are other targets out there - leaves, pine cones, stray beer cans, flowering weeds, etc etc), well that's an ongoing exercise, and part of the fun. Basically, I'll just say I try to judge 'em so as to avoid the hard ones (arrow busters), trying for the ones that look older and punkier.
One other key thing is to consider where the arrow will go if you miss - ricocheting thru trees or limbs is another easy way to bust or lose 'em; and definitely try to stay clear of rocks!
Lots more tips, but I'll let others join in on the fun.
My only problem with shooting stumps is none of them taste good.
I always test my stumps first. I can't afford the broken arrows and lost blunts. If it's a good soft stump, with plenty of challenging shot positions and obstacles near it, I might stick with that stump for a whole hour. And of course, i have a few favorite stumps I pause to shoot at on my way in and out from a hunt. But I know those are soft enough due to prior experience.
I use blunts the same weight as my field points. I also use unstained arrow shafts and bright fletchings both of which make it easy to find arrows.
Try to pick stumps that have a good backdrop to stop arrows with to keep from losing them and no rocks nearby to break points off with.
Out here where I'm at I try not to select shots into the ground. Mountains have too many rocks. 😂 Back home in Indiana was fine though.
I like judos for grassy areas, they are UNLOSE-ABLE I just wish they came in more weights.
Judos are awesome and I got a pile from my wheelie days but the problem is they don't come in heavy enough point weights, if they do please show me where I can buy done because all we got around here is 100gr. In the grass they can't be beat.
Quote from: BearBandit on March 29, 2020, 11:30:58 PM
Judos are awesome and I got a pile from my wheelie days but the problem is they don't come in heavy enough point weights, if they do please show me where I can buy done because all we got around here is 100gr. In the grass they can't be beat.
You can get glue on judos 5/16 at 120 gr, 11/32 at 130 gr, and the larger judo condors at 145, (I believe). And all of them are made by zwickey. I have ordered them on Amazon before.
I cannot say I have ever paid attention to the screw in weights though.
135 gr on that 11/32 glue on. Sorry about that.
And listen to everything slowbowjoe told us up there...that guy sounds like he kills more stumps in a day than any of us do in a month...:goldtooth:
My preference is the Ace Hex blunt over a judo as I bend the wires on them. I also carry some spare nocks when shoot aluminum or carbon. Stumps around here are not friendly when shot:(
I carry a multi tool, Leatherman Wave, to help me get stuck blunts out. I also have 5 inches of broken arrow with insert in to wiggle stuck blunts instead of putting stress on arrow.
Since I camp and hunt in some of the wilderness areas in the mountains here. I have a belt pouch that has everything I need to repair a wood arrow in the field...I hang it on my left hip so it doesn't interfere with shooting. I have re-tapered shafts and installed a heavier blunt to accommodate the shorter shaft, glued down loose fletchings, or reinstalled a nock....I always have a pair of pliers in the back pocket of my pants. I don't think I use them as much as it sounds like you have been using yours, though. You just have to shoot selectively.