Straw Bales?

[270Shooter]

Anybody use straw bales as a backstop for their archery targets? I have a block classic but I want something i can put behind it for longer shots and reducing the chance of losing an arrow incase of a miss. I've heard mixed reviews on straw bales though.

[kglacken]

Thats what I use.  They work good for me, although i never hit them   

[ellensburgpo]

They work good for me as a backstop. I've been know to miss on occasion and haven't had an arrow pass through them. Plus they're cheap.

[hughjorgan]

The ones I just bought for my home range the arrows will blow through them. The straw bales at the club I shoot at stop my arrows fine. The only difference between the bales at home verse the club is that the club uses steel bands to compress three bales together. You could do the same with ratcheting tie downs for home use.

[lokidog]

The ones I just bought for my home range the arrows will blow through them. The straw bales at the club I shoot at stop my arrows fine. The only difference between the bales at home verse the club is that the club uses steel bands to compress three bales together. You could do the same with ratcheting tie downs for home use.

 

And put a tarp over it to keep them from rotting.

[SniperDanWA]

The ones I just bought for my home range the arrows will blow through them. The straw bales at the club I shoot at stop my arrows fine. The only difference between the bales at home verse the club is that the club uses steel bands to compress three bales together. You could do the same with ratcheting tie downs for home use.

Most clubs buy specially compressed bales.  The last ones I looked at buying we're near 350lbs and had 5000lbs of tension on the bands.  The kind you get at a Farm Supply weigh no more than 100lbs and only have 500lbs of tension.  They work, but I put them two deep and three high.

[lokidog]

As mentioned previously, the ratcheting straps work well to compress a standard bale.  Especially just used as a backstop and not the main target. 

It is a pain to pull broadheads out of straw though.

[Fishstiq]

The ones I just bought for my home range the arrows will blow through them. The straw bales at the club I shoot at stop my arrows fine. The only difference between the bales at home verse the club is that the club uses steel bands to compress three bales together. You could do the same with ratcheting tie downs for home use.

 

And put a tarp over it to keep them from rotting.

X2!!!  Rotted straw bales suck!

I made the backstop you can see here...

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,101102.msg1314762.html#msg1314762

It works well.  Lokidog was gonna build one similar, not sure if he has had the time to build it yet or not or if he could post pics of his if he has...? 

[lokidog]

Not yet.

[7mmfan]

We use bales of straw wrapped in a tarp, and back those up with a sheet of plywood. I have sent arrows right through straw alone, and right through plywood alone, but the two together are pretty darn effective.

[Kc_Kracker]

2 boards, 4 threaded rods, 8 washers, 8 nuts, and wham you have your own compressor for foam, paper, straw, hay, whatever 

[WonkyWapiti]

A buddy of mine had a line on some really thick pieces of styrofoam a while back.  These were like 4 foot by 4 foot wide and like 8 inches thick.

[lokidog]

A buddy of mine had a line on some really thick pieces of styrofoam a while back.  These were like 4 foot by 4 foot wide and like 8 inches thick.

I can't use styrofoam targets because my chickens will eat them....   

[seansfire]

dont recall who but someone told me carpet works well if set up right. lots of layers banded together i think it was. stopped arrows good.

i used straw bales but the arrows popped the strings and i had a helluva mess to clean up. 

[lokidog]

dont recall who but someone told me carpet works well if set up right. lots of layers banded together i think it was. stopped arrows good.

i used straw bales but the arrows popped the strings and i had a helluva mess to clean up. 

After strapping the bale, shoot in the side, if you are cutting strings then you have more issues than shooting at a straw bale.