Author Topic: how long is hay good for? (Read 9335 times)

seth30 · « **on:** March 29, 2011, 06:28:38 AM »

I am going to buy a few hay bales after work for some back yard shooting

I was wondering how long your bales of hay hold up to the weather, and general ususage? Thanks for reading the post!

Special T · « **Reply #1 on:** March 29, 2011, 06:53:28 AM »

Hay doesn't hold up that well Straw does... Straw has no nutritional value to if you keep it relatively dry it will last a while.. unless your shooting a stick bow todays fast bows will blow right through a standard straw bail... They don't pack tight enough... You are fairly close to the Whidbey Island Bowmen, they are by the air port on some old base property... they have a walk through and a flat range
WHIDBEY ISLAND BOWMEN'S CLUB
Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Oak Harbor
Ren Sarns, (360) 929-0551
President@WhidbeyBowmen.com
www.whidbeybowmen.com

C-Money · « **Reply #2 on:** March 29, 2011, 06:54:56 AM »

If you dont shoot the strings, they will last quite a few years. Keep some extra twine around incase you need to replace a string.

Matt · « **Reply #3 on:** March 29, 2011, 07:35:24 AM »

Quote from: seth30 on March 29, 2011, 06:28:38 AM

I am going to buy a few hay bales after work for some back yard shooting I was wondering how long your bales of hay hold up to the weather, and general ususage? Thanks for reading the post!

Bails bought at the feed store will not stop an arrow from a compound bow. And will only slow down arrows from a 40# stick bow. Look into joining the Whidbey Bowmens Club. We have an 80 yards practice range with new carpet bails ranging from 10 to 80 yards with covered shooting. As well there is also a 30 target walk through course with 3-D animals set up for members. Visit the web site for more info or contact Ren. He's retired and has nothing better to do than help folks get started.

C-Money · « **Reply #4 on:** March 29, 2011, 07:52:39 AM »

I shoot at a cube target and have a hay bale background to slow down the fliers!

Hunterman · « **Reply #5 on:** March 29, 2011, 08:02:08 AM »

Quote from: C-Money on March 29, 2011, 07:52:39 AM

I shoot at a cube target and have a hay bale background to slow down the fliers!

If you have any bailing "wire" you can tighten the "straw" bails up so that your arrows stick..

Hunterman(Tony)

seth30 · « **Reply #6 on:** March 29, 2011, 09:10:28 AM »

Thanks for the help, there is some places around here that sale it for 4 bucks a bale. Special T, and Matt, yes I know about the club, and plan on joining it in may when my wife starts work again. Until then I will just practice in the back yard.

wapiti hunter2 · « **Reply #7 on:** March 29, 2011, 09:16:37 AM »

I built a small structure so I can keep a roof over my straw bales. I have replaced them once in the last 10 years. The key is keeping them reasonably dry. I also have a tall dirt mound behind them to stop pass throughs. We only use target points.

seth30 · « **Reply #8 on:** March 29, 2011, 09:18:32 AM »

I am using those 125 Grain 20 cent a piece tips from ace hardware.

6x6in6 · « **Reply #9 on:** March 29, 2011, 09:18:57 AM »

Set the straw bales on a pallet or anything to keep them from having direct contact with the ground and they will last longer.

lokidog · « **Reply #10 on:** March 29, 2011, 09:39:29 AM »

I used to use a couple of ratchet straps around them to tighten them up. As said, try to elevate them and at least keep a tarp over them when not in use. Someone had a good idea of using a burlap bag (I am going to use a plastic woven feed bag) with plastic grocery bags in it. I think one of these needs to be hung up so that some of the momentum of the arrow moves the bag instead of penetrating. Hay/straw bales make good back stops.

Special T · « **Reply #11 on:** March 29, 2011, 10:05:30 AM »

I have used a couple Just like Loki said... I think you can get Burlap sacks with targets on them from Riverside archery in Mt Vernon they would last longer thatn the straw i think, and help get rid of all the extra plastic bags for free...

Special T · « **Reply #12 on:** March 29, 2011, 10:10:30 AM »

Additionally i think you could spend close to $40 bucks on targets at your home, and that is the same price as a working membership for you or $50 for a family... I belong to a different SAB and i find i rarely use my target at home.

seth30 · « **Reply #13 on:** March 29, 2011, 11:06:12 AM »

Makes sense about not spending too much on the back yard. I work next to a recycle bin, and theres plenty of foam to make my own target, and then place that against the bales of hay as a back stop. My yard is pretty much a 45 degree angle in the back portion that will stop anything that gets through my future homemade range.

Special T · « **Reply #14 on:** March 29, 2011, 11:37:28 AM »

I've taken the pink foam 2 in and made 2ft sqares and taped them together. they work pretty good for field tips or broad heads.

Skyvalhunter · « **Reply #15 on:** March 29, 2011, 11:40:26 AM »

Cover them after your shooting session.

seth30 · « **Reply #16 on:** March 29, 2011, 11:57:27 AM »

Plan on that, or taking them in. My labs may get a idea about unintended foam.

seth30 · « **Reply #17 on:** April 10, 2011, 01:09:47 PM »

Havent bought the hay yet

but I did come across some great foam. 15 pieces to be exact ! One mans trash is another mans treasure

I tried a few shots at 13 yards on 5 blocks of foam taped together. It works as long as its a direct hit, two arrows passe through and I had one break. Im going to tape the other 10 together like the one in the pic and then put them together side by side. First time really playing with the bow, and I like it!

IMG 0844 side view of block
IMG 0845 view of arrow that passed through the side
IMG 0846 top view of block
IMG 0847 back view of block
IMG 0848 arrow shaft broken from hitting rock after it passed through block
IMG 0849 view of my shooting platform
IMG 0850 view of block from shooting platform

bobcat · « **Reply #18 on:** April 10, 2011, 01:22:17 PM »

I just recently bought a "Big Green" target on ebay for $39.95. I think it will be well worth the money. They still have 8 available:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320541745647&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT

seth30 · « **Reply #19 on:** April 10, 2011, 01:28:02 PM »

Once my wife starts working again, I will invest in some more expensive gear. Bobcat have you used those green bags before? They look like a good deal, and I cold hang those on my english Laurel to get more of a straight shot.

bobcat · « **Reply #20 on:** April 10, 2011, 02:33:05 PM »

No I haven't used them before but the reviews I read sounded good. I saw the same one at a local bow shop for $80.

seth30 · « **Reply #21 on:** April 10, 2011, 05:29:50 PM »

wow, thats a lot more than your ebay purchase.

hoyt2002 · « **Reply #22 on:** April 10, 2011, 06:40:47 PM »

good packed alfalfa bails will stop an arrow just fine we shot them for years. compound bow set at 70lbs. We changed them out every year. now we just use them for a back stop if we miss. they will take a beating and not damage arrows.

kglacken · « **Reply #23 on:** April 10, 2011, 06:51:21 PM »

Funny story on this i have to share...... Two summers ago i bought 4 bales of straw to use as a backstop to my target. I shot all summer long waiting for september 8th to come so i could go after some elk. We left that weekend and had no luck. saw elk but did not draw back on any at all. We came home and while unloading the gear i noticed that the straw bales were strung all over the field. I went out to look and noticed that the ground around my target was torn up and was covered in elk tracks. I guess they didnt care too much for me training all summer to be able to hit one in the fall. i thought it was pretty funny. almost like they knew why the target was there.

seth30 · « **Reply #24 on:** April 11, 2011, 07:04:23 AM »

now thats some bad karma

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Author Topic: how long is hay good for? (Read 9335 times)

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