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DIY Archery Target
Archery target is crucial equipment for hunting and archery. If you choose an expensive target wearing out after making a few shots, then it is terrible to practice with. So, you can prevent this problem if you build one of them. Making a DIY archery target is very easy, and you can also use sturdy materials for lasting times. The most beneficial factor of creating a DIY archery target is that you can use household materials that are available and cheap. Moreover, the making process is so easy that you can build without other’s help.
We will let you know about the making process of two types of an archery target, which is box target and durable target. Household materials can make both targets. Moreover, you don’t need to spend too much money on it.
Box target
Requirements:
1. Cardboard box for the shape.
2. Foam, bags, or shrink-wrap to fill up the table inside
3. Tape.
1st Step: the very first step to make a DIY archery target is finding a thick cardboard box. You can also buy from a shop to ensure the durability of the cardboard box. But it would be best if you were careful about the thickness of the cardboard box. If you want to shoot an arrow, then thickness should be 30 cm. But if you use a higher draw weight bow or shoot bolts at high velocity, you must choose a thicker cardboard box. The thickness should be 46 cm, at least for using higher draw weight bow.
2nd Step: then use shrink wrap in high quantities inside the box. Because shrink wrap can withstand more arrows and also the most useful stuff to fill with, but if it is not available, then you can use plastic bags or foams as much as you can to fill with the box. The more you fill the stuff to the box, the more the target box can withstand arrows.
3rd Step: then seal the box with duct tape so that the stuff can come out.
This is the cheapest homemade DIY archery target you can use. After making the target, test the target in an open field. At first, examine the target from a short-range to know about the margin safety. You can check this out if you want a larger target by test within a short-range.
N.B: this is a cheap target. So, using a powerful crossbow or compound shouldn’t be helpful. Moreover, it would be best if you used field point arrowheads instead of broadheads.
Durable target
Requirements
1. A certain length of lumber. (Depends on you).
2. Screws for attaching the chicken wire.
3. Threaded rods.
4. Stuff like fabric, cloths, shrinkage wrap, etc. to connect with the target.
1st Step:
take a hollow frame with the dimension of 12 inches length and 2 inches width so that it can withstand most of the high-speed arrows. If you want to make it portable, then don’t increase the shooting area of 3*3 feet. Because then the target will be challenging to move.
For increasing the lifespan of the target, you should consider the frame materials.
2nd Step:
for assembling the target like a box, you should cut a whole top of the frame. The hole is cut for putting the stuff.
3rd Step:
you are making a durable target for using high-velocity arrows. So, you may put enough force on the target. That’s why you should fix the frame with wooden screws at least 9 cm long so that it cannot be apart.
For over surety, fix the threaded rod through the left and right sides of the frame and tighten them with the nuts or washer to the frame so that they cannot apart from the frame.
4th Step:
after making the target’s shape, cover the target with chicken wire to the front and back of the frame. Then wrap it many times for stability and staples with the nuts or whatever you use. You can use nylon window screen material instead of chicken wire. But whatever you use, you should make another layer for withstanding the arrow power. For this, you can use shrinkage wrap or other stuff.
5th Step:
if you want to stop an average arrow, you must fill out the target with a vast amount of stuff. You can manage the stuff from any rag store, or it can be household materials. Here, we give you some options to use these types of materials.
1. You can use shrinkage wrap, insulated foam, plastic foams, or other stuff that should be put in a compressed form so that you can place a large amount of stuff.
2. You can use old carpets.
3. Blanket, rubber, or other spare fabrics that you don’t use.
4. You can also use clothing, denim products, or double-layer material that will help to stick out the arrow to the target. Put this kind of material into corners of the target where the chances hitting are very low.
6th Step: after putting all of this stuff, compress it with a sled hammer or other weight that can shrinkage the stuff. Whenever you feel like there’s a gap in the target, fill it with stuff. Then tie it tighten with the strap so that the stuff cannot come out from the target.
7th Step: the final steps of making a DIY target are to cover it with sturdy materials like ground cloths or tarps. You may replace the cover when it goes wear out. So, you should attach the cover underneath the target so that it can be quickly removed.
Precaution:
don’t use this target in a wet location. When you have done with your archery target, you should store it in dry places immediately as it is a portable archery target. You can also use straw bales with the stuff you used to fill the target. Because straw bales are available too. Use field point arrows for longer use of this target. After completing the target, you better check the target with the low draw weight bow like leader accessories compound bow as it has less draw weight which will provide better performance.
Conclusion
So, we describe the process of making a DIY archery target. This is a natural process in which you can make a durable archery target with less cost. Moreover, if you want to repair the target when it wears out, you can do it easily. It will save you enough money from buying an expensive target or if you don’t want to spend much money on target. I hope this article will be helpful to you.