What to use for archery backstop?
#1
Fork Horn
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: NorthEast Arkansas river bottoms
Posts: 422

I need to set up a backstop in my back yard. Im just curious what every one uses for a backstop. I was gonna use haybales but I kinda want something longer lasting. I seen some 8' X 4' rubber stall mats at TSc that were I think 1/2 or 5/8 inch thick and really tough. They were $40. They would last a long time but might not work well, I dunno.
Anyone have any ideas?
Anyone have any ideas?
#2

I like to use a 150 class buck myself.

...
I don't use anything but Morrell targets, I never use a back stop. Hay in my case is not good, because my arrows fly though hay.



I don't use anything but Morrell targets, I never use a back stop. Hay in my case is not good, because my arrows fly though hay.
#4
Typical Buck
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Western New York
Posts: 639

I find my backstop to be foolproof should i miss the assortment of oak trees has plenty of sufficient stopping power, it also makes you concentrate a touch more knowing you usually don't get a second chance w/ that arrow.
#5

i use haybales. i got 8 of them in a stack...2 high and they form a 90 degree angle...i put my target in the open end of the angle...
heres the best pic i got...only 6 in there at that time..

its now 2 deep x 2 high..i keep them on pallets as you see...keeps them off the ground....keeps the mice out of the shed
and keep them covered with a old tarp i had laying around. they lasted a full year and still goin strong.
also...it does stop my arrows. sometimes ya gotta dig for em...but i havent had one go through yet...alot of mine are broadheads passing through my BH target...but i'll admit...a couple times i was tired, shakey and choked and punched the trigger and threw them into the hay bales...
heres the best pic i got...only 6 in there at that time..

its now 2 deep x 2 high..i keep them on pallets as you see...keeps them off the ground....keeps the mice out of the shed

also...it does stop my arrows. sometimes ya gotta dig for em...but i havent had one go through yet...alot of mine are broadheads passing through my BH target...but i'll admit...a couple times i was tired, shakey and choked and punched the trigger and threw them into the hay bales...
#6
Typical Buck
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Belgium
Posts: 996

I shoot at a foam target which I planted on a pile of sand, I keep the sides of the pile nice and even so if I miss, I just need to find the entry hole and dig a few inches.
I made sure there were no rocks or pebbles in the sand, because that really stops fieldtips but not the rest of the arrow.
F.
I made sure there were no rocks or pebbles in the sand, because that really stops fieldtips but not the rest of the arrow.
F.
#7

Concrete walls work really well,if you miss,no need to go retrieve your arrow.
Seriously,I have used cole mine belt but that isn't readily available to most.
Here are some from Lancasters
http://www.lancasterarchery.com/shop/product_info.php?products_id=6279&osCsid=df25b 843c41f38d392d3867f71da889e
http://www.lancasterarchery.com/shop/product_info.php?products_id=7133&osCsid=df25b 843c41f38d392d3867f71da889e
http://www.lancasterarchery.com/shop/product_info.php?products_id=1655&osCsid=df25b 843c41f38d392d3867f71da889e

Seriously,I have used cole mine belt but that isn't readily available to most.
Here are some from Lancasters
http://www.lancasterarchery.com/shop/product_info.php?products_id=6279&osCsid=df25b 843c41f38d392d3867f71da889e
http://www.lancasterarchery.com/shop/product_info.php?products_id=7133&osCsid=df25b 843c41f38d392d3867f71da889e
http://www.lancasterarchery.com/shop/product_info.php?products_id=1655&osCsid=df25b 843c41f38d392d3867f71da889e
#8
Fork Horn
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: NorthEast Arkansas river bottoms
Posts: 422

I like those nets, however, their a little high for no more arrows than it would save me. I lost two last year, due to me shooting at my little target from a long distance. Shoulda used my Humungo instead of my little portable 18X14 target. I got several targets, I just want to put a backstop behind my Glendel Buck for shooting long range. I wanted a pile of sand or dirt, but I can only get a big truck load for $110. I'll probably get 8 or 10 square bales or 1 round bale from the neighbor.
#9
Fork Horn
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: northeast, North Dakota
Posts: 226

about seven years ago my dad and I went to a local PAMIDA discount store and asked them for a card board bale. I'd never heard of them, but my dad had. We asked the employees about them and they said we could have one. I think the thing is about5 ft. tall and 4 ft wide. It ways alot I'm guessing around 300 hundred pounds or so. It works just like a layered foam target, except the foam is replace with a gazilion layers of card board. We got that thing home, wrapped a cheap tarp around, and place it on a pallet. We have a little canopy over it too. I have a block target in front of it. It has lasted us 7 years, it sits outside all year in the rain and snow. No real signs of it falling apart yet.
#10
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 9,175

About 4-6 layers of free hanging carpet remnants will stop field point arrows. Not so good at stopping broadheads though. Drive a couple of fence posts into the ground, however far apart you want your backstop to be wide, then tie a wire between them and hang the remnant over the wire. Put another one or two sets behind that one, leaving about a foot between them. If that doesn't stop your arrows, add another.
About the only thing that'll do good and last a long time with broadheads - and let you get your arrow back undamaged
- is either a pile of clean sand or a turf butt, and naturally they'll both work with field points too.
About the only thing that'll do good and last a long time with broadheads - and let you get your arrow back undamaged
