RE: stoping the arrow in straw
I take it you have a bale as a back up TIm?...do you have access to a metal banding tool? IF you put two bales together and band them real tight it helps to stop the arrow better.
Another idea is to check out the local lumber yard...the "blue board" that they have stacked together will work too. Alot of times, they have piecese that have been broken. Just a thought.