DIY archery back stops/target

I'm looking to build an archery backstop/target that will end up being a wall more or less. I shoot to the back corner of my yard (I live on a little more than an acre) and I have a neighbour behind me, I'd like to be able to have a wall I can put up/take down kinda easily so that I can practice without worry about arrows flying into the neighbours yard. At my local shop they said their archery backstop was fridge/freezer foam and some other stuff and that got me thinking about what I could do. Have any of you guys made anything similar to this? Any recommendations on what to do? I'd like to use it more for my compound than crossbow but if it could stop a 405 bolt that'd be nice too. Thanks

I used blue foam from home depot... attached a hole bunch of end together.. worked good for field tips.. but was hard to pull out.. also after a few hundred bolts in the same area it was pretty destroyed... haven't tried it with a broad head yet...

I font know just where to get some but I used to get heavy ethafoam board 5" thick from a welding shop in Ottawa. It would stop a few thousand shots with feild points before pass through. It would surely stop the 405 too.

I have a 4x6 wood pallet that I stand up and screwed on a 3/4" rubber stall mat (4x6) from the feed store for $30. Works great as a back stop and will last for a long time (mines been up for 15 yrs).

They sell these mats at TSC and most livestock feed stores...stops an arrow dead with no damage or deep penetration.

They make archery nets that hang from rope or wire and stop arrows. They hang free at the bottom and sides, so when an arrow misses the target butt it hits the netting. The force of the arrow pushes the netting
but then the net swings back the arrows fall to the ground. I think that is more likely what you are looking for, a target backstop.

I haven't yet tried it myself, but I'm told loosely hanging carpet will stop a stray arrow. But if you're going to be taking it down and setting it up every time you shoot, the netting that Snowwalker suggested may be more convenient.

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Originally Posted by LowbanksArcher

I haven't yet tried it myself, but I'm told loosely hanging carpet will stop a stray arrow. But if you're going to be taking it down and setting it up every time you shoot, the netting that Snowwalker suggested may be more convenient.

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Tried this one a while back.......Fail!
It would slow down the arrows enough to make recovery easier butfrom modern bows the arrows sail right through.

Here's a pic of my setup..works well to keep the arrows from flying out into the hay field :)

The 3/4 rubber stall mat I used was given to me, but you can buy them at TSC etc. Wood pallets are free.

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p...ps21ba4cf2.jpg

I might try that, I've got rubber and pallets, only problem is it'll be heavy

Do you have to order the net online?

I have some conveyor belt mat. But doesn't hitting those rubber stall mats damage your bolt?

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Originally Posted by MikePal

I have a 4x6 wood pallet that I stand up and screwed on a 3/4" rubber stall mat (4x6) from the feed store for $30. Works great as a back stop and will last for a long time (mines been up for 15 yrs).

They sell these mats at TSC and most livestock feed stores...stops an arrow dead with no damage or deep penetration.

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Originally Posted by topher

I used blue foam from home depot... attached a hole bunch of end together.. worked good for field tips.. but was hard to pull out.. also after a few hundred bolts in the same area it was pretty destroyed... haven't tried it with a broad head yet...

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I always found it hard to pull out but with archery I spray the first 4 to 6 inches with silicone spray. Doesn't effect penetration too much and slides right out. I do this with my own targets and if I go to wolf's den. Saves your back and shoulders.

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Originally Posted by greatwhite

I have some conveyor belt mat. But doesn't hitting those rubber stall mats damage your bolt?

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The rubber in the mat is dense enough, even the broadheads from the crossbow only go in about 1/2 "...

I don't hit the backstop very often so I haven't really been able to notice if after many hits there is an damage to the bolt. I always sharpen the broadheads (fixed) after I'm done practising and have not seen any adverse damage to them from hitting the backstop/rubber.

Yes a stall matt is heavy..close to 100lbs ..

edit add; I'm not sure a conveyor belt would work make a great backstop...the rubber isn't very thick and it may be too hard. These matts are 3/4 " of very pliable rubber (they're meant to add comfort when standing on them)

OK I see but you guy's are still using one of those foam blocks for the actual target.

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Originally Posted by greatwhite

OK I see but you guy's are still using one of those foam blocks for the actual target.

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I use that one for my compound bow, I just grabbed it for the pic. I use another 'block' for the crossbow.

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Originally Posted by GingerInTheMist

Do you have to order the net online?

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A google search will show you a list of suppliers. You can also talk to the local shop, and see if they can find any from their suppliers. Precut are easy to find but a 20 by 60 foot net like they use in a school gym is too big, though a custom cut 10 by 10 net is perfect it may cost a few pennies.

By the way those silk cloaks you see asian warriors wearing in to battle were not for show. The bellowing cloak would stop an attacker's arrow from hitting the rider in the back as he withdrew and prepared for another charge. The netting works the same way. The net is too light to provide any real resistince to the arrow, so the arrow head does not go thourgh the net. The arrow uses up it energy pushing the net in front of it for a few inches and the falls down.

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Originally Posted by greatwhite

OK I see but you guy's are still using one of those foam blocks for the actual target.

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I use to shoot in my empty 53' trailer with a black block and no backstop. This is only safe in a refeer trailer with a high density plastic air chute at the front..arrows will not go thru them. They darn near will not come out too.

On the topic of DIY targets any of you guys stuff old feed bags with tshirts or plastic bags. I have two ready to go at the camp with one being cloth and the other bags. I saw it online somewhere. I was going to get the wife to hit them first with her compound and I was gonna try a couple of shots with the camp recurve first.

just wondering if anyone has experience in hitting these bags with heavier bows in the 300fps range?

What about the tshirts in winter frozen? Damage to arrows?

Trying to set up a bit of a walking range for.distance and height changes without having to carry blocks and at the same time recycling and keeping costs down.

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Originally Posted by Mdiddi

On the topic of DIY targets any of you guys stuff old feed bags with tshirts or plastic bags. I have two ready to go at the camp with one being cloth and the other bags. I saw it online somewhere. I was going to get the wife to hit them first with her compound and I was gonna try a couple of shots with the camp recurve first.

just wondering if anyone has experience in hitting these bags with heavier bows in the 300fps range?

What about the tshirts in winter frozen? Damage to arrows?

Trying to set up a bit of a walking range for.distance and height changes without having to carry blocks and at the same time recycling and keeping costs down.

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Field tips work great in a bag but not for broadheads.
You can use broadheads when using clothes in a cardboard box, just leave the top of the box open and unscrew the head before removing.

I have tried that and my bolts have gone right through.

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Originally Posted by Mdiddi

On the topic of DIY targets any of you guys stuff old feed bags with tshirts or plastic bags. I have two ready to go at the camp with one being cloth and the other bags. I saw it online somewhere. I was going to get the wife to hit them first with her compound and I was gonna try a couple of shots with the camp recurve first.

just wondering if anyone has experience in hitting these bags with heavier bows in the 300fps range?

What about the tshirts in winter frozen? Damage to arrows?

Trying to set up a bit of a walking range for.distance and height changes without having to carry blocks and at the same time recycling and keeping costs down.

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Originally Posted by greatwhite

I have tried that and my bolts have gone right through.

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It needs to be pack tighter then

Cut up jeans are extremely effective with field tips. The best part about that type of target is that a 5 year old can pull the arrow out with 2 fingers.

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Originally Posted by oaknut

Tried this one a while back.......Fail!
It would slow down the arrows enough to make recovery easier butfrom modern bows the arrows sail right through.

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Thanks. You just saved me some time.

I don't know how many times we've discussed this on here....the home made stuff just doesn't stop a broadhead from a cross bow or you can't pull it back out without unscrewing the head. Buy yourself the 'Block...save the hassles...a great investment.

If your shooting field tips...those $30 blocks from Walmart (like the one in my pic above) work great. I've had that one for yrs.

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Originally Posted by MikePal

I don't know how many times we've discussed this on here....the home made stuff just doesn't stop a broadhead from a cross bow or you can't pull it back out without unscrewing the head. Buy yourself the hassles...buy a 'Block...great investment.

If your shooting field tips...those $30 blocks from Walmart (like the one in my pic above) work great. I've had that one for yrs.

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Agree - sometimes store-bought is more practical. With the xcal bolts at $10, you don't have to avoid losing too many to pay for the block. I think I paid about 50 for mine - its a "black hole" - and it works for both field points and broadheads.

To each there own. Never had a problem in 25+years. But I shoot a bow everyday, so I've always looked to add cheaper alternatives.
He asked for money saving ideas. It's good one when done right.
Unscrewing my broadhead isn't a hang up for me at all. I shoot 3d's exclusively the closer I get to hunting season and am always unscrewing the broadheads to pull back through the vitals. It's a non issue for me.

Sorry for the highjack Gingerinthemist

I have searched through some of the older DIy stops in other threads. Maybe I will still build them for the kids with recurves and the wife's compound. I have 2 blocks and one 3d and might stick to the original plan of adding one a year money permitting. My wife gave me a strange look when she saw all the old plastic sheets and bags as well as tshirts.

WTS-WTT
old tshirts and plastic bags. good price. Will trade for block or 3d target.

It's no problem, it's cool seeing what other people have to share

i also took a potato box.. and filled t with flattened potato boxes, this worked extremly well for field tips.. found it would only go through 4 boxes (8 sides) the cardboard was loose though which i believe stopped the bolt quicker.

I've tried cardboard and plastic bags, but I found tarps in feed bags worked for me I pack them in fairly loosely and they seem to absorb the impact better same idea as the net I guess. Arrows generally pull out with two fingers. Found tarps at the lumber yard free... I don't think I could trust a bag of tarps enough to shoot in the direction of a neighbours house though. If I saw a block for $30 that's what would be in the basement right now. ( 50# recurve)

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Originally Posted by Mdiddi

On the topic of DIY targets any of you guys stuff old feed bags with tshirts or plastic bags. I have two ready to go at the camp with one being cloth and the other bags. I saw it online somewhere. I was going to get the wife to hit them first with her compound and I was gonna try a couple of shots with the camp recurve first.

just wondering if anyone has experience in hitting these bags with heavier bows in the 300fps range?

What about the tshirts in winter frozen? Damage to arrows?

Trying to set up a bit of a walking range for.distance and height changes without having to carry blocks and at the same time recycling and keeping costs down.

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I made a crossbow target with a cat food bag and a bunch of old clothes for my dads Barrnett crossbow which is 300fps and the target worked great . If you want a bit bigger target use a dog food bag and put old clothes or blankets in it really tight.

Feed bag stuffed tight and full of other feed bags works great for my Excal. Exo Mag with field points. 2 finger pull outs and punch up the bag after 6 or so shots, when the out side gets too shot up just stuff into another bag. I use a large bag and hang sideways so more like the side of a deer.