Not sure but they do make biodegradable ones theses days. Just check the box when you buy them.
Shooting Clays into field.
I do some informal shooting sometimes. I would like to know if it is OK to throw the clays into a field. The field would be worked in the spring but would the clays hurt anything? Will they disintegrate pretty fast?
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The ordinary clay targets made of asphalt and lime will not disintegrate very fast, but they will brake up when the land is tilled, and they won't cause any problems as long as you don't browse hogs on that land. Hogs will eat them and they are harmful to hogs. Nothing else will eat them.
I think I heard that the biodegradible clays can alter the nitrogen content of the soil.
they are bad for animals to ingest biodegradible or not.
believe I saw a recommendation to apply lime to field that has had clays tossed in it or it may affect the vegetation.
believe I saw a recommendation to apply lime to field that has had clays tossed in it or it may affect the vegetation.
The biodegradable targets put a lot of sulfur into the soil, which will kill all vegetation. It takes a lot of targets to do that, however. Liming the soil helps, but I have seen cases where a spot with a lot of bios on it stayed bare for several years, in spite of several heavy lime applications. But that was on a heavy-used commercial course. The ground was almost paved with a solid layer of broken targets.
I have seen both kinds of targets used on pastures where cattle grazed, and there was no harm to them. If fact, I have seen a lot of shooters shooting directly toward grazing cattle, and the shot must have been falling all around them and hitting them, but they paid no attention at all.
I have seen both kinds of targets used on pastures where cattle grazed, and there was no harm to them. If fact, I have seen a lot of shooters shooting directly toward grazing cattle, and the shot must have been falling all around them and hitting them, but they paid no attention at all.
I'm not going to shoot a lot just maybe 200 clays or so every couple of months when me and my buddies get together to shoot.
If you have alkaline soil and it is just a few then BIOs would be the way to go.
If you have acidic soil and or you are going to do a lot of them (over 1,000) then pitch targets (standard) would be better.
Worse case, you can always pick up the big pieces.
If you have acidic soil and or you are going to do a lot of them (over 1,000) then pitch targets (standard) would be better.
Worse case, you can always pick up the big pieces.
Do you own the field? If so, your choice. If not, ask the owner.
i throw my own targets at home and I use the biodegradable ones. As the moisture gets to them they degrade quickly. They get tilled into the damp spring soil with the rains very little is left of them. I do test the soil every spring, then lime and fertilize according to the test results. Unless you are not going to pasture or till I would use the bio's.
We own the field that we will shoot into but rent it out as we already farm a couple hundred acres, what do bio clays cost compared to regular ones? We alter who's place we shoot at so I may throw maby 200-500 clays on the field in a year. Will this many alter the nitro content of the soil? Thanks
What do you think?
There are a lot of "ifs and maybes" here. It will depend on your soil type, cover, and moisture. I would just test the soil every fall or spring (before tilling) to see what has to be added to keep it at the pH that you want for the crops growing on it.Tomatoes need a different pH than clover for example. 
I shoot clays out of my backyard for practice also. I spoke with the farmer about it and his reply was that the only negative he had about it is when he planted peanuts. When he harvested, some of the broken clays could be picked up and contaminate his load. When the peanuts were graded if found they would dock him for the whole field.
So I don't shoot there when a crop is in the field. But when the harvesting is over I set my thrower to hit right at the fields edge. This way I don't lose as many lost birds and when I'm through shooting for the day I take a 1/4" wire mesh scoop with a long handle and pick up the few broken pieces in the field.
Agrivating, yes, but I look at it as common curtasy for the man utilizing the field. We usualy shoot around 50 to100 birds each time. It don't take 2 people about 15 minutes to clean up the mess. If you can call it a mess. It's the least I can do for the convience of shooting in my backyard.
He doesn't have a problem with it. He has even shot with us a time or two. As far as the clays in my yard, let nature take its course.
So I don't shoot there when a crop is in the field. But when the harvesting is over I set my thrower to hit right at the fields edge. This way I don't lose as many lost birds and when I'm through shooting for the day I take a 1/4" wire mesh scoop with a long handle and pick up the few broken pieces in the field.
Agrivating, yes, but I look at it as common curtasy for the man utilizing the field. We usualy shoot around 50 to100 birds each time. It don't take 2 people about 15 minutes to clean up the mess. If you can call it a mess. It's the least I can do for the convience of shooting in my backyard.
He doesn't have a problem with it. He has even shot with us a time or two. As far as the clays in my yard, let nature take its course.
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