What do you use for flying target practice?

[684Kevin]

A couple of us local Trad Gangers have been practicing shooting at flying targets. We are starting with objects that resemble the size of a pheasant.  We have been brainstorming of things to construct/buy that fly consistently whether during calm or breezy days.  Also, are there methods or throwing devices out there to launch these flying targets if you are shooting alone.  Not interested in shooting clay pigeons or tennis balls yet, as in the Master of Bare Bow videos.  Hopefully some day.

[buckeyebowhunter]

Me and my buddy made some card board disks we just cut out about seven pieces of card board, we used the bottom of a five gallon bucket as our pattern, then just duck taped the edges and drew a red dot about the size of a tennis ball in the center. We just toss them up to each other they fly well in about any conditions, and they have lasted a long time under abuse.

[Jim Curlee]

Kurt Feller from Wisconsin, makes a machine to throw styrofoam discs, also sells the discs.
You can throw them by hend.
Shooting discs is a blast, kind of puts the FUN back in archery.
Jim

[kbetts]

We use the old rental bodyboards from the beach area.  They are thick and last.  They are also fairly heavy and easy to throw.  We can get two or three from one board depending on the size you cut.  If you don't live near a beach, I don't know what to tell you.

[Iron]

My kids old basketballs......they work great! do a combo..throw one in the air, and roll one on the groud at the same time....mimics a rabbit busting after a pheasant.

[COOCH]

I used to shoot a golf balls at the driving range.Stand about 250  yds away and take shots at them as there rolling and bouncing and flying past.(I've noticed most people slice so stay to the right hand side of the range)

[Ragnarok Forge]

Try Nerf Footballs.  They are the size of a pheasants body and come fairly cheap if you shop around.  You can just throw them by hand.

[Cyclic-Rivers]

I thought about using a  Cessna but opted for plywood discs instead just use a blunt.    

[calgarychef]

The problem with a throwing machine is it doesn't impart any spin to the disk.  So the dish kind of "flutters" through air and isn't very predictable.  It would be nice to see someone make something that would throw the didk up and away from the shooter.  I've been thinking about something pneumatic or like a potato cannon.  It should also be something that is portable as well as being able to be triggered by the shooter.  

So get your ideas going guys, maybe we can come up with something that works!

[the longbowkid]

heavy duty cardboard disks about 12 in diameter. and onld aluminum arrows with flu flus and blunts

[kuch]

nerf footballs are the best to mimic a pheasant. we would throw across and the have someone lie down in front and toss the football just like a pheasant.

[stiknstringer]

Whatever you decide to use as targets,I can tell you that throwing it up and shooting when the target slows to come back down will not prepare you for any tpye of bird hunting.I would recommend shooting from left to right/right to   left.  

[684Kevin]

Great variety of thoughts on the subject. Thanks

[frank bullitt]

Neighbor's cat!

And if I can't catch him, milk jugg, plastic pop bottle, and the boys nerf football, like kuch says, is probably the best for size and launch of pheasants.

[BILL LEU]

Neighbor and I used foam discs. Also, took my daughters old youth soccer ball and filled it with foam she for some reason got a "little" upset and I'm really not sure why.

[Zipperhead]

foam disks work good,but I like the layered cordboard taped together because they're heavier and easier to control.  The great thing is they both cost nothing.

[gsmitty]

My buddy and I cut out 12" and 8" disks out of about 2" thick foam.  Worked ok but were too light and had a tendency to wobble in flight. We then weighted them by duct taping the outer edge with a strip of pipe strapping (the coiled flat metal with holes in it). Worked great.

[bowmofo]

http://dinksfeathershop.com/shop.asp?category=TARGETS

[john fletch]

Try  a NERF 'poppinjay'

Poke about 4 or 5 pheasant tail feathers in one end of NERF football.  You can throw it by hand, but with a slight modification you can use a Trius or Outers clay bird trap.  I built a bit wider shelf out of light sheet metal so it holds the poppinjay.  Then adjust for the height and angle you want and it is flu-flu time!  (regular arrows if you are really sporting and have a good long field to play in)

I geneally use rubber blunts so they bounce off the NERF.  You can use field points, but we broke quite a few arrows when the football fell with hits in it.  It has enough weight to snap a wood shaft.

I should see about doing  video of this and then figure out how to post it.

OBTW - if you did not know it - the poppinjay was an Olde English arial target made of rags wrapped in a deeskin and it had feathers tucked in for a 'tail'

[Deadbolt]

fill a half gallon milk jug with spray foam...one can will make a bunch of them and they will last ya while.