Pennsylvania Game News - May 2011 - 58

ARCHERS have a variety of targets to choose from, and there’s something for everyone. Choices include bag, 3-D and layered foam targets with different graphics that add interest and realism to practice sessions. By making practice fun, archers tend to shoot more.

stops arrows tipped with field points and they can be effortlessly removed from the target. However, a bag target is useless if a hunter wants to shoot broadheads. In addition, a bag target can be bulky, and some have to be secured in place or hung from a support, which can be a bit of an inconvenience. Those targets coming with an external stand or featuring an internal support will be much easier to set up and use. When selecting a bag target make sure it is made of weatherproof material and that it has its own carry handle to make transporting it easy. On the plus side, a good bag target can last for years and the stuffing never wears out. If the outer bag is ultimately shot out, a shooter can often buy a replacement bag for a fraction of the cost of a new target, making the target as good as new. Most bag targets come with multiple colorful bullseyes or other aiming dots to distribute the shots, making them last even longer. In short, a bag target will be the most economical investment for a shooter. Of interest to many ecologically-minded shooters are the targets made by Big Green Targets located in Coldwater, Michigan. Instead of using a fiber material to stop arrows, the company manufactures its targets from recycled foam that otherwise would have been discarded in a landfill. By using a heat bonded layered recycled foam outer core and filling it with a combination of recycled fabric and ground recycled foam, the company created a target that combines super stopping power with easy arrow removal. These targets are fully weatherproof and can be left in place without fear of deterioration from the elements. Another advantage is that the closed cell foam will not absorb water as
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will fiber-filled bag targets, so it can be kept outdoors all year long. The recycled closed cell foam comes from post industrial waste from Midwestern foam manufacturers and fabricators, and was previously destined for landfills. Economically priced replacement cover bags are available and the company will accept all used Big Green Targets for recycling. Layered foam targets will stop both field tips as well as broadheads and appeal to those shooters who want to buy one target that meets all their shooting needs. “The Block,” is probably the most recognized name in layered foam targets, but is by no means the only player in the game. Targets manufactured by McKenzie, Morrell, American Whitetail, Hips and others all offer shooters durable targets that will hold up for thousands of shots. Layered foam targets are made by compressing layers of foam material and then holding it in place with metal bands or wooden slats. Some companies, such as McKenzie, “heat bond” the foam layers in place by inserting hot metal rods into the foam,
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Pennsylvania Game News - May 2011

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