I refreshed my backyard range. The prices went up to almost $13 each but they are worth it.

I got some fresh compressed straw bales from Tractor Supply and finally broke up my old ones that have been outside for a few years. They were still 'working' but were pretty nasty and sometimes I would get a pass through on the shot out spots.

A few tips to anyone lookin at these is to get them off the ground. Even just a little makes a big difference. The trick is either ALWAYS HITTING THE TARGET (yeah) or using something that won't wreck arrows.

I have used cut tree stumps, wooden frames, plastic planter boxes, milk crate (ugly if that is a problem).

When you buy them, check the tops/edges to make sure the plastic isn't ripped up. You don't want water leaking into them immediately.

The other tip is wrap them in contractor trash bags. They last a LONG time like that. Then you can stick little pieces of colored tape on as target spots or better yet, practice shooting at a dark blank target and picking a spot.

I set mine up where I can shoot them from both sides and have a little walk-through course.

Those compressed bales are my main target in the polebarn. I usually get about 6 months out of one if I stick to field points. By the time one of them is getting pretty shot up I will shoot broadheads into it, but they quickly pull it apart when pulling them out.

They sure beat paying big bucks for a block target and make good mulch for the garden when they are done for.

I use regular straw bales. Not as good as what you are using. Cost $3 apiece and I use 3 bales with a ratchet strap around them. They last a year or more when covered with a tarp or plastic and set up on a wooden pallet. They can be rotated to move the center bale when it gets shot up.

I also use old conveyor belt suspended behind the bales to stop pass through's and a piece of conveyor in front of the pallet to stop arrow from going under or from sticking in the wood.

I will usually stick two small dots on it left and right and a little larger one in the center for longer distances.

I have some with 4 dots that I use for short range. Shooting both sides really helps too. But mine last at least two seasons.

I have plenty of space so I get a big round bale from my neighbor, and that will last me a couple years of hard shooting. Compressed straw bales are good too....keep the cut side toward the shooter. Since our club went pretty much defunct, I don't have access to a bander so I stick with the big round bales. He only charges me $10.00 and sometimes nothing since he taps my maple trees and I help him in the summer at sweet corn pickin. ;)

I d get one if they did delivery. Nothing like a blank bale( bakes). I work on form most of the time nowadays.

Paying big bucks for a block target?

http://www.archerytargets.com/hybrid-king-hk100

http://www.archerytargets.com/the-sting-bhams

It will take you a very long time with a traditional bow to shoot these out, If you are even ever able to accomplish that. Generally, traditional bows are fine with the shallower targets and we look more for more front area. We don't have to stop 300+fps micro diameter arrows etc.

These cubes stack up nicely for larger setups, are lightweight to be moved and can be used as a backstop for the Solo Animal Silhouettes.

You will get the best pricing towards the end of the year, around Black Friday on amazon or from other retailers. They will then make room for "next year's" improved lineup and you can see some serious savings.

I think, $ for $, any straw bales are a loosing proposition against these new hybrid forever targets. This is true for field points.These black hornet targets have all an access port if there should be a soft spots and you just have to rearrange the filler material. In comparison to a bag target, these hybrids are 100 times better and don't tend to grab your arrows. And I don't see how you will get a passthrough like with straw bales

At our club we have indoor forever targets and after 3 years of shooting we will have to change the front screens. These targets see heavy use from compounds and are mostly worn in the normal spots where they place their field targets. Repair costs will be very low.

Would useing steel blunts have less penetration and the bales last longer?

If you strap the bales you won't have pass through's I built a structure to set my hay on with a small roof to keep the weather out, if the hay gets wet it will decompose. I use three bales and do shift with the two others when the center turns to mush. I replace the bales at a cost of $21.00 every three or more years, even then the bales are not shot out, I just want new clean hay.

I shoot a lot of arrows, I got tired of the store bought stuff, I can put up paper targets, cups, bottle tops, q-tips or anything I want to use or just use the hay to simulate fur.

I will never use anything but hay bales myself.

Justsomedude, you found out if you keep them dry they last a long time......Great!!

I've shot out so many of those foam layered targets....I'll never buy those things again. I've had many that I was getting arrows all the way out the other side after a day or two.

I got a bigger hay bale once, but it was too loose and I was quickly burying arrows inside of it.

I spent money a smaller sized BLOB target and shot it out. I still use what is left of it.

For purchased targets.... Thirdhand archery target bags stuffed with plastic wrap and hung on "T-Posts" are GREAT. I have two of them on my 'course'.

I also built two large targets with wooden frames with Morel faces and filled with plastic wrap. I have shot them a LOT. The biggest one, I keep a tarp bungeed on it so it will last a long time. I only use for 50 yard shooting :)

I hate the store bought targets (Yellow Jacket) Complete waste of money. My arrows bounce off or are we danglers when hitting the center . It’s like there is a steel plate . Tried other targets foam and stuffed at the club and no problems. Maybe the yellow jacket was built for cross bows And wheelies. This the second target o have bought . The first one was ok no bounce offs. Hay bales or ethafoam from now on.

I shot up one of those compressed bales and broke several of my wood arrows because the point often got vigorously diverted sideways on impact.

I started using the TS compressed bales as a backstop last year (been about a year).

They work great, but I do have a 4" foam face on them.

I have 6 of the bales stacked 2 wide x 3 high.

Makes a pretty big backstop, but I personally need that for shooting long distances.

Rick

I haven't even started on the back side of this round bale yet and it's two years old, and I shoot a lot of arrows...including broadheads into the center section. You can have all the foam targets you want to buy, and this will stop any micro-diameter arrow you have at any speed, you just shoot into the tied sides. Next one I buy will have the plastic wrap on it, so I expect it will last five or six years minimum, but I still have a couple years on this one.

Just FYI, the black and orange tints you see was from October when I painted it to look like a pumpkin. Everyone who see it from the road likes that.

"Would useing steel blunts have less penetration and the bales last longer? "

I think the flat edge of a blunt would batter the bales further. I'd stick with field points.

My target is a Pacific Bow Butts target and I bought in conjunction with my club's order so it was much cheaper in cost and shipping. I believe it will last a lifetime or my lifetime at least.

With 60#+ bows, I will bury my arrows to the fletching in no time in straw bales. Bad with wood, but with Aluminum and slender carbons, forget it. Bag targets are a different game than these "forever style targets". These forever style targets can be easily built yourself and just need to be filled with he right stuffing.

George, we have a lot of horse's around us and those round bales are everywhere, I just thought they weren't wrapped tight enough to stop an arrow, but now I will have to check into that.

I remember the pumpkin, nice job.

I use the large round bales of hay grazer. I shoot the rounded part and can roll them when they start to get shot out. Then I feed them to the cows. My targets are cow feed so they don't cost much at all!

For years the archery club used 100# straw bales that were especially bundled for the club. We had to supply the labor to load them. The farmer just ran the baler. They lasted a long time.

BLOB

I got one of those compressed straw bales from TS when I picked up a stall mat.IMO you're better off with 4 regular hay bales for less cost than 1 of those.

Stopped shooting into straw bales; found myself getting carried away.

I bought 2 of the TS bales, going to put them on small crates to keep them off the ground. I am going to set them along the pine trees at the edge of my yard. I am going to put tin for a little roof over them. Going to make a little walk thru course like Dude said.

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