My archery range

[Band]

My backyard range only allows shots to 30 yards so I have yardages marked off to 70 yards on a nearby vacant lot where I've been shooting for the past couple of years.  All I have to do is set down my target and I'm ready to go.

For you with ranges in your suburban backyard, do you worry about the possibility of an arrow getting away and potentially heading for a neighbor's house?  I have to be honest, I am cringing at some of the ranges I am seeing here.

[wildmanoutdoors]

My backyard range only allows shots to 30 yards so I have yardages marked off to 70 yards on a nearby vacant lot where I've been shooting for the past couple of years.  All I have to do is set down my target and I'm ready to go.

For you with ranges in your suburban backyard, do you worry about the possibility of an arrow getting away and potentially heading for a neighbor's house?  I have to be honest, I am cringing at some of the ranges I am seeing here.

Not to mention, allot of those neighborhoods have city ordinances that prohibit dangerous projectiles. Coarse unless a neighbor dosent want you shooting, or a stray arrow causes a call to the police, most wont be bothered.

[Smossy]

My backyard range only allows shots to 30 yards so I have yardages marked off to 70 yards on a nearby vacant lot where I've been shooting for the past couple of years.  All I have to do is set down my target and I'm ready to go.

For you with ranges in your suburban backyard, do you worry about the possibility of an arrow getting away and potentially heading for a neighbor's house?  I have to be honest, I am cringing at some of the ranges I am seeing here.

My range is facing wetlands. Even if i completely miss the targets for whatever reason, usually due to target panic/flinching. It will just launch into the propertys grass across from us or at worst into the woods and the pond. No one goes over there.
Cant speak for anyone else though.

[Band]

My backyard range only allows shots to 30 yards so I have yardages marked off to 70 yards on a nearby vacant lot where I've been shooting for the past couple of years.  All I have to do is set down my target and I'm ready to go.

For you with ranges in your suburban backyard, do you worry about the possibility of an arrow getting away and potentially heading for a neighbor's house?  I have to be honest, I am cringing at some of the ranges I am seeing here.

My range is facing wetlands. Even if i completely miss the targets for whatever reason, usually due to target panic/flinching. It will just launch into the propertys grass across from us or at worst into the woods and the pond. No one goes over there.
Cant speak for anyone else though.

My aim is not to pick apart all of the ranges I see but I think it is important for all of us to assess the risks as we set up our own ranges.  If I had your range I would be concerned about the background items and potential people activity including the building structure, the electrical transformer (or whatever you call that thing on the right), and what looks like a gravel road just behind the target.  Just a few things to consider.

[Becky]

My backyard range only allows shots to 30 yards so I have yardages marked off to 70 yards on a nearby vacant lot where I've been shooting for the past couple of years.  All I have to do is set down my target and I'm ready to go.

For you with ranges in your suburban backyard, do you worry about the possibility of an arrow getting away and potentially heading for a neighbor's house?  I have to be honest, I am cringing at some of the ranges I am seeing here.

My range is facing wetlands. Even if i completely miss the targets for whatever reason, usually due to target panic/flinching. It will just launch into the propertys grass across from us or at worst into the woods and the pond. No one goes over there.
Cant speak for anyone else though.

My aim is not to pick apart all of the ranges I see but I think it is important for all of us to assess the risks as we set up our own ranges.  If I had your range I would be concerned about the background items and potential people activity including the building structure, the electrical transformer (or whatever you call that thing on the right), and what looks like a gravel road just behind the target.  Just a few things to consider.

The gravel road is my driveway, the electrical box isn't live, it's been there for someone who bought the property across from my house and never returned once he found out the wetlands ordinance wouldn't allow him to build a house. The far far structure is an empty water shed - his arrows would never reach that. From my front porch to the fence is about 65 yards. The angle I'm filming from was for the dog's sake, he would have to specifically aim AT the electrical box to even hit it. I understand your concern but I don't have a house on any city limits and I even think my property passes the size law for discharging a firearm as well. Don't quote me on the last one though, we don't ever do it. It's all private roads and private property there

[Band]

Sounds like you've already done a pretty good risk assessment which is great.  I think we all should make sure to do the same because once the arrow is released there is no calling it back.

[Becky]

Sounds like you've already done a pretty good risk assessment which is great.  I think we all should make sure to do the same because once the arrow is released there is no calling it back.

For sure! Smart shooting ... I'm not saying it's without risk, but ... you'd have to probably launch it full blown into the air or something haha. I think almost any shooting range has risks that everyone should pin point. Good suggestions.

[pianoman9701]

My backyard range only allows shots to 30 yards so I have yardages marked off to 70 yards on a nearby vacant lot where I've been shooting for the past couple of years.  All I have to do is set down my target and I'm ready to go.

For you with ranges in your suburban backyard, do you worry about the possibility of an arrow getting away and potentially heading for a neighbor's house?  I have to be honest, I am cringing at some of the ranges I am seeing here.

My range does go along my neighbor's fence, so I always make sure no one's in his yard when I shoot and that he knows I'm shooting. I have the banks bermed up on both sides and in the back. 15 yards beyond my target and about 20 feet up (behind the dirt backstop), I have plywood screwed into my fence. The neighbor to my right is protected by my house. It's quite safe every time I shoot.

[Band]

My backyard range only allows shots to 30 yards so I have yardages marked off to 70 yards on a nearby vacant lot where I've been shooting for the past couple of years.  All I have to do is set down my target and I'm ready to go.

For you with ranges in your suburban backyard, do you worry about the possibility of an arrow getting away and potentially heading for a neighbor's house?  I have to be honest, I am cringing at some of the ranges I am seeing here.

My range does go along my neighbor's fence, so I always make sure no one's in his yard when I shoot and that he knows I'm shooting. I have the banks bermed up on both sides and in the back. 15 yards beyond my target and about 20 feet up (behind the dirt backstop), I have plywood screwed into my fence. The neighbor to my right is protected by my house. It's quite safe every time I shoot.

Again, I'm not out to call anyone out but if a second set of eyes might prevent an unfortunate accident, I think it's good to speak up.  That being said, I wonder about the possibility of someone walking around the corner of your house into the shooting lane while you're shooting, Pianoman.  If that is a possibility I would hope you would take great pains to reduce that risk.  I also wonder what might be beyond the target should an arrow go flying over the fence.  I'm sure you're a way better shot than to allow that to happen, but we need to take the "what could happen" possibilities seriously.  My background has nothing but a cedar fence, a retaining wall, and grass to hit should I miss the target but I am uncomfortable with the fact that an errant shot of 20 degrees and very high could hit a neighbors house, which is why I don't try to shoot beyond 30 yards in my backyard and even then I'm not completely comfortable about it.

[Fishstiq]

My backyard range only allows shots to 30 yards so I have yardages marked off to 70 yards on a nearby vacant lot where I've been shooting for the past couple of years.  All I have to do is set down my target and I'm ready to go.

For you with ranges in your suburban backyard, do you worry about the possibility of an arrow getting away and potentially heading for a neighbor's house?  I have to be honest, I am cringing at some of the ranges I am seeing here.

...I guess that leaves me, since the others who have posted pics have already responded. 

To the right of my shooting lane, big rocks and bricks.  To the left, cyclone fencing, trees, a climbing vine hedge (very thick), and then grass.  Behind the backstop, hedge trees with a steep dirt hill behind them.

To get one to go anywhere where it might be damaging, you would have to be blatantly negligent, or maybe even malicious. 

*Note - that is my old range, I'm not done with the new one yet.

[Band]

...I guess that leaves me, since the others who have posted pics have already responded. 

To the right of my shooting lane, big rocks and bricks.  To the left, cyclone fencing, trees, a climbing vine hedge (very thick), and then grass.  Behind the backstop, hedge trees with a steep dirt hill behind them.

To get one to go anywhere where it might be damaging, you would have to be blatantly negligent, or maybe even malicious. 

*Note - that is my old range, I'm not done with the new one yet.

Except the one that has the most obvious risks from what I can see.

But anyway, you're doesn't look too bad to me, especially when it's only a 20 yard shot.

[Smossy]

Sounds like you've already done a pretty good risk assessment which is great.  I think we all should make sure to do the same because once the arrow is released there is no calling it back.

Thanks for your concern. The bow is a very deadly weapon, same reason it has been used for thousands of years by natives, the chinese, and many othe races. Appreciate you trying to point out some stuff that people may not have thought about or missed. It never hurts to have an extra eye in all situations. I personaly dont take your words as dissing or anything negative, I take it as constructive critosizm. Just make sure when you do it you let people know, I see how some of the fellas on here could take offense to the things your saying. Gotta always be aware of your target and beyond.

[Band]

I hear you, Smossy and realize that my comments will likely offend and cause some not to post a pic of their range.  It's an unfortunate side effect of being honest with the kind of safety concerns I've had to face myself.

[pianoman9701]

My backyard range only allows shots to 30 yards so I have yardages marked off to 70 yards on a nearby vacant lot where I've been shooting for the past couple of years.  All I have to do is set down my target and I'm ready to go.

For you with ranges in your suburban backyard, do you worry about the possibility of an arrow getting away and potentially heading for a neighbor's house?  I have to be honest, I am cringing at some of the ranges I am seeing here.

My range does go along my neighbor's fence, so I always make sure no one's in his yard when I shoot and that he knows I'm shooting. I have the banks bermed up on both sides and in the back. 15 yards beyond my target and about 20 feet up (behind the dirt backstop), I have plywood screwed into my fence. The neighbor to my right is protected by my house. It's quite safe every time I shoot.

Again, I'm not out to call anyone out but if a second set of eyes might prevent an unfortunate accident, I think it's good to speak up.  That being said, I wonder about the possibility of someone walking around the corner of your house into the shooting lane while you're shooting, Pianoman.  If that is a possibility I would hope you would take great pains to reduce that risk.  I also wonder what might be beyond the target should an arrow go flying over the fence.  I'm sure you're a way better shot than to allow that to happen, but we need to take the "what could happen" possibilities seriously.  My background has nothing but a cedar fence, a retaining wall, and grass to hit should I miss the target but I am uncomfortable with the fact that an errant shot of 20 degrees and very high could hit a neighbors house, which is why I don't try to shoot beyond 30 yards in my backyard and even then I'm not completely comfortable about it.

I hang a range flag

[Band]

I hang a range flag

Good idea and good advice for people with a similar home range situation.