RE: What do you use as a backstop ,practicing
Two guys I shoot with don't use anything as a backstop. If you miss, you're probably out an arrow. Another one uses a big piece of plywood...it stops arrows, but isn't the nicest to them. Don't use this unless you shoot carbons for sure.
I personally...shoot in front of my pond bank. I have been known to launch a few over the hill of it, but almost all of them catch it and stop. It's a great backstop.
Hay bales should work, good luck finding one.