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Help me quit raking my neighbor’s yard

Marmuzz

Marmuzz

Well-Known Member
Joined
Feb 22, 2021
Messages
1,206
Location
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Decided to finally get into archery this year. Got a compound bow and started shooting 25 yds. at a 2x2' foam target on the ground. In 4 shoots I’ve had 2 arrows go wide and bury themselves over the hedge in the neighbor’s yard. So, I'd like to make a backstop to catch any wild fliers.

This blog article looked pretty good: it uses a 4x6' horse stall mat and PT lumber. I'm thinking of skipping the stand legs and just designing mine to be the flat frame, so I can lean it against my woodshed when not in use. When I shoot, I can drag it out (but it will be heavy) and prop it at 60-70° with some 2x4s in the grass.

Before I jump on it, I wondered if this brain trust had any great DIY solutions for a cheap, portable backstop?
 
Buy a 5'x8' piece of horse stall mat.

Buy 3 4"x4"s.

Buy four 7 1/2" lag bolts.

Buy 2 buckets and 2 bags of concrete. THIS IS OPTIONAL AS YOU COULD JUST SET THE POSTS IN THE GROUND FOR ADDED STABILITY.

Make a frame with 2 legs, screw your horse stall mat to the frame. Stand it up and shoot.

Only advantage to the buckets is that you can move it. I've shot mine a lot and arrows will penetrate it but I've never had a passthrough with an 80 lb bow.
 
trailblazer75 said:
Buy a 5'x8' piece of horse stall mat.

Buy 3 4"x4"s.

Buy four 7 1/2" lag bolts.

Buy 2 buckets and 2 bags of concrete. THIS IS OPTIONAL AS YOU COULD JUST SET THE POSTS IN THE GROUND FOR ADDED STABILITY.

Make a frame with 2 legs, screw your horse stall mat to the frame. Stand it up and shoot.

Only advantage to the buckets is that you can move it. I've shot mine a lot and arrows will penetrate it but I've never had a passthrough with an 80 lb bow.
Click to expand...
So you’re using the mat as the target material? I was just thinking of sitting a block target in front and using the mat as a backstop but hey maybe two birds with one stone. How thick is the mat you use?
 
I have two horse mats hung up side by side. They are shockingly heavy, so I wouldn't advise any plan that involves you moving them around with any frequency. Otherwise, they are great as a backstop--I've never had an arrow (including a few wayward broadhead-tipped arrows) penetrate more than 12-18".
 
TNbowhunter said:
I have two horse mats hung up side by side. They are shockingly heavy, so I wouldn't advise any plan that involves you moving them around with any frequency. Otherwise, they are great as a backstop--I've never had an arrow (including a few wayward broadhead-tipped arrows) penetrate more than 12-18".
Click to expand...
Shockingly heavy is a good way of putting it. I have to load those things for customers, many times by myself. I've had to load as many as 15 for people before!
 
Yeah. The unfortunate thing here is that anything that'll keep you from raking will likely be heavy and cumbersome. BUT they'll stop arrows.
 
I use a foam hottub cover I dumpster dived from a local pool and spa company.

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I also use a stall mat. Those things absolutely suck to move. The weight is what it is, however they are more cumbersome than anything and difficult to move unless your dragging them.

They definitely will stop and arrow though. The kids arrows bounce off, but shooting my compound will get them sticking through and then they are a pain to pull.
 
Yeah... I know it's been said already but move up, don't move back past whatever you can hit the target every time.

Also, I still wouldn't shoot towards someone's backyard. Anything can happen. If that's you're only option maybe put your target up to your garage or shed, or shoot in your basement.
 
Stall mats like others said. I still need to do that for myself. I've lost several in my yard and the field behind my house over the years. Shoot too long and get tired and end up flinging one in the weeds. Also lost a couple trying back tension releases. Another trick is to use lighted nocks. Then just wait until after dark and you can find them pretty easily. The downside is that they can be pretty pricey for a dozen arrows. I've also used a UV light to find them after dark. The nocks and vanes will light up when the light hits them. It helps to know the general area of where they landed.
 
f51861ae3219a166d7631116dc833a22.jpg
I use this dirt mound as a backdrop when shooting my bow and my guns


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Horse stall matt is heavy, cumbersome, and the right tool for this job.

More importantly, though, you need to decrease your range so that you're not sending arrows wide, and only move back when your marksmanship has improved enough to allow you to. 25 yards is too far back to start learning at, move up to 10 until you get so bored with hitting your target every time you just have to move back to the 15.

You might also need to re-examine how your bow and arrows are tuned up.

Missing is part of learning, yes, but we're responsible for every shot we send. Not to be an ass or a scold, but even risking sending arrows into your neighbor's property is absolutely unacceptable. And, your homeowner's insurance agent would throw a fit.
 
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