Does a bail of hay make a good archery target for a compound bow?

[Nate]

I have a 2008 RedHead Kronik bow (made by diamond) that shoots over 300 fps with a 70 lb draw weight. People have suggested that I use a bail of hay as a target, although I have also heard that with modern compound bows at high draw weights would just tear right through it and I'd lose my arrow. I want to know if a bail of hay could stop the arrows that MY bow shoots. If so, could it still stop up to 125 grain tips, and also broadheads?

[Mr. Outdoorsman]

i used to put a paper target in the wire and it worked fine

[David T]

I am not the biggest archery expert on here but few on here have baled, tossed, or fed as many bales as I have. What kind of bale are you talking about? A square bale will not work good for long. Sooner or later you are going to hit the string or wire with a broad. Hitting string the bale will explode, wire will mess up your blades. If you have a way to haul it or you can get it brought to your back yard a good tight round bale with twine or net wrap will last you years and will stop any thing you shoot at it. (A 50 cal BMG might go though) If you shoot at the side of it, while you are shooting at the string or wrap, this is only on there to help hold it together while moving, you will not loose arrows and it will last for a few years. If you have the choice buy first cutting cool season or long stem warm season grass hay. (Legumes will rot faster in the open.)

Good luck.

Dave

[Hal]

A. A 3-wire bale of straw or hay, weighing 60+ lbs should do for stopping.

B. If you want to stack them to have a bigger backstop, you should know that your arrow will pass through the junctions between the bales, ya?

C. You won't shoot broadheads into a hay bale more than once.

D. You are more likely to loose your arrow by damaging it trying to pull it out or by missing the bale.

E. Best d.i.y. butt for broadheads I found was a big cardboard box filled with chunks of foam. It stopped my carbon shafts quick so I didn't have far to extract those blades. If your foam is light density, you can keep packing it in until you get the stopping effect you want. Square butt gives you 6 target sides.

F. Use a big enough butt so you don't have to group your shafts. Broadheads strip fletching pretty well.

[Mutt]

a bail of hay would work good if its not old and falling apart or it will go right threw the bail. just put a paper target on the front.

[OkieRoadhunter]

Bales (not bails) of straw are perfect archery targets for field points, but you want more than one. I suggest stacking 4 high to make sure you have a large enough backstop.
I have done this for decades, and while other backstops may be better, this one is good enough.