Help and Tips Designing Back Yard Archery Range

[Matagorda]

Fellas, a little help in the design of my back yard range would be nice.  I have 3 square targets, a pig and a deer 3d target.  A couple problems I have is I like to shoot before daylight hits and I have to go to work, and my soft St. Augustine grass swallows my low shots. 

What tips and advice for a back yard range do you have?

thanks!

Andy

[BAK]

Do you have any way to adjust elevation?  I have 6 3d targets, but I shoot them off my deck so in the rare, almost non-existent  occasion that an arrow would miss,  they don't snake under the grass. 

[Matagorda]

Not naturally, but I sure could set it up off my deck.  Even 2 feet ought to solve that issue.  Thanks.

[Kirkll]

What type of back stop material do you use? I know this has nothing to do with your grass issue, but I thought I’d share a great product that works extremely well for an arrow back stop.

In most feed stores, and more likely found in larger farm supply stores, they carry rubber Mats used for horse stalls and lining stock trailer floors with. It comes in different thickness from 1/4” to 3/4” and 4’ width.  The 1/2” material can be hung up using grommets, or just nailed up to a frame and works well. Letting the bottom just hang loose works extremely well.

I use this same material in 3/4” for a truck bed liner and it’s soft on the knees crawling in and out of the truck….    Kirk

[Trenton G.]

I have a frame built out of 2x4's to hang the target a few feet off the ground. Then 3 big squares of old carpeting hanging behind it. Stops arrows well, just need to replace the carpet after a few years if your miss is consistently in one spot.

[Kirkll]

I have a frame built out of 2x4's to hang the target a few feet off the ground. Then 3 big squares of old carpeting hanging behind it. Stops arrows well, just need to replace the carpet after a few years if your miss is consistently in one spot.

That will work.... 

[ozarkcherrybow1]

1 1/2” pvc fits nicely over a standard t post and hang an old carpet scrap for a back stop. Works great.

[MUZZLEBOW]

Here’s the stand I built. It has horse stall mats from Tractor Supply in the back that touch the ground. It really works nice & I have a 3D elk in front of it now.

[Wild Bill MCP 808]

MUZZLEBOW I like your target set up nice job.

[Sam McMichael]

I also endorse the use of the horse stall mat. I've been using one for 5 or 6 six years, and it shows no wear at all. What is adjacent to your yard? If it is safe, I would suggest about 3 target stations, all at different distances. Also, an elevated shooting location was a good suggestion, especially with the 3D target. A rack similar to that shown by MUZZLEBOW is also good, but I would make one change. Instead of setting it in the ground, I would build a sled base to make it easy to move around the yard to mix things up when you want to. Have fun!

[tippit]

On our horse farm here in Aiken, SC I have a dozen plastic water bottles scattered around in the high grass. They make cheap small targets about the size of a squirrel...aim small miss small. These really help me...tippit

[Deno]

Elevated for snow with lights for night shooting.  The deer, straw bale and hog targets can be shot out to 40 yards off to the right. Horse mat and carpet backing.   Slanted roof keeps the targets dry and gathers the Grandkids high shots...lol   

Deno

[Keefer]

  Here’s one I built for my family and it also has the horse stall mat that Kirt is talking about on the back. It does keep my targets out of the elements and if. Memory serves me correctly the 1” thick mat was like $49.00 at Tractor supply house.
   

[Keefer]

  This picture is one of my favorites and no words are needed to what just happened lol

[Sam Spade]

Wait till Scott 'Friend' Sanders shoes up!

[Roy from Pa]

Those horse stall mats are the ticket for a backstop..

[Pat B]

Like Keefer I like having something hanging out in front to shoot at. It has to be far enough from the backstop so the already shot arrows don't interfere with the swinging object. Someone a few weeks ago had a metal washer hanging like this. I use seed pods from a native magnolia tree for this. Once it's hit it swings making the next shot more interesting.

[Wudstix]

I use a couple thicknesses of rubber matting that works.  Am in the process of building a movable target frame that different 3=D targets can be placed in front of and frame can be relocated, as permitted.
 

[Roy from Pa]

Pat didn't happen without a video:)

 

[Kirkll]

Here’s the stand I built. It has horse stall mats from Tractor Supply in the back that touch the ground. It really works nice & I have a 3D elk in front of it now.

That’s a cool target enclosure with a roof on it. Sure makes your targets last longer.
But I don’t see any arrow holes in that wood frame yet….. is this pretty new? 

I had a friend who built something similar and over the years lost quite a few arrows hitting the wood frame. Not a good design for rookies or long distance shooting.