Archery - As a Hobby

Ordered an archery target bag to test out for building my range. Friends and I found an indoor range that can build you a custom recurve bow for like $120-150 and custom arrows. Seems like a great cheapish hobby to get into. Gonna grab some hay bails as a backstop.

TheBeagle said:

I went all the way through that heavy bag with a couple bolts. Popped the tip off one pulling it out. Make sure to buy the fattest practice points you can find.

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Lol well for right now were only shooting recurves.

Borzak said:

Like everything else, can make it as cheap or expensive as you want. Till you have a custom bow press, arrow cutoff saw, fletching jig to fletch a dozen arrows at a time. Heh.

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Maybe a question for you or anyone else here but, is it worth getting more than one archery lesson for recurve? One lesson enough to get form down then just practice?

Ok archery is hella fun. Got my first target in and buddy brought his bow over.. wow. So satisfying hearing the sound of arrow hitting the bag target.. Just ordered another target last night and plan on getting a bow early next week. This is an awesome hobby if you have lane. We're all beginners so we were shooting at maybe 30 yards.

Gonna build a target holder like this I think. That's the exact target I have. Probably will throw hay bails behind it so we don't have to walk further to get ones that completely miss.

What do you guys think of this target stand? I'd like to keep my targets outside 24/7.. Will arrows break if they hit the wood? Primarily shooting recurves with 25-30 lbs pull weight.

Foler said:

Will arrows break if they hit the wood?

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Not usually but it's always possible. You will also eventually break arrows that you stuck in the target. Probably by hitting it with the next arrow. The point is, plan for that and get extra arrows. It would be good to also be prepared to retip, renock, and refletch the arrows. Fletching is the hardest, I never actually did that, but I think there are some EZ mode self adhesive feathers you can use.

The roof on that stand is interesting. It might cause more breakage too but I'm sure the benefit of keeping sun and rain off the target outweighs the risk. My only problem with that target is the height. I like to always be shooting down. That way if I have a bad shot, the arrow won't go as far.

Hoss said:

Not usually but it's always possible. You will also eventually break arrows that you stuck in the target. Probably by hitting it with the next arrow. The point is, plan for that and get extra arrows. It would be good to also be prepared to retip, renock, and refletch the arrows. Fletching is the hardest, I never actually did that, but I think there are some EZ mode self adhesive feathers you can use.

The roof on that stand is interesting. It might cause more breakage too but I'm sure the benefit of keeping sun and rain off the target outweighs the risk. My only problem with that target is the height. I like to always be shooting down. That way if I have a bad shot, the arrow won't go as far.

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So you prefer targets stay on ground?

Foler said:

So you prefer targets stay on ground?

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Yes. Unless you have a hill you can shoot from atop. At my house I can shoot from a couple feet higher and I still have the target sitting on the ground. Its rare that I have to chase an arrow. If you can build a huge berm that's a lot less important, but I would still suggest that the target itself be slightly below your line of sight. I can't tell how tall that stand is in your picture but the terrain behind it ... oof. Those misses are going to be hard to find.

Hoss said:

Yes. Unless you have a hill you can shoot from atop. At my house I can shoot from a couple feet higher and I still have the target sitting on the ground. Its rare that I have to chase an arrow. If you can build a huge berm that's a lot less important, but I would still suggest that the target itself be slightly below your line of sight. I can't tell how tall that stand is in your picture but the terrain behind it ... oof. Those misses are going to be hard to find.

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Gonna buy hay bails to put behind my targets. Good idea or no?

Foler said:

Gonna buy hay bails to put behind my targets. Good idea or no?

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Probably but how long do they last and what happens as they decompose? You said 25-30 lb bows at 30 yards. I think the hay bales will stop the arrows. How thick are you planning to make it?

TheBeagle said:

Picked up a crossbow. Got it sighted in at 30 yds and just waiting for deer season to open next Saturday. Draw weight is 185 lbs, my fucking back! Gonna be sitting in a tree stand every weekend until all my tags are full. Can't freaking wait. Anyone on the fence about taking the next step to actual hunts, Do It!
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That's so texas its painful to look at. There's a spa to the left isn't there?

Hoss said:

Probably but how long do they last and what happens as they decompose? You said 25-30 lb bows at 30 yards. I think the hay bales will stop the arrows. How thick are you planning to make it?

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Not sure. Have my first lesson tomorrow. What's an alternative backstop other than hay bails? They decompose and I burn them or they become a nest for snakes?