How to Make an Archery Target at Home

Even Robin Hood had to practice his archery skills.

Archery can be an expensive hobby; buying arrow shafts, wooden arrows and bows can add up quickly. Archery targets, however, are easy to make at home for little or no money.

Things You'll Need

• Hay bales, cardboard, foam or burlap bags
• Rope
• Canvas, old blankets or clothes
• Cloth or old sheets
• Paint

Instructions

Bales of Hay

1. Stack four hay bales in a two-by-two block. Align the bales so that the target side is relatively flat.

2. Drape a sheet or piece of cloth over the bales and

3. Paint a target or other shape on the sheet.

Foam or Cardboard

1. Stack the cardboard or foam flat up to the desired height. Weight down the stack with a heavy object (use one that arrow's won't damage -- or something that you are fine with shooting at) or a larger box. Make sure that the front of the target surface is relatively flat.

2. Lash the stack together with rope and drape a cloth or sheet over the front. Pull the sheet tight, securing it under and around the sides of the stack.

3. Paint a target (or other shape to fire at) on the sheet. The arrows will be easy to remove from the stack of cardboard or foam.

Burlap Bags

1. Fill several burlap bags with plastic bags or old clothes. If you like, you can fill them with sand instead, but only for using field tips; broad arrowheads will be dulled by the sand.

2. Arrange and stack the bags so that you have a relatively flat surface at which to shoot. Cover the bags with a sheet or a piece of cloth.

3. Paint a target on the sheet.

Tips & Warnings

• Tightly baled hay or more densely packed plastic or cardboard will produce a better target.

• If you are using broad heads you may not want to cover the target with a sheet, as the arrowheads will catch on the cloth when you pull them out.

• Always use targets in a safe area; don't place them in front of fences or other areas where you may not see people behind your firing line.

• An arrow can ricochet, so be careful where you put the target