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Old 03-24-2017, 01:57 PM
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Bonescreek Bonescreek is offline
 
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Default DIY homemade long range target build

These are pictures of a variation of the 4' x 6' x 12" main frame based on the standard
4x4 box stand with base from Third Hand Archery.
www.thirdhandarchery.com

I'm currently building a target and wanted to share the progress.
Total cost so far is appox. $50.00 in lumbar and $20.00 in paint and $22.50 in target skins from
thirdhand. I did end up buying an extra 2x12 that was not included in thirdhands material list but
I used it to add in a bottom shelve I think makes it stronger and didn't add that much more
to the cost.

This target is still in the works and will be stuffed with close (jeans, shirts, sheets etc. cotton).

Attachment 132394

Attachment 132395

Attachment 132396

Attachment 132397

This target will be set up in small open face shed ( yet to be built) in my back
yard offering shots up to 45 yards. Also intend to have it movable to setup for
longer range shooting out to 100 yards (out side of the shed).

Will keep this post updated as the build goes on.

Last edited by jungleboy; 01-01-2024 at 09:40 AM.
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Old 03-24-2017, 03:41 PM
NCC NCC is offline
 
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Great thread, please keep updating it as I would like to do something similar.

I'm particularly interested in the details of the target build as my 12 year old daughters both want to start shooting and I need a large arrow catcher. Do you just buy the skins, tack them to the wooden frame and then stuff the frame with rags?
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Old 03-24-2017, 04:12 PM
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Thanks NCC, will do.

I should mention early on in this build that I've been watching posts of these
built by others for the last few years and a few things to know are important.

1. Width or thickness should be at least 12" but no need to go over 18" with
14 to 16" being a good size for modern ultra fast bows.

2. Turn the target around once a year or so to shoot into the back side to
push any bulging of internal clothing back into center. In essence shoot the
closes back into center for the next year.

3. Target skins by Thirdhand for what ever reason seem to retain or shrink the
arrow holes back up better than anything other people have tried to use.

4. Stick with only cotton clothing if possible remove any metal or plastic zippers, buttons etc. Other's have tried plastic, saran or shrink wrap, nylon, rubber, foam of all kinds. Used carpet will contain a huge about of sand or dirt
with acts like sandpaper on the arrow shaft, not good. Some plastics will melt
due to friction and stick to the arrows making them really tough to pull out.
Cotton like Blue Jeans or even curtains or sheets is
the best.

5. About extra reinforsement .. Chicken wire can damage the surface of an
arrow shaft and is not needed really.

Other than the above mentioned there are many ways these targets can be
built. Example .. 4'x4'x 12" with barbque wheels would be much more mobile
and compact.

Oh yea, from the posts I've read and pictures they posted getting anywhere
from 6 to 8 years of use with little if any up keep is common.

Last edited by Bonescreek; 03-24-2017 at 04:18 PM.
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Old 03-24-2017, 04:16 PM
Slicktricker Slicktricker is offline
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I built same thing cost me about 50$ in total 4x4 target size use cork board stops arrows pretty well I shoot from 20-80 yards
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Old 03-26-2017, 05:08 PM
crb crb is offline
 
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Very cool!
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Old 04-13-2017, 05:35 PM
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Spooked a gobblin' tom right out of the roost this morning he must have been
facing away sounded a lot further than he was. Sometimes it goes this way.

Got around to attaching the legs and stapling the under cover layer of Trex
wrapper to the front and back. The black trex wrapper will keep different color
close from showing threw the target skin and should provide additional
penetration resistance.

The blue plastic legs are from shipping freight on 4x8 plywood they slide very
well on wood, grass etc. They're not needed but I happened to have some
and do make the target easy to move on wood or grass even.

Also have gathered up about a 1/5th of the close I'll need to fill it. :-)

Last edited by jungleboy; 01-01-2024 at 09:40 AM.
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Old 04-14-2017, 12:59 PM
xxclaro xxclaro is offline
 
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Looks good. How do you like the thirdhand target skins, do they seem to be that much better quality than others? I have been wanting to order some, just not sure if its worth it. I hear they hold up very well to long term shooting, whereas the material I use now,which is kinda tarp-like, gets shot out fairly quickly if shooting groups at the same spot.
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Old 04-14-2017, 10:42 PM
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Thanks xxclaro, I havn't used them yet personally but from the posts and
target pictures of others who've used them in the past I decided to go with
them. Some of the pictures of targets were in use for over 6 years and the
target face ware and hole damage was minimal for that length of time and
the appox. number of shots they claimed. That's good enough for me.

I made a mistake when I ordered mine, I put in for two (thinking on skin on
the front and one on the back) at $54.00 US. It turns out 2 skins come with
a single order (I was shipped 4 skins) so I should have only ordered 1 "set"
and it would have only cost like $26.00 for 2 skins.

I could have sent back the extra 2 skins but decided to keep them for either
a rebuild in say 6 years or I could build a 2nd target with the extra skins which
is what I might do only the second target will only be 4' high. :-)

Hope I didn't cause confusion with the details.

Also I ordered on a Friday and received them on Tues. or Wed. the next week
but don't know how long the shipping would be across the border.

Last edited by Bonescreek; 04-14-2017 at 10:53 PM.
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Old 04-15-2017, 10:43 AM
xxclaro xxclaro is offline
 
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Thanks, will have to get me some as well. My plan is similar to yours, but I have several old implement and trailer axles laying around so plan to mount it on wheels so I can move it around if need be.
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Old 04-16-2017, 07:31 AM
Don_Parsons Don_Parsons is offline
 
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Nice build BonesCreek.

Sure nice too have something we can work with along the way in the sport of Archery. 2 thumbs up brother.

PS: sure like the big bird in your profile photo

Don
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Old 04-16-2017, 09:55 AM
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Thanks Don, for all the help from you all over the years I'm happy to try
to give back when I can. :-)

Here's some pics. of the skins with trim applied, can start filling it with close
now.

Note spacing of the staples in the skins should be 1-2" apart, so I added more
after the picture was taken. The spacing of screws for the trim is fine at 12"
spacing.

The ThirdHand skins are stiff kind of like a thin cardboard and it makes it easier
to handle than the trex covers but is much harder to stretch to get wrinkles out.
Tip .. The target faces come cut exact 4' on 3 edges and about 4' 2" on 1 edge.
Align flush the top and side edges so long end can be pulled to stretch on the
bottom.

I have some creases in the front but the back came out smooth. Filling packing
the close should take out the wrinkles.
If not I'll take the front skin back off and re-stretch it.

Last edited by jungleboy; 01-01-2024 at 09:40 AM.
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  #12  
Old 04-18-2017, 11:31 AM
muzzy muzzy is offline
 
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Rather than old clothes blue jeans etc try burlap sacks for your filling You can buy extra latge burlap sacks in peevy mart at this time of year and I believe they were $few dollars each and very large . We used to stuff the burlap sacks into cardboard boxes to use as arrow backstops and they were extremely effective in stopping arrows.
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Old 04-18-2017, 11:35 AM
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Felt it was important to mention the spacing of the staples again for anyone
who may be doing a build to check this before stuffing with close.

From Jim at ThirdHand..
Just one suggestion for anyone following this thread. We have found that the skins
take a tremendous pounding by our bows. The skins are only attached by the staples.
The more staples the better. I staple mine every inch which might take a minute or two
longer and may cost a $1 more but well worth it. The staple itself should be put in parallel
with the board, 90 degrees to what is shown in the above pictures.
PS the wrinkles in the skins will completely disappear once the clothing is added.

One other thing I would like to add myself is before you start stuffing in the
close you may want to double check the location the target is in. It's going to
get heavy, also I chose to put mine with the sun toward it and to my back when
shooting.
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Old 04-18-2017, 11:43 AM
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Bonescreek Bonescreek is offline
 
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Good tip Muzzy, thanks!

Finding enough old close can be tough to locate sometimes.
One thing nobody has seem to have found yet is a way to cut up
the material in a easy and rapid process. I've been thinking on
that for a while now, maybe I can come up with something.

It has been recomended that the clothing material be at least cut in to
12" or so lengths to pack and fill better. But not everyone does
this.
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Old 04-19-2017, 07:09 AM
Deasoninc Deasoninc is offline
 
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Thumbs up

Great build thread. I have subscribed and will be building one or two for me and my sons to use. Thanks again!!
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  #16  
Old 04-19-2017, 08:52 AM
arrow dog arrow dog is offline
 
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Default Used Griz Targets

T & T Archery in Sherwood Park closed shop a while back. He has gotten in touch with me and has 10 of the 4 foot by 4 foot targets for sale from the main archery range. They need only the front foam replaced. He is asking $2,000. for all 10 of them. Great deal if you are looking for DIY target butts. Needs them gone ASAP as moving to BC next week. PM me if you want his contact info.
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Old 04-19-2017, 11:41 AM
muzzy muzzy is offline
 
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i just used to bundle up into balls and squish in
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Old 04-20-2017, 05:35 PM
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People next door donated a box of close, we cleaned out the closets and dresser
drawers.

Got the buttons, zippers etc. removed filled the target to about 1/4.

Mean while the ole gray tom who reads the F&W books religiously just keeps
strolin' on. in the pasture about 1 pm or so....

Never to show up at dawn mind you. only comes around after 1 or so.

Trust me there will be a ..
dual. :-)
Come May 1st I can hunt all day long, only he don't know that I think.

Last 2 mornings sat out in the falling rain 46 to 56 was the high those days.
Chilled to the bone, not a sound not a moan.
And all was quite except the falling rain.

In the darkness of predawn I did here whippor wills calling, only 2.
A welcome sound I havn't heard since last fall. :-) How sweet the sound.
I'm not alone.

Last edited by jungleboy; 01-01-2024 at 09:40 AM.
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Old 04-20-2017, 08:27 PM
xxclaro xxclaro is offline
 
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Nice, wish we had turkeys to hunt up here! If someone wants to fill their target and doesn't mind spending a bit of money, you can buy vac packed bags of rags from places like NAPA. We have them delivered to the shop, believe its about $20 for a 20lb bag but not sure.
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Old 04-21-2017, 11:22 PM
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This post is almost complete, I would like to update it with pics. of the target
fully stuffed and some pics. of test shots at various yardages. Then if everyone's ok with it I'ld like to lock the post to preserve it as completed.

Would like to see new posts of your target builds. :-)

I'll be building a target shed around this target but will start a new post for that.

Also wanted to say that I chose to use Thirdhand (american) target faces because I believe
they work the best from what I've read and seen, just like the Worlds Best (Canadian) string and cable set I have on my DXT. My next string set will also be
Worlds Best. Just wanted you all to know this posting was not to promote
where you get your target building stuff, only to offer inspiration and information to help you make your own. :-)

P.S. Yes we have turkeys, but you have Elk and call them in just like calling
turkeys so I've read (on here). I'll trade you all a turkey for an Elk gladly. :-)
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Old 04-26-2017, 08:43 PM
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Wife says we need new curtains in the living room. I looked at the
old curtains and saw cotton!
I said Ok. :-)

Target is about half full still working on it. :-)
Gonna have to really tug the old brain to figger out how to get enough
money to buy a used fridge for the cooler to hang deer this fall.
Working on that one too. :-)

My cup runith over.

Sometimes the simplist of things are the most fun.
:-)

Last edited by Bonescreek; 04-26-2017 at 08:55 PM.
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  #22  
Old 05-15-2017, 04:32 PM
jcampenot jcampenot is offline
 
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Default Nice Build

Thanks for posting the build progress, I am inspired to start my own.
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  #23  
Old 05-16-2017, 06:56 PM
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Thanks jcampenot, just got past the half way mark in filling the target today.
Bag of close from another friend next door and a few faded camos too worn to
use any more went into the target today.

Got out with the wife to do some smallmouth fishing down at the river this
morning and again for a few hours this evening. We caught 2 each, little guys
but just the same was sweet to be on the river again. Been a long time. :-)
There is something about the silence and the solitude and the softness of
standing on a river bank early in the morning. It's can't help but put your mind
in a feeling of rest and well being, few times or places can do this like it does.
You simply have to be there to know it. :-)

Six baby barred plymouth rocks got moved out from the basement to their
new home in the chicken house today, to replenish the stock.
I wanted to set up my trail cam on the run before it got dark but ran out of time.
Red foxes are in area no doubt will be trying to get after the chickens
soon enough. Garden needs to be finished tilling and get planted, crops in the
pots are getting on.

I want to pick up some bags of sand to stop the grass from growing up under
and around the target, trip to home depot for that.

This list.. :-)

Need to check out some new box calls for the fall, turks are getting to used
to my voice...

Last edited by Bonescreek; 05-16-2017 at 07:08 PM.
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  #24  
Old 05-17-2017, 02:57 PM
nicodeemus1 nicodeemus1 is offline
 
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Looks great! Nice job

I filled mine with shrink wrap that I got from local big box stores after they've finished stocking their shelves off their pallets. Just asked them to keep some for me. They were more than happy to help out. Works great. Stops even my Victory VAPS no problem. Arrows are easy to pull out and I don't have to worry about mildew or rot.
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  #25  
Old 06-20-2017, 09:18 PM
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Bonescreek Bonescreek is offline
 
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Bump.

Put another bag of closes in the target yesterday, 2-3 to go to top it off.
Decided to go with wood chips instead of sand for a ground cover.

Was wanting to buy 4x4 treated lumber for the shed legs and frame but may have to improvise
due to costs at this time. I do happen to have rough cut
lumber in the barn that I have that may work, not my choice to use but all I can afford
at this time. Plus I'll have to figure on primer/paint on the frame besides the
interior. Additional costs above the roof shingles and the siding, lighting etc.

Will post a picture as things get on. :-)

Anyone else up there building one of these ?

Last edited by Bonescreek; 06-20-2017 at 09:28 PM.
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  #26  
Old 10-12-2018, 01:26 PM
ktownsend ktownsend is offline
 
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Nice
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Old 10-12-2018, 01:50 PM
nsmitchell nsmitchell is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ktownsend View Post
Nice
Old thread but thanks.
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