• The SH Membership has gone live. Only SH Members have access to post in the classifieds. All members can view the classifieds. Starting in 2020 only SH Members will be admitted to the annual hunting contest. Current members will need to follow these steps to upgrade: 1. Click on your username 2. Click on Account upgrades 3. Choose SH Member and purchase.
  • We've been working hard the past few weeks to come up with some big changes to our vendor policies to meet the changing needs of our community. Please see the new vendor rules here: Vendor Access Area Rules

DIY Archery Target

mschultz373

Well-Known Member
SH Member
May 9, 2023
444
583
93
29
SE LA
wondering if there's a decent cost-effective DIY archery target anyone has tried? I am not against getting a nice Morrell or Rhinehard, just trying to be frugal and be able to practice more.
 

Dmathews87

Well-Known Member
Aug 30, 2022
775
1,416
93
36
SE Louisiana
this is how i have been making a cheap one:

 

mschultz373

Well-Known Member
SH Member
May 9, 2023
444
583
93
29
SE LA
Basically used your schematic but filled the box with 1” foam board. Cracks filled with spray foam. Going to try it in the morning.

$36 total.


fcbcb972785b40519bac659f527d5922.jpg



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

Vorsteg

Well-Known Member
SH Member
Sep 29, 2014
242
153
43
Maryland
LOCATION
Maryland
Basically used your schematic but filled the box with 1” foam board. Cracks filled with spray foam. Going to try it in the morning.

$36 total.


fcbcb972785b40519bac659f527d5922.jpg



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Be careful....lube your arrows....I did a similar project with 2" foam core and my arrow got stuck so tight I had to cut away the target to free the arrow. Long story short, I skewered my hand trying the remove the arrow (with sharpened Magnus stinger)
 
  • Wow
Reactions: Red Beard

Coachschaller

Active Member
Sep 19, 2021
184
220
43
SE Michigan
For field points I made a 40x40x16 inch box, filled it with old clothes (buttons and zippers removed), wrap in chicken wire, black landscape fabric, and third hand 48x48 inch target cover. Lifetime target
 

mschultz373

Well-Known Member
SH Member
May 9, 2023
444
583
93
29
SE LA
The foam box def works, arrows do get lodged in there pretty good but I just pull em out and stay patient. I’ll be shooting my small backyard with neighbors all around so I am confident pass thru will not happen which is a major concern. I have a large sheet of 3/4” ply as a backstop in case but it’s working as well as I would have hoped!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

Dmathews87

Well-Known Member
Aug 30, 2022
775
1,416
93
36
SE Louisiana
for backstops, the horse mats work well from what i hear and wouldnt be as rough on your arrows as the plywood....ive bought hay bales and stacked them which works well but eventually still allows them through if you shoot enough.
 

mschultz373

Well-Known Member
SH Member
May 9, 2023
444
583
93
29
SE LA
Heard the same, just conserving my money. The arrows weren’t close to pass thru the box as of yet so I think I have plenty of time.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

Camelcluch

Well-Known Member
SH Member
Oct 2, 2020
1,598
2,405
113
48
The Morrell M48 is just a frame filled with clothes and fabrics. You could build one of easy. Buy a cover or make a cover.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Iron_llama

JC3

Well-Known Member
Mar 26, 2019
448
593
93
66
For really cheap (but effective) target, get a feed bag and stuff it tightly with old clothes (any material will do) and zip tie the top shut.
You can also fill it with plastic bags and stretch wrap or all of the above together !!
 

Just_Hangin_N_GA

Well-Known Member
SH Member
Aug 23, 2022
413
775
93
54
Guyton, Georgia
For field points I made a 40x40x16 inch box, filled it with old clothes (buttons and zippers removed), wrap in chicken wire, black landscape fabric, and third hand 48x48 inch target cover. Lifetime target
Old rags and clothes is all I used in the 80's before I had money for targets. They would stop any field point with no issue and do it forever. The only trouble was if you left it in the rain. I never used a box but used old feed sacks like @JC3.
Another great target but not real practical is using flattened cardboard boxes. I took the old cardboard boxes that I got from stocking Piggly Wiggles shelves at night. I stacked them horizontally on a pallet until it was about 4 foot high and ratchet it down. That thing lasted forever, with tin over it.
Heck, I may do both of those type targets again.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Crawdaddy4

Just_Hangin_N_GA

Well-Known Member
SH Member
Aug 23, 2022
413
775
93
54
Guyton, Georgia
Old rags and clothes is all I used in the 80's before I had money for targets. They would stop any field point with no issue and do it forever. The only trouble was if you left it in the rain. I never used a box but used old feed sacks like @JC3.
Another great target but not real practical is using flattened cardboard boxes. I took the old cardboard boxes that I got from stocking Piggly Wiggles shelves at night. I stacked them horizontally on a pallet until it was about 4 foot high and ratchet it down. That thing lasted forever, with tin over it.
Heck, I may do both of those type targets again.
Crap, can't believe I spelled Piggly Wiggly wrong!!!!
Where is the edit feature?!?!?
 
  • Haha
Reactions: Will Harris

mschultz373

Well-Known Member
SH Member
May 9, 2023
444
583
93
29
SE LA
I call my fiancé Piggly Wiggles…

This foam target is loosening up a bit which is nice. I may make another with rags and all.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
  • Like
Reactions: Just_Hangin_N_GA

mathhunter

Member
Feb 18, 2021
81
114
33
43
Battle Ground, Indiana
I made a 3ft x 3ft x 1 ft frame and stuffed it with the insides of two old bag targets I shot to pieces and some additional fabric and foam pieces I had laying around. I was going to buy the front and back material from Third Hand Archery, but then I ran across and old post on here that suggested picking up lumber wrap from a lumber yard that they were going to throw away. They looked at me kind of funny when I asked for the used lumber wrap, but they let me have it. The lumber wrap won't last as long as a commercial product since the holes don't close up, but it's working fine so far and I can get another one for free if this one gets too shot up. Screenshot_20230909-070946-320.png
 
  • Like
Reactions: Just_Hangin_N_GA

Ckwilli

Well-Known Member
SH Member
Oct 15, 2019
1,294
2,172
113
52
Old rags and clothes is all I used in the 80's before I had money for targets. They would stop any field point with no issue and do it forever. The only trouble was if you left it in the rain. I never used a box but used old feed sacks like @JC3.
Another great target but not real practical is using flattened cardboard boxes. I took the old cardboard boxes that I got from stocking Piggly Wiggles shelves at night. I stacked them horizontally on a pallet until it was about 4 foot high and ratchet it down. That thing lasted forever, with tin over it.
Heck, I may do both of those type targets again.
What he said X2. I’ve made them with plastic Walmart bags and repurposed plastic wrap.
 

mschultz373

Well-Known Member
SH Member
May 9, 2023
444
583
93
29
SE LA
My fiancé gave me an unwanted old rug that I’m gonna make a target from. Cut it up and stuff in a box. But how should I orient the cut rug? Should I orient the pieces parallel to the ground, or perpendicular? I assume the latter but figured I’d ask…


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk