Backyard Target Tips

[Brohawk]

I'm setting up a target in my back yard, against the privacy fence.  The current plan is a stack of straw bales with a layer of 3/4" plywood between the bales and the fence.  I figure the straw bales will slow the arrows that miss the target and the plywood will prevent damage to the fence.

This is my first time putting something like this together, so it seemed like a good idea to come in here and ask for advice, maybe see if there are other recommendations for materials, etc.

[Johnny_Cash]

Check out this thread from the Pow Wow It should give you some good ideas:

Backyard target ideas  

If you miss the bales and hit the plywood it will be pretty hard on your arrows so you might consider some of the ideas in that post- i.e. rubber, carpet, etc.  I would still use the plywood as a final barrier to the fence and neighbors' yards, just try to soften the blow with other materials first.

[fujimo]

i like to use the big 5' by 7' bales, i find the arrows can still zip through between the small squares easily, unless one were to stagger two layers of bales, then that would be pretty sturdy.

[zetabow]

I heard a story of somebody being arrested and all equipment confiscated because no shooting within city limits, check local laws, even if you make it totally safe it only takes one complaint from a neighbour to get you in tourble.