3D Target Question...

[BrianP]

Do you all leave your 3D Targets out in the weather during the poor winter months?  Cover'm up or take them in the shop?  This has been my first winter where I have not retrieved them due to I've been sick for over a month.  Not sure if they will rot, be fine, shorten life span, etc...  I get a lot of rain but no snow to speak of.  Thx in advance, Brian

[Labs4me]

Brian:

My 3-D targets spend their winter in the garage. I shoot at an excelsior bale in my basement during this time of the year.

[mcgroundstalker]

I have a ten target 3D course around my house in the Catskill Mountains. You can bet those targets are put in a shed for the winter. Too much sunlight can change the color of a target. Then the critters will chew, peck, trash or otherwise bust em up. If ya just cover them the mice will find a home inside.

my two cents ... mike ...

[mike g]

If it's a Rinehart target, It may fade a little....
    Butt it wont get hard or brittle, can't say what the other critters will do to it....
    I bought one of the Treestand Bucks a bout 2 years ago, I put it outside and it stays there.
    I wanted to see how the weather affected it, so far just a little fade in the color is all....

[d. ward]

I store then in the garage for the wet rainy months (here in Seattle about 11 months a year....)But a good point mentioned above about the sun fadeing them.Oh ya,the cat was sharpening her claws on the neck of my new Mac 3d Mule deer last spring...I've been waiting about 20 years to buy that one.Man was I pee'd..Second time she was ducken a rubber blunt.Ai'nt done it much since then.Best to take good care of them and put them away for winter.bd

[BrianP]

Well the consensus is to get out there and put them in the shop...will do after dinner.  Thx for the advice.  Brian

[Gitnadoix]

If ya have trouble with bears etc chewing on em, just wrap a garbage bag over their heads when not in use. We used to get al sorts of wildlife damage on the 3-D course till we did this....tried moth balls and pinesole...nothing worked like a garbage bage on the head.

[John 4]

I've only ever owned one 3D target.
Bought it when I lived in Australia.
If an when I buy another one I'll put it away after use for two reasons.
#1,the sun made my first one start to split along
the seams,or moulding joins or what ever they are.
#2,I had some fool jump my front fence an try to steal it,,,,during the day,,,while I was home sitting in my lounge looking out at my front yard.
Even my dog had a hard time beliving what he was seeing,,,,,for the first 10 seconds,,,then it got funny!!

[David Bartholomew]

I presently own over 30 3D targets (McKenzies and Reinharts) and they all stay outside... various spots in the back 40 / woods.  I never take them inside.

I do have have 4 targets in the open field and yes... the sun does put a hurtin on 'em.  The ones in the woods... no real problem.  

After it rains, I let 'em dry out before I start shooting at 'em again.

Add SAFETY NOTE HERE:... What I have learned to do... is to remove the antlers from the deer targets during the rut.  I've had 3 targets "attacked" over a 4 year time period.

Yup, you guessed it... the targets were just standing there... minding there own business and some real live buck comes outta no where and BAM!!!  GO Figure!!!  

David

[Deadbolt]

the two of my 3d deer stay outside year round b./c i shoot em year round...i just dont feel like hauling them in and out every other day when i shoot.