Arrow Archery

Archery targets can get expensive. That wouldn't be such a problem if they didn't wear out so quickly from the punishment that me and my buddies put them through. So I turned to making some archery targets to sling some arrows at.
Now don't get me wrong... I'm not going to debate the benefits of shooting at 3D targets. I agree that that the realism of shooting at life sized deer targets can give you the edge when the real shooting opportunities arise. But I get a little tired of replacing cores. So I keep my 3D archery target set aside for special occasions.
The one thing that I learned is that experimentation is a good thing when trying to build your own target. The results can vary, based on the speed you shoot at.
What worked for me was some burlap sacks and some spray foam insulation. I'm lucky enough to have a friend that is an insulation contractor, so it was easy for me to get my hands on the foam for free. After doubling up some burlap sacks, my buddy filled them with foam, and I just tied the sacks closed with some zip-ties. The burlap can then be painted with a target or vitals. I was able to have several of these made, and place them at different distances, which made a nice shooting range. Now if you don't have an insulation contractor for a friend like I do, you can always give one a call or catch one at a local building site.
Some other options you may want to try though are:

• Layers of carpet on a bail of hay.
  Stops field points surprisingly well.
• Layers of cardboard, plastic grocery bags, and a rubbermaid container.
  You can cut the center out of the lid, to expose your shooting surface..  Leave just a couple of inches around the edges.  Then just start layering inside of the rubbermaid container.  Place layers of carpet in the bottom, because nothing is getting through those.  Then jam it full of plastic grocery bags, and top it off with a layer of carpet or cardboard.  This top layer is what is exposed through the hole you cut, and is a replaceable layer that you can shoot at.
• Layers of insulation in a box.
  Layers of R-19 compressed in a cardboard box can make a quick target that is easily replaceable.
• Layers of Cylotex wrapped in duct tape.
• Cylotex insulation is a compressed foam used for setting concrete forms.  You can probably find this at the local hardware stores.  Or, if any houses or being build near you, typically you will find a bunch that is discarded.

You have lots of options, and with a little creativity, you can easily come up with something of your own.  I guarantee that if you spend a half hour in one of the big do-it-yourself hardware stores, you will easily come up with several ideas for homemade archery targets.

Let us know what you come up with.  We'd love to hear from you.  Feel free to leave a tip in the  comments section below.

If you have been hunting for a while like me, I'm sure you have found yourself in this situation... You've shot a deer, but maybe didn't hit it as good as you would have liked. You've picked up a blood trail, but it isn't a very good one. You know that the deer has probably traveled a good distance, and it is starting to get dark. That blood trail is drying up, and the drops you find are getting further and further apart. Your chances of finding that trophy buck tonight are starting to look slim...
I've been there. A few more times that I care to admit. If you have been in that situation, then I can sympathize with the frustration that is felt. If you haven't been in that situation, it is probably only a matter of time.
The deer hunting industry markets a ton of products to hunters that are worthless, and designed just to take a hunter's money. That is why I love it so much when I see a product that is really designed to solve a problem and fill a need. And that is why I love seeing a product like the Primos Mini Bloodhunter.

Every hunter is going to carry at least one flashlight in their pack anyway. So why not carry one that will not only serve as a flashlight, but also help to enhance a blood trail, and increase your chances of finding your game.
The Primos Mini Bloodhunter is a water-resistant flashlight that runs on 3 AA batteries.
It serves as a normal flashlight in two modes, red light or green light. The red light can be used as a small area light that will not spook game. The green light is more powerful, and can be used as a walking light, but also will not spook game.
When used as full strength, the red and green light are filtered together to produce a light spectrum that enhances the color red, which will make your bloodtrail stand out. It also has a reduced strength mode that still combines the red and green lights together, giving you the same blood-enhancing light spectrum, while reducing shadows at the same time.
The Primos Mini Bloodhunter can run for 4 hours on two LEDs at full strength, or for 6 hours on 2 LEDs at reduced strength. What I really love about this, is that it is portable and will fit snugly in any pocket or pack. This is a must-have gadget for any hunter, especially those who love to hunt in the evening.
Primos also offers the Bloodhunter Spotlight. This is a larger model that has a rechargeable NiCad battery pack. It isn't as portable, but will fit nicely in any backpack and is ideal for the avid hunter.

I must be the only bow hunter in Kentucky that doesn't have a Bowhunter Decal on the back of my truck. I say that, because I have been seeing these things everywhere lately.
My favorite by far has been the Treestand Bowhunter Decal. It shows an image of a bowhunter in a treestand at full draw that is taking aim at a nice buck. I did some checking on these and found that they are manufactured by Gregory's Graphics. The hunter and the buck are two separate decals, so they can be positioned in the perfect location on your vehicle. They come in 13 different colors, but I like the white best. For the lady bowhunter, they even come in pink. If I can hurry up and pull the trigger on buying that new Honda Ridgeline, I'll have this decal on my new truck this season. There are many other variations of decals for bowhunters, depicting archers at full draw. I have attempted to display several of them below.
My number two choice is a simple 1" x 12" decal of an arrow with the word "BOWHUNTER" stretched across it. It is simple, and would look very nice centered across the back window of a vehicle.

So if you are an avid bow hunter, then you can show your pride in your sport with one of these vehicle decals. They are simple to install, but you should make sure the window or surface that you will be applying it to is clean and dry.

If you are in the market for new broadheads, then check out the line that Grim Reaper has to offer. They have two hot open on impact offerings, with the Grim Reaper Razorcut and Grim Reaper Razortip models. For a fixed blade offering, they have the Grim Reaper Hades.

The Razortip line has embedded razors in the point, and 3 mechanical blades that open on impact. No rubber bands or "O" rings are required like with other mechanical broadheads. On impact, the blades open to a 40 degree angle, leaving a huge entrance wound. They are available in 75, 85, 100, and 125 grain weights, with cutting diameters ranging from 1 and 1/8" to a whopping 1 and 3/4". They fly like a fieldpoint and cause massive trauma, minimizing your shot to recovery time.

The Razorcut line is similar to the Razortip, but has a single cut-on-contact tip blade which is mounted on a bullet point. They are available in the same weights and cutting diameters as the Razortips, and offer superior bone-penetrating capability. I have seen pictures of a Razorcut broadhead that completely penetrated and passed through the bone shoulder ball of a mule deer. Now that is some serious penetration.

Grim Reaper's new fixed blade offering comes in the form of their Hades line. This broadhead cuts in both directions, since the front and back blades are both sharpened. The blades are .035" at their thickest point. These broadheads have 3 blades using a 4 point internal locking system. They are steel-tipped for great penetration. The Hades comes in 85, 100, and 125 grain weights. They all offer a 1 and 3/16" cutting diameter.

So if you are looking to follow shorter blood trails, then give the Grim Reaper broadheads a look. Their slogan is "...shorter blood trails ... longer stories...".

A laser range finder is one gadget that I won't get into a treestand without. This tool is critical for ensuring the accuracy of my shots, and results in more successful hunts.
Once I get situated in my stand, I'll use my laser range finder to range trees or other objects that are within my shooting lanes. For example, I'll identify and make a mental note of trees, rocks, or bushes that are out 20 yards, 30 yards, and 40 yards to correspond with the pins on my bow sights. I'll look for these points of reference in all directions that I anticipate my shots will develop. Throughout the course of the hunt, I'll double-check these markers to mentally reinforce their distances.
By getting an accurate distance to these points of reference, I can instantly make the determination on which pin I will shoot from. No guesswork involved. When that deer steps up next to that tree I ranged at 30 yards, I can lay my 30 yard pin it it and cut my arrow loose with confidence. If he has stepped a few yards inside of that tree I ranged at 30, then I can still shoot confidently with my 30 yard pin, and just shoot a little low.
I will also use my range finder when sighting in my bow or practicing. By ranging the target that you will be shooting at, you can ensure that you will have the same accurate range measurement during practice that you will have from your stand during the hunt.
When looking for a range finder, note the expected accuracy error. Most of these will be + or - 1 yard, which really won't affect your shot. Also ensure that you find one that will range objects at a minimum of 20 yards, since this is typically where most bow hunters have their first pin set. I personally use a Bushnell Pro Sport 450. It is water resistant, and can range objects between 5 - 999 yards. Should I choose to gun hunt or muzzleload one season, this range finder can be used then as well.