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Wife Is Starting To Take Count...

Andre Bell

New Member
Jun 30, 2022
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19
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Okay, before folks say "just hit the target and you won't lose them" or something like that, what's the best way to find lost arrows in the grass? I've been putting my target at random distances (i.e. 23 yrds, 35 yrds, 43 yrds) to practice adjusting on the fly from my 20/30/40 yrd pin and with that, I've flung some arrows past the target and buried the arrows somewhere but can never find them. Overall, losing arrows are starting to get expensive so what's your technique or advice to help me recover arrows? I've tried using reflective tape just below the nock and that still doesn't work due to the shallow angle of the arrow penetrating the ground. Sometimes, I do recover them but about 90% I don't and feels like wife is starting to notice every time I go to the archery store, I'm coming back with more arrows to build.
 

BuffaloBill

Well-Known Member
SH Member
Jan 20, 2019
1,442
2,191
113
36
Indiana
I’ve found mine using a UV flashlight at night. The fletchings will glow. You can get one at Harbor Freight for like $8. Helps to know the general vicinity of where they are. Otherwise use lighted nocks and look for them after dark.
 

Sziggy2.0

Well-Known Member
Apr 5, 2019
886
896
93
55
Second the metal detector. Have used it in the past and it worked well.
 

Nutterbuster

Well-Known Member
SH Member
Oct 12, 2017
10,069
24,822
113
Where the skys are so blue!
Metal detector is the be-all, end-all solution to this problem. If you like to fling arrows, they pay for themselves in short order and are helpful for locating property corners, finding utilities, and other useful things. They're also just fun. Every household should have one.
 

Sbrammer

Well-Known Member
SH Member
Nov 30, 2019
384
534
93
55
Roanoke, Va.
Metal detector is the be-all, end-all solution to this problem.
If you like to fling arrows, they pay for themselves in short order and are helpful for locating property corners, finding utilities, and other useful things. They're also just fun. Every household should have one.
Especially if the arrows have broadheads (which are not cheap and present dangers to neighborhood children) and the season has started and the company can't get you your broadheads until maybe the last week of late season, maybe. I think that's how I ended up with my detector.
 

Iron_llama

Well-Known Member
Aug 4, 2020
2,236
2,765
113
44
NW MN
Raking perpendicular to the direction of the shot.

Put on lighted nocks and/or reflective wraps and go out after dark to look for them.

Nothing takes the place of a proper backstop- mound of dirt, horse stall mat, round bales, whatever. Not only will it help prevent lost arrows, it will prevent them from taking wonky ricochets to the neighbor's yard.
 

DB4x4

Well-Known Member
Jul 25, 2018
1,871
4,980
113
37
Practice shooting elevated if possible, even if it's just 6-8' up. More realistic that way, and if you miss, the arrow should stick in the ground instead of burying in the grass.
 

Jay_Disarray

Well-Known Member
SH Member
Oct 7, 2019
1,951
2,654
113
MN
i went to the local fleet shop and picked up a $35 6x4ft horse stall mat, its 3/4in rubber. i made a frame out of 2x6s i had laying around, and added feet to it. best backstop I've had, I've shot arrows intentionally into it to test it, and they have all been stopped by it, pretty sure it even stopped my test broadhead i shot into it. if you miss more than that, it might be time to put the bow down haha
 
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TommyDee

Well-Known Member
Nov 15, 2020
201
286
63
49
Somerset/Morris/Hunterton NJ
I’m club horse stall mat, hung from a 1X6 X 8 ft sandwich spanned across 2 perfectly spaced (6+ ft)trees in my back yard. i drilled 6 holes through 2 1X6 and the rubber, and put some galvanized carriage bolts/washers/nuts to sandwich the mat. then put a reasonably large handful of random 3” deck screws/lag screws into the 2 trees. It’s still hanging strong Through 3 seasons. These mats are much heavier than they look, easy enough to wrestle into the car, but definitely a 2 person job getting it into the tree. 0 arrows lost Since i installed.
 
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Jwiggins762

Well-Known Member
Jun 13, 2019
1,203
1,694
113
Don’t shoot past 30 yards at unknown distances.

Set a single pin to 25 yards.

Aim at bullseye every time.

If you still lose arrows quit hunting.

Can't with around 220 FPS. Next arrows i build im gonna get around 270fps.