Shooting targets, including teaching targets, target assemblies and associated systems

Abstract

Shooting targets, including teaching targets, target assemblies and associated systems are disclosed herein. One aspect of the disclosure is directed to target systems and assemblies for effectively teaching and practicing shot placement on animal shapes for improving hunting skills. In a particular embodiment, a shooting target assembly includes a backer having at least a first target image. The backer may include a substrate and a first print layer. The target image, including at least a first animal shape, may be at least partially defined by the first print layer. The assembly may also include a replacement label sized to cover a target region of the first target image. The replacement label may include a label print layer that at least partially defines a region of the animal shape. The replacement label may also include an illustration of a first organ structure.

1 . A shooting target assembly, comprising: 
 a backer including a substrate having a first side, a second side facing opposite from the first side, and a first print layer on the first side;    a first target image at least partially defined by the first print layer, the first target image having at least a first animal shape;    a replacement label sized to cover a target region of the first target image, the replacement label having a front surface, a back surface facing opposite the front surface, and a label print layer on the front surface, wherein the second print layer at least partially defines a region of the first animal shape, and wherein the replacement label includes an illustration of a first internal organ structure; and    a release feature at least partially incorporated in the replacement label such that penetration of a projectile removes a portion of the label print layer adjacent to a point of impact and exposes a first contrasting surface adjacent to the label print layer.    
   
   
       2 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the first contrasting surface includes a first color aligned at least with the illustration of the first internal organ structure.  
   
   
       3 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the first print layer includes the release feature such that penetration of the projectile removes a portion of the first print layer adjacent to a second point of impact and exposes a second contrasting surface adjacent to the first print layer, the second contrasting surface having a second color aligned at least with the first animal shape.  
   
   
       4 . The assembly of  claim 3  wherein the target image includes an exterior image region, the exterior image region surrounding the first animal shape, and wherein the second contrasting surface includes a third color aligned with the exterior image region.  
   
   
       5 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the replacement label further includes an adhesive layer at the back surface for releaseably attaching the replacement label to the target region of the first target image on the backer.  
   
   
       6 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a second print layer at the second side, the second print layer at least partially defining a second target image having at least a second animal shape, and wherein the second target image is different from the first target image.  
   
   
       7 . The assembly of  claim 6  wherein the first target image includes a photorealistic first animal shape having a first perspective view, and the second target image includes a photorealistic second animal shape having a second perspective view.  
   
   
       8 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the first target image includes a photographic image.  
   
   
       9 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the first target image includes an illustration of an animal.  
   
   
       10 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the region includes a duplication of the target region, and wherein the replacement label is releaseably attached to the backer such that the region covers the target region.  
   
   
       11 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the first internal organ structure includes at least one of a heart, a lung, a liver and a spine.  
   
   
       12 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the first target image includes an illustration of a plurality of internal organ structures configured to overlay the first animal shape in a generally anatomically correct position.  
   
   
       13 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the first target image includes the first animal shape having a realistic size and color as a representative animal.  
   
   
       14 . The assembly of  claim 13  wherein the target region of the first target image includes the realistic size and color, and wherein the illustration of the first internal organ structure includes a full-scale illustration positioned in an anatomically correct location relative to the first animal shape.  
   
   
       15 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the illustration of the first internal organ structure includes an outline of the first internal organ structure in an anatomically correct position.  
   
   
       16 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the illustration of the first internal organ structure includes a color different from a realistic color for a representative animal.  
   
   
       17 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the second print layer further includes a super-imposed pattern over the illustration of the first internal organ structure, the pattern including concentric rings.  
   
   
       18 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the first animal shape includes a broadside perspective view of an animal image.  
   
   
       19 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the first animal shape includes one of a front perspective view and a rear perspective view of an animal image.  
   
   
       20 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the first animal shape includes one of a top perspective view and a bottom perspective view of an animal image.  
   
   
       21 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the target image includes an exterior image region surrounding the first animal shape, the exterior image region having one or more environmental feature shapes.  
   
   
       22 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the first animal shape includes a game animal.  
   
   
       23 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the first animal shape includes a turkey.  
   
   
       24 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the first animal shape includes one of a vermin, a bird, a canid, and a felid.  
   
   
       25 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the replacement label further includes a fourth print layer on the back surface, the second label print layer at least partially defining a portion of a second animal shape, and wherein at least one of the front surface and the back surface may be releaseably attached to the backer.  
   
   
       26 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the replacement label further includes a second label print layer on the back surface, the second label print layer at least partially defining the region, and wherein the second label print layer does not include the illustration of the first internal organ structure.  
   
   
       27 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the substrate includes a core layer, and wherein the first print layer is attached to the core layer.  
   
   
       28 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the target image is printed directly on the substrate.  
   
   
       29 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further including a stand for supporting at least the backer in a position that is generally parallel to the horizon.  
   
   
       30 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the first print layer at least partially defines a plurality of target images, individual target images each having at least an animal shape.  
   
   
       31 . The assembly of  claim 30  wherein the individual animal shapes include different perspective views of a representative animal image.  
   
   
       32 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a projectile-stopping material.  
   
   
       33 . A shooting target system, comprising: 
 a target assembly including: 
 a target backer having a first side and a second side generally facing opposite from the first side;  
 a first target image on the first side, the first target image including a first animal shape having a first target region;  
 a plurality of replacement labels, individual replacement labels having a label front surface and a label back surface generally facing opposite of the label front surface, the label front surface including a region image corresponding to the first target region, wherein at least one replacement label is attached to the target backer at the first target region, and wherein the individual replacement labels include a release feature such that penetration of a projectile removes a portion of the region image adjacent to a point of impact and exposes a contrasting surface, the contrasting surface having a first color different from a region image color; and  
 an illustration of an internal organ structure overlaying at least one of the first animal shape and the region image.  
   
   
   
       34 . The system of  claim 33  wherein at least the first side includes the release feature such that penetration of the projectile removes a portion of the first target image adjacent to a second point of impact and exposes a second contrasting surface, the second contrasting surface having a second color aligned at least with the first animal shape, and wherein the second color is different from the first color and a target image color.  
   
   
       35 . The system of  claim 33 , further comprising a second target image on the second side, the second target image including a second animal shape having a second target region, the second animal shape being different from the first animal shape.  
   
   
       36 . The system of  claim 35  wherein the first target region and the second target region are aligned along a projectile path, the projectile path being generally transverse to the target backer.  
   
   
       37 . The system of  claim 33  wherein the target assembly is included in a kit, and wherein the plurality of replacement labels includes at least one of a) a label having an outline of the illustration of the internal organ structure, b) a label having the illustration of the internal organ structure in a color different from a first animal shape color, and c) a label having the region image at the label front surface and at least the illustration of the internal organ structure at the label back surface.  
   
   
       38 . The system of  claim 33 , further comprising a stand for supporting at least the backer in a position that is generally parallel to the horizon.  
   
   
       39 . The system of  claim 38 , wherein one of the first animal shape and the second animal shape includes one of a top perspective view and a bottom perspective view of an animal image.  
   
   
       40 . A shooting assembly, comprising: 
 a target backer having a photorealistic image presented on a first side, the photorealistic image including an animal image, the animal image having a size approximately the same size as a representative animal;    a replacement label having a portion of the animal image; and    an illustration of an internal organ structure carried by the replacement label.    
   
   
       41 . The shooting assembly of  claim 40  wherein the illustration of the internal organ structure is configured to overlay the portion of the animal region in a generally anatomically correct position.  
   
   
       42 . The assembly of  claim 40  wherein the animal image includes at least one of a broadside prospective view, a front perspective view, a rear perspective view, a bottom perspective view and a top perspective view.  
   
   
       43 . The assembly of  claim 40  wherein the replacement label is attached to the target backer and covers a portion of the photorealistic image, and wherein the portion of the animal image is photorealistic and aligns with the photorealistic image to form a seamless transition between the portion of the animal image and the photorealistic image.  
   
   
       44 . The assembly of  claim 40  wherein: 
 the photorealistic image is at least partially defined by a first print layer, the first print layer including a release feature such that penetration of a projectile removes a portion of the first print layer adjacent to a point of impact and exposes a first contrasting surface adjacent to the first print layer, the first contrasting surface having a first color aligned at least with the animal image;    the portion of the animal image is at least partially defined by a label print layer, the label print layer including the release feature such that penetration of the projectile removes a portion of the label print layer adjacent to the point of impact and exposes a second contrasting surface adjacent to the label print layer; and    wherein the second contrasting surface includes a second color aligned at least with the illustration of the internal organ structure.