Guess it is time to replace the old 3D target

[tradslinger]

I guess that the usage of my 3D deer target is about totally used up. Now I believe in getting the most out of my stuff and I do my best to do it. My wife has been griping about it for several years and has been trying to get me to get a new one. I just hate spending money when there is still life in something. So it is 10 or 12 years old and has been filled numerous times with the instant foam stuff. Yeah, usually people made comments about the "cancer" growths on it but oh well, it still stopped the arrows. But now, it is crumbling really bad when you pull out an arrow, in fact, I see little pieces dropping or flying when the arrow hits. I know that it has the possibility of just breaking in two (won't be the first one) and I have still managed to fix them in the past but this one is really tired looking. I will save the rump for a small target. But for right now, the grandkids can shoot it as much as they want to with their cane arrows with the nail heads. The wife, she said finally and offered to even order a new target, so I told her to go ahead. Actually, she wanted a nicer cleaner one to shoot into herself. I probably have four or five field points and a couple of broadheads buried in that old target. I just felt like it was part of the family, like the outside cat. But, looking forward to shooting at something that actually looks like a deer LOL. 

[kopfjaeger]

I'm another one who needs to replace my old 3D deer target. I've had this one for 20 years. I've patched it and repaired it so many times I lost count. I sure can't say I didn't get my money's worth out of it. 

[Sam McMichael]

I agree with your wife. It's time to get a new target.

[Captain*Kirk]

I patched mine with foam (and matching paint) several times before I discovered the local Bass Pro had replaceable inserts. Not for my deer (McKenzie) but a box cutter and a rasp made it fit quite nicely in short order. And it was only about 30 bucks IIRC. Much less than the whole target.

[wood carver 2]

I need a new one as well… 🙂
Dave.

[BAK]

I have my own "mini" course, with a deer, bear, wolf, coyote, and turkey.   All over 15 years old.  I keep them foamed and painted, but my secret is shooting most of my practice arrows at my bag target and just a round or so a week at the foam.   

[dnovo]

I’ve got a mule deer target that’s holding up pretty well for almost 20 years old. Of course partly because I don’t just shoot the one target. I’ve got about 12 targets so I spread the shooting out. Ask your wife if you can buy several.

[M60gunner]

I seem to remember repair kits that included what is needed to repair those 3D’s. I remember writing a check out for a number of them for the club. For our everyday targets we purchased a large sheet of closed cell foam. We cut what we needed to repair then used liquid nails to hold it in. Some paint and the target was good to go. Watching a video on YouTube of a couple archers at the club I see a couple of the critters are still used. That’s goin on 10 years.

[Friend]

Have built broadhead targets for many years. One season of life is all that i had gotten out of previous designs. Note: A blob target will only make it a season for me if pounded with broadheads.

Three years ago, I decided to use the basically not shot sections of old 3D targets. I sectioned them easily with a reciprocating saw and fitted the sections tightly in an old dock float...then filled with Sika Polyurethane Fence Post Mix......have been using this same casing for broadhead targets the past decade...the target is still going strong...ote:This large BH target cost me approximately $15 to build.

[Hopewell Tom]

Cut the head off and paste it to the other end, turn the whole rig around.
 Looks to be lots of area that's "unshot".

[Roy from Pa]

Patched mine up a few times also.

[tradslinger]

Well, I performed surgery on the old 3D deer target and removed a lot of the chewed up area. Found several points including a screw in field point and insert. Today I aim to get a can of the instant foam to refill the cavity or void area. I will have two targets to practice on. no head left on this thing, a dog chewed it up years ago. but I plan to use this one for mainly broadheads. nice to have options.

[RIVERWOLF]

Looks like it's just getting "broken in" to me 

With the cost of those puppies I switched BACK to a large round bale of straw and cardboard silhouette's.
Exceptions , are old 3d hog with the vitals shot out for about the 10th time ;^)) I quit filling and just set it up infront of a bale back-stop.  Just leave it either close to the bale or like I do, far enough away the arrow passes most/all the way through before embedding fully in the bale....options

Straw is just much nicer on arrows than foam imho and so much easier to pull(and cheap like me:^)). Just get a farmer that bales them tight. If you add a roof and or 3 walls that bale will last many years. 

[J. Cook]

Scott - I'd love to see a pic of that broadhead target you made.

[Wild Bill MCP 808]

Scott show us a picture of the broadhead target you made.

Riverwolf I like the bale target you have, question would that bale tear up wood arrows? Have you shot any woods for any period of time into the bale?
Thanks

[tradslinger]

I always shot my round bales from the sides as my arrows would hit a seam and go in deep out of sight. They lasted fairly long, was digging an arrow out and found a very big king snake inside. I was amazed that I hadn't hit it and I moved it to a safer place away from the bale. I used to go around a couple of pastures shooting round bales but with field points only, I had heard of a cow somewhere eating hay that had a 3 blade head in it that someone had lost. But now the bales of hay are sky high here unless they are rotting.

[RIVERWOLF]

Bill, I shoot "mostly" aluminum, but have shot a good amount of wood also. I would have some straw stick to the ends some times, but never appeared to damage the finish on the arrows anything like foam would. You know that burnt flaky gunk.   It would likely depend on your arrow finish.

Couple things on the arrows going to deep. I did have a few of those over the years. Few ways to deter that.
First , ...find good tight bales.....2nd  I almost always use heavy cardboard silhouettes . 3rd...I have used blunts often , and it is very effective at stopping deep arrow penetration ! The more you shoot it the more it compacts. Mine also seemed better after taking on some age/moisture ...    Hope that's helps.

[tradslinger]

I totally agree on the tightness of the round bales. The only source that I had at the time was you got what you got.