As a new archer, you may be wondering if you should purchase your archery targets or create your own DIY archery targets. While there’s a lot to consider when choosing a new or DIY archery target, quality and cost tend to be the most important factors.
It’s best to learn as much as you can about DIY archery targets when choosing homemade vs. store-bought targets, mainly for safety reasons. Since there are many different DIY options available and different ways to go about creating them, we’ll cover the most simple and common DIY targets.
Below, we’ll cover the materials you’ll need to buy and the steps you’ll need to follow in order to start putting these DIY archery targets together. Just follow our simple steps for building each type of target. The DIY archery targets we chose aren’t difficult to put together so you can create a simple, safe archery target with ease.
Basic Target Design
There are 2 basic components when it comes to an archery target setup:
- Target Frame – The frame is what holds the materials used to create the DIY target backstop. It also creates the shape of the target and plays an important role in providing appropriate balance. Some of the more common materials used to build an archery target frame include metal, wood, and PVC pipe.
- Backstop – A backstop is the term used to describe the various types of materials added to the frame to catch the arrows. DIY archery targets often include 1 or more of the following materials to slow down and eventually stop arrows – straw, cardboard, hay, cloth, carpet, foam, plastic.
Once you build these 2 basic components you can place your bullseye in the center.
DIY Archery Targets
There are quite a few types of archery targets, so you definitely have choices. Once you make the choice as to which archery target works best for your situation, you’re likely to find everything you’ll need at home or a nearby store.
Questions to help you choose the best DIY archery target:
- Are you shooting a recurve, compound, or longbow?
- How big or small does your target need to be?
- Are you shooting in tight spaces or wide-open spaces?
- Are you on a tight budget?
- How long do you want your DIY target to last?
1. Straw Archery Target
Many archers choose to build straw archery targets because they’re cheap to make, large, and stop arrows easily. This DIY target option doesn’t tend to last as long because it deteriorates, but will last with proper care/cover.
A Great Target Option:
- When wanting a very durable archery target
- For shooting with any target points except broadheads
Materials:
- 3 hay bales
- Steel strapping tensioner
- 3/4in steel strapping
Directions:
Purchase 3 hay bales and unload them at the desired location. Take the steel strapping tensioner and steel cables. Run three cables around each bale, tightening each band to compress the bale. Repeat this process for the other two hay bales, stack them on top of each other and you have an excellent backstop for your arrows.
2. Layered Cardboard
This DIY cardboard archery target is easy to make, lasts a long time, and is very affordable. While it does take a little bit of time to create this homemade archery target, it’s well worth it for archers who want to build a long-lasting target for little money.
A Great Target Option:
- When shooting with a recurve or compound bow, up to 45 pounds
- When shooting close range aka between 5 and 10 feet
- For shooting bullet point arrows
- For archers who are on a tight budget
Materials:
- A 22′ by 13″ by 16.5″ Cardboard Box
- Extra Cardboard
- Tape
- Glue
- Nails
Directions:
Build a simple frame using a super sturdy cardboard box to hold the layers of cardboard. While you can choose the exact size, know that the frame should be a minimum of 18” by 18”. Take the pieces of flat and cardboard and cut them to the size of your wooden frame. Once you have about 6” of cardboard pieces use strong tape to squeeze them together. Now glue them to the inside of the frame. Repeat this process until the large cardboard box is full of 6in cardboard pieces and you’ll have a good backstop.
3. Layered Foam
This DIY foam archery target is a great choice when shooting broadheads. Using Ethofoam serves well when it comes to using these deep penetrating arrows. Stacking many layers of foam allows this material to hold up well over time. Foam targets will wear out if you shoot in the same spot everyday, so be sure to move things around to increase longevity. Once you’re done practicing, also be sure to bring your target inside to maintain longevity.
A Great Target Option:
- When needing a medium durable archery target
- For using broadhead arrows
- For archers who shoot up to 4 or 5 times a week
Materials:
- 5 2′ by 2′ sheets of Ethofoam (regular foam is more affordable but doesn’t work well for broadhead practice shooting)
- 1 30″ by 30″ by .5″ piece of wood
- 3 30″ by 5″ by 1″ pieces of wood
- 2 30″ by 2″ by .5″ pieces of wood
- 1″ Nails or Screws
Directions:
Screw or nail the 3 30″ by 5″ by 1″ pieces of wood to the 30“ x 30” frame. Now put the foam into the unfinished box and attach the last 2 pieces of wood. Be sure to leave the top of the frame open so you can replace foam as needed.
4. Layered Carpet
This DIY carpet archery target is easy to make and quite durable. It’s also easy to pull arrows out of this type of target, making it a popular choice among many archers. Adjusting the compression is a simple matter of tightening up or loosening the nuts.
A Great Target Option:
- For archers on a tight budget
- When wanting a long-lasting archery target
- For target point arrows
Materials:
- 1 2″ x 12″ x 6′ piece of wood
- 4 threaded dowel rods
- 8 washers and nuts (they need to fit with your dowel rod)
- Lots of carpet pieces
Directions:
Cut the wood so you end up with two 2” x 12” x 3’ pieces of wood. Drill 4 holes in the corners of each board. Make sure the holes line up perfectly. Place the dowel rods through the holes on 1 piece and attach washers and nuts. Cut the carpet into 2” x 11” strips and stack as many as you can fit onto this first board. Once the carpet has been stacked relatively high, take the second board and place it on top of all the carpet. Push down as hard as you can while tightening up washers and nuts to secure/compress the carpet. At this point, you’re ready to place your target on the backstop and start shooting!
5. Burlap & Plastic
This is one of the easiest DIY archery targets to make as all you need to do is gather 2 basic materials – plastic wrap and a burlap sack. While this simple DIY target is easy to make, it will break down in a fairly short amount of time. Even so, this makes for a great portable DIY target!
A Great Target Option:
- When wanting a simple, portable archery target
- For traditional or compound archers
Materials:
- Plastic packaging
- Large burlap sack
Directions:
Get plenty of plastic packaging, expand the plastic, crumple it up, and stuff it inside a large burlap sack. So simple! If you need a bullseye, simply spray paint a white circle on the burlap sack and you’re good to go.
6. Wood Framing & Materials
You can choose to build a simple wooden frame and then stuff it with anything that’ll stand up to arrow impact. Just be sure to make the frame strong enough to withstand arrow impact.
A Great Target Option:
- For archers on a budget
- When shooting multiple times a week
Materials:
- 5 16” x 16” pieces of wood
- Screws or nails
- Popular stuffing material ideas include using plastic, pieces of foam, old clothes, sheets, and towels. Feel free to mix and match the materials.
Directions:
Simply screw or nail the five pieces of wood together to create a simple wooden frame. Once completed, nail a piece of thick cardboard to the back and overstuff it with your chosen materials. Then, stick another piece of thick cardboard on the front and you’re good to go!
7. Layered Puzzle Mats
A layered puzzle mat is affordable and comparable to the Ethofoam target option. While this DIY archery target option is more affordable, understand that it’s also moderately durable. When you make your own layered puzzle mat you can expect it to be highly durable if you regularly shift/change the puzzle mats
A Great Target Option:
- For shooting with a traditional or compound bow
- When shooting close range or long range
- For shooting broadheads or target tips
Materials:
- 4 1″ x 1″ by 36″ pieces of wood
- 2 1″ x 1″ by 3″ pieces of wood
- 2″ nails
- 2 3″ x 3″ x 36″ pieces of wood
- Chicken wire
- Puzzle mats
- Metal angle braces
- Screws
- Carpet – 3′ by 3’
Directions:
Layout 9 store-bought puzzle mats to form a 3’ x 3’ square. Add more mats on top of each mat until each one is about 1 foot high. Cut 2 of the 1” x 1” x 36” pieces of wood in half. Now cut 1 of the 3″ x 3″ x 36″ pieces of wood in half. Use the metal braces and screws to build this frame base. Now do the same using the other pieces of wood to build the top of the frame. Secure the chicken wire to the back of the frame, place the puzzle mats on top of the chicken wire, and then attach the carpet pieces to the front of the frame.
Conclusion
Learning how to make a DIY archery target not only helps you create the perfect target that supports your shooting style, it also helps you save money. Depending on how often you practice will determine how quickly your backstop will wear out.
The fact that targets aren’t cheap makes it a great idea for you to make your own. Using the recommendations above you can make a DIY archery target for a fraction of what it sells for online. So get creative, buy a few materials and have fun making your own DIY archery target
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