Anyone have experience with loose hanging arrow netting. I like the idea of being able to easily store it while not in use, but not sure how it holds up. Any cheap DIY in addition to stall mats?

I was wondering the same thing. I live in a somewhat residential area and would like to make it safer. One idea i saw was to make a backstop out of a horse stall mat from murdochs or TSC (4'x6'). They are somewhere around 40$. I was thinking of sinking two posts with a beam on top. Make a short shed roof. I like shooting at bails because they are practically silent. I try to be as covert as possible. Interested in any ideas as well.

It holds up extremely well as long as you don't shoot broadheads into it.

Remember though, it's a back stop, not a target butt. You need to hang a target in front of it.

Horse stall mats work extremely well also. Lots of guys on here use them just like you describe.

You need a buddy though to help you hang them 'cause the rascals are heavy and awkward.

Put your target up against your own house, that should be a good deterrent.

Fdp, what draw weight and distance were you shooting at. Some that I have seen is limited to 40lbs. could double layer it but the stuff is pretty costly.Do stall mats leave rubber residue on arrow shaft?

I shoot anything from 30 to 76lbs. Remember, this is just a BACKSTOP. It isn't made to shoot at as a target. You should be rarely hitting it.

As for the stall mats, it depends on the draw weight of the bow, If you fasten the mats on top and leave the bottoms free so they can swing, you will get little or no penetration with filed points with bows up to the 55'ish pound range. When you get heavier draw weights, you may penetrate it and you may get residue on the shaft depending on what the shaft type is, and what type of finish is on them. Aluminum arrows don't get hardly any, Carbons get some. And wood with a poly type finish can get quite a bit. But,,,they are just a backstop as well. If you use them for a target, and you shoot them over and over, you are going to shoot holes in them. Stall mats are cheaper, much more weather resistant, and easy to get locally.

I consider the netting to be best for temporary applications due to it's vulnerability to weather.

The netting and the mats can be rotated if you start seeing wear in one spot.

Invest in bigger targets ;-)

Indoor/outdoor carpet (4'X 8') hung over a closeline. If you roll it up and store it it'll last for years. Frank

Selden,

Thanks indoor/outdoor carpet sounds like the most economical option. I tried some rubber backed carpet mats on plywood and blew right through a couple layers. It appears I screwed up with the plywood backing, looks like loose hanging may be more important than the material used. Time for a lowes run.

Here in western pa we use mining belt,works great for a back stop,but most of you guys do not have access to it in other parts of the country.

"Put your target up against your own house, that should be a good deterrent."

LOL

But seriously, where I shoot I use a homasote board (light and strong) as a backstop, and behind it is an empty lot. But I have an archer friend in the suburbs so we rigged a stall mat backup at her place. She has to be quite under the radar there or her fussy neighbors would raise hell.

Has anyone ever made a moveable backstop on wheels? I’m thinking something like Blackstick posted above that could be moved by one person. I live in the city and can’t leave my horse mat out, it would be great to be able to move it in and out of the garage as needed...

We made several of them on wheels for the 4-H club so that we could move them in and out of the weather.

Some of them were compressed hay bales, some were compressed cardboard, some of them were large burlap bags that we sewed up stuffed with old plastic and hung between 2 uprights.

All of them worked wonderfully.

Some nets are for low poundage bows only. Conveyor belting can be had from any warehouse with conveyors. The company TSA hires to keep security belts running might be a source too. Call and asks who it is and try not get a number

I lean a piece of conveyor belting against my fence and put a stuffed burlap bag in front.

Blackstick I like that set up. Did you use a 2x4 frame

Great info guys. Does anyone have plans or photos of a wheeled backstop they could share?

At one point I was using old carpet on a 2X4 frame.

The frame was free-standing, and the carpet was stapled/screwed onto a 2X3 so I could just roll the carpet onto the 2X3 and store it inside. If you have durability concerns, you could go with rubber blunts. Neighbors may be more tolerant of blunts and/or flu-flus (or some other heavy fletching job) than they would be toward something that looks more lethal.

check out utube there are several on there and show you how to make them.to mgmicky

Picked up a stall mat wish they would of had a 1/2in. instead of 3/4in due to how heavy they are.

I hung the stall mat up with a crank so i can lower it when finished shooting.

Glad its done as this long package just arrived

Very impressed with how the stall mat is working out. Got a feeling it will last for many years, definitely a great low cost option.

Thanks Gents

My stall mat is over ten years old. They last.

I use an old trampoline bottom. It is very thick and will stop most any arrows, especially if you double it. You can cut it to what ever shape/size you need.

Never would of thought of trampoline material, great idea. I was contemplating buying a large piece of arrow netting to hang in my shop so I can hang up some swinging targets. Being cheap I might spend a little time looking for a wholesale option (ballistic nylon?). Anyway something I can pull all the way. across and protect the back of my shop. Kinda like a giant shower curtain.

If you have already registered, please

sign in now

For new registrations

Click Here