Rinehart McKenzie or other 3-D target
Elk
Contributors to this thread:
So I have made my own elk target a few times. Lot of work about every other year to revamp it. With the cost of foam board insulation and a reasonable foam target as an insert for kill zone replacement… I’m considering purchasing a rinehart or McKenzie.
For those that have them what is your preference? Life expectancy?
Any suggestions on how to go about getting one? Lancaster website quoted $400 for delivery… no thank you. It looks like direct from McKenzie is about 15-1600 delivered.
Any advise? Thank you.
I prefer the foam that Rinehart uses. You can sometimes find blems for a fair bit less than typical retail.
Keep an eye on Camofire. They have 3D targets, including elk, on a fairly regular basis. They have some deer targets for sale today.
I prefer the Rinehart foam as well. Most of my recent purchases have been camofire blems. I don't remember shipping, so it must have been pretty reasonable. If you're wanting a very specific target, you would do well to discuss with your local archery shop or club. You may be able to jump in on their annual order and save on shipping straight from the manufacturer.
Rinehart makes a 1/3 scale elk target, lot cheaper!
After 30 years of 3-D archery . Rhinehart is hands down the best!! Look at the mini elk
You might be able to get half shot up ones from a local archery club. Make them an offer
Brunse, reach out to Rhinehart, Total Archery Challenge or Mountain Archery Fest. They have targets from last years shoots that they sell off for a very good price. The TAC gentleman said a lot of their new target orders were delayed in shipping and they were holding onto their old targets until early 2022 and then they would sell them off. Let me know if you need help trying to contact someone. Good luck.
Our club runs through a Righteous Merry Boat-load of 3Ds every year, and our Range Captain buys Rinehart exclusively.
It’s not that we don’t have a bunch of very old McKenzies out there on the course, and given the number of people who shot them, it is a minor miracle that any of them are still standing.
I’m just looking at the Lancaster catalog here… If you are mostly interested in an Elk, you will notice that the Rinehart is about 50% more than the McKenzie, but the Rinehart vitals insert is twice what you would spend on the Mack.
I would take a long, hard look at the shipping cost, because the Rineharts take up a lot less space on a truck…. but for actual hunting shot simulation at a wide range of angles, the McKenzies are more realistic.
And I have to say… Our McKenzie elk is probably 20 years old. So it’s not as if it hasn’t held up.
Just think through your complete price INCLUDING SHIPPING and you might choose to order a replacement vitals section right off the bat so you won’t have to pay to ship it later… Assuming you can get some kind of a deal.
FWIW, I think all of the other drop shipped directly by the manufacturer, because it would be really quite stupid of the retailers to bring them into inventory.
+1 on the mini elk-------->
Good luck, Robb
For in camp target------>
Combo set-up kinda........,
Robb
I have a Rinehart javelina and really like it. No experience with McKenzie. I can say the mini elk isn’t much bigger than the javelina, and would be close to the size of my Labrador.
Thanks for the great responses.
DanaC's Link
https://www.rinehart3d.com/catalog/1-3-scale-woodland-elk/
The measurements listed put it in a category with a large deer target.
That target will really train you to not miss the vitals. Cause if you do, it takes a gorilla to pull the arrow.
Thanks for the great responses.
I purchase all the targets for our Nebraska Bowhunters Jamboree every year. We went strictly to Rinehart years ago but last with Covid we couldn't get Rinehart targets in time so I purchased some of the big McKenzie targets. Will be going back to Rinehart for sure.
I agree with the Mini Elk, I have one and it has been a GREAT target for the money. I shoot alot of 3D so it gets beat on quite regularly and it has held up quite well.
I don't understand the scaled down 1/3 elk target except for the novelty effect Just buy a blem deer target. For me the purpose of a larger 3D target is to aid range estimation when practicing. Everyone knows elk are big (duh) making it easy to underestimate the shot distance when rushed. Been there, done that.
The largest Rinehart I could afford was a blem Woodland mule deer that has stupid enormous antlers that I removed but the body approaches the size of a calf/cow elk and it has helped for practicing.
Regarding inserts. I recently got a deer vitals insert for a Rinehart target and it is tough to remove arrows. Much more difficult than my other Rineharts (the mule deer and 18-1). I don't know if they changed the insert foam but I'm having to lube the front third of my practice arrows to pull them.
To add to my comment above: I bought a Rinehart javelina target strictly for the novelty effect because my grandson and granddaughter love to shoot at pigs.
I don;t understand the 1/3rd scale Elk either! Absolutely worthless to an archery elk hunter.......................................
Thanks for the great responses.
But a killer on a 3d course set up right ;)
I currently have 16 3d targets on my range. They stay out all year, but I try to set them up in the shade when possible. I started the range about 25 years ago and have added/replaced targets since then. Early on, most were McKenzie and some are cheaper targets. About 10 years ago I started transitioning to Rinehart and they seem to last longer. This is a range for primarily my wife and I, and they weather deteriorate at about the same rate we shoot them out. A couple of them have been out about 15 years. Those barely stop arrows now, and look pretty bad. They would last longer if birds didn't make holes in them. The birds seem to prefer the McKenzies over the Rineharts. Occasionally, cougars attack mostly the deer, and I've also had mule deer bucks attack them.
I don't have an elk target though, and like some here, don't see the advantage of a mini elk. Might as well have a full size bighorn or mule deer.
In the past, I've been able to add what I want to our local club's order, but I haven't added/replaced any in a while.
Don't quote me on this, but the mini elk was designed to look like its at 70 yards when its actually at 30. IF memory serves me correctly. I bought one just because it was on sale, not for any other reason :-)