A Stump Shooting Question

[Major Boothroyd]

Being relatively new to archery, my main experience has been shooting Field round matches at varying known distances as well as 3D matches at varying unknown distances.  I've also shot a few 300 rounds, and done some deer hunting this past year, although I did not get one this last season.

My question is about stump shooting... I've seen a lot of photographs of arrows stuck in stumps from threads where people talk about walking in the woods and stump shooting, and I'm wondering how they are not destroying their arrows?  Is there a special tip that one uses to minimize penetration?  Is breaking arrows and or losing tips in the field just part of the deal?  Isn't it quite difficult to pull these arrows out of wood stumps?

Sorry for such a simplistic question, but with the cost of good carbon arrows, I was just wondering how people go about it.

[Sean B]

Not a bad question.  We use either a blunted head or a judo point, and I try to shoot at a stump that's soft and punky, it absorbs the shock. Once in awhile, I'll misjudge a stump, and it'll be more solid than I'd like.  

[Duncan]

If the stumps are rotten and soft a field tip will work. Most use some type of blunt. Even a steel blunt will stick into a rotted stump without harming the shaft. Where I live we have a lot of cedar stumps and they don't rot so I like a rubber blunt which will bounce off and usually the arrow survives. But the short answer is some arrows won't make it. That's why most will use old or damaged arrows for stumping. I like hardwood like poplar or hickory if I can get it.

[Major Boothroyd]

Okay, that makes sense.  Thanks, Sean!  I've read references to blunt heads and judo points, but I thought those were mainly for small game hunting.

Thanks!
Anthony

[Major Boothroyd]

Duncan, thank you too.  That's good info.

It's so dry here in Southern California, that most stumps I've seen tend to be pretty hard.  Not enough rain to get much decomposition going!

[MKane]

stump shooting can refer to shooting at many things while roving thru the woods. stumps,clumps of grass or leaves,pinecones.judo tips can help keep arrows from burrowing under grass or leaves.blunts can also be used.Shooting at rotten stumps helps but eventually you are going to lose some arrows.The fun and realistic practice are well worth it.

[SELFBOW19953]

What Marty said!!  I shoot at leaves, patches of sunlight, blades of grass, anything that catches my eye.  On my property, I even put out some flags use to mark utility lines.  I usually use a judo.

[macbow]

Stumps where I shoot are too hard.
My roving includes some cloth bags in different shaped that I stuff full of plastic grocery bags. These are set around a walking coarse.

A plastic soda bottle stuffed with bags makes a good target that you can carry along and toss out when no natural targets present themselves.
Another is a tennis ball.

[McDave]

I stump shoot just about every morning, and repair (or replace) arrows just about every night.  I use a judo head for soft targets, pine cones and the like, and where the arrow might otherwise get lost in grass.  I use a plastic or rubber blunt when I think the arrow might impact something hard.

[Stumpkiller]

I bust wood arrows all the time.  Gives me something to do this time of year making more.

Here are three dozen Douglas fir (I hand taper the last 12" down to 5/16") that may not make it to next year.  Half a dozen will get judo points, a dozen get Ace Hex blunts, a dozen get field points (for targets) and the last six get plain blunts.  As I break them I swap off field points for whatever was broken or lost.

   

   

It is more than worth it.  

On the other hand - I have four arrows left from a dozen I bought from Howard Hill Archery in 1982 that have been through stump shoots and bunny hunts annually since then.  Some stumps are soft and some arrows lead a charmed life.  I've gone days with 60 shots on one wood shaft that I still could put back in the quiver.  And then there are the days when six get shattered.

I used to shoot PPC and figure 120 rounds of .38 Special, even reloaded, plus entry fee was going to blow $35 a day.  That's six well-made arrows . . . and you can usually find and re-use the points.  I even salvage fletching occasionally.  

Neck, if you look at what som,e folks blow on cigarattes wasting a dozen arrows a month instead would be a huge savings.

Have a stink-pot boat?  A dozen custom arrows is one day of fuel on the lake.

[Richie]

Welcome  
  Like McDave mentioned I use judos also and try to shoot at pine cones and clumps of grass.
 Welcome again

[bowmofo]

A leaf on the hill side, Ant hills, soft stumps and trash are all open game!Don't forget to put the trash in your game bag!

[old_goat2]

We end up shooting a lot of cow pies when we "stump" out on the plains as well as mole hills. In the mountainsflowers, small ppine trees or just a hole in a bush to shoot through. It's all stumping and it's all funner than any other kind of non hunting shooting. Just pick an arrow safe spot and hit it.

[Major Boothroyd]

Stumpkiller, those are beautiful arrows!  You guys all have me fired up to get some appropriate blunts & Judos and get out there to have some fun.  I'm sure it'll be a ton of fun and great practice for hunting season!

Thanks for the welcome, Richie!

[SELFBOW19953]

I just read a message from a guy I know who says he goes "trash" shooting in the spring when the spring floods have subsided.  He carries a bag, shoots trash he sees, and puts in the bag as he retrieves his arrow.  Plenty of targets, various sizes and distances, plus he helps cleanup the environment.

[gringol]

Originally posted by bowmofo:
A leaf on the hill side, Ant hills, soft stumps and trash are all open game!Don't forget to put the trash in your game bag!

Stay away from any hills if you have fire ants on your area.  Sounds obvious, but you'd be surprised...

[Archie]

I like stump shooting almost as much as hunting, and I do it a lot.  

I shoot aluminum arrows, usually with a judo kondor (when shooting in grassy areas), or some other blunt.  I choose my targets wisely, and if I think a stump may be too hard, I pass it up. Rather, I choose"soft targets", like flowers or leaves or dirt clods.  I rarely destroy or even bend arrows.

[Duncan]

I just started a new batch of poplar shafts and I plan to borrow a page out of Stumpkiller's play book by beautifying them up with my Sharpies and paint pens. Just got some steel blunts in today. Maybe I can post the finished product later this week.

[Duncan]

Originally posted by gringol:
 

Originally posted by bowmofo:
A leaf on the hill side, Ant hills, soft stumps and trash are all open game!Don't forget to put the trash in your game bag!

Stay away from any hills if you have fire ants on your area.  Sounds obvious, but you'd be surprised... [/b]

X2 on that!!!

[Bart S]

If you use carbons, try using long 100g brass inserts. These with judos or blunts makes a pretty solid arrow. Probably have to move up a spine though