Backyard Ranges

wislnwings · May 20, 2018, 04:55:47 PM

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.

SAM E. STEPHENS · May 20, 2018, 07:31:12 PM

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,,,

David McLendon · May 20, 2018, 07:53:09 PM

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.

A Lex · May 21, 2018, 04:17:00 AM

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

wislnwings · May 21, 2018, 05:51:31 PM

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).

David McLendon · May 21, 2018, 06:31:18 PM

Man I'd love to have an elk 3D but those Reinhart Elk are pretty pricey.

YosemiteSam · May 21, 2018, 07:27:53 PM

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.

Sam McMichael · May 21, 2018, 08:15:42 PM

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.

ron w · May 21, 2018, 08:22:05 PM

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.

madmaxthc · May 21, 2018, 08:25:44 PM

Sounds like a great way to practice! I'm so envious right now

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

SAM E. STEPHENS · May 21, 2018, 08:42:47 PM

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,,,

goingoldskool · May 21, 2018, 10:27:07 PM

Trying to get some pics of my range loaded....

reddogge · May 21, 2018, 10:39:41 PM

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.

goingoldskool · May 22, 2018, 04:30:08 PM

50+ yards, no roof yet. Yogi is 20 and hasn't been inside yet.

David McLendon · May 22, 2018, 08:07:03 PM

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.

SAM E. STEPHENS · 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...