DIY Homemade Archery Target from Scrap Materials.
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- Опубліковано 9 лют 2025
- If you want another cool accessory for your private archery range, check out my new bow stand video: • Portable Bow Stand - T...
UPDATE: New target video available here. • DIY Archery Target | H...
In this one, I show how to make another free target - but instead of using a shop full of tools, I get it done using just two!
One of my favorite hobbies is archery, and that requires a lot of practice. Targets can be expensive, so here is a way to easily build one out of scrap wood and other junk that most people would just throw away.
Click here for the simple plans I drew up for this target:
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**UPDATE: New target video available here. ua-cam.com/video/pS8bDR13qCw/v-deo.html
In this one, I show how to make another free target while using only two basic tools!
If you want another cool accessory for your private archery range, check out my new bow stand video: ua-cam.com/video/aSL50KNViqo/v-deo.html
Awesome job. The best part of this video was seeing you include your boys in your projects. This country is in bad need of more fathers like you. 👍
I have done some woodworks in the past but this woodwork plan ua-cam.com/users/postUgkxZF0EMnrujZvqHhGkxiz559uIABJWR9TG helps me do much in a far lesser time than i used to do i have already built several projects with this plan and i intend to do many more soon. Thank you so much!
Just a nice video.Old retired cabinet maker,still have a full blown shop.You did well using cheapy/freeby materials.You're doing a fine job.Been a tradbow shooter for almost 50 years....still hammering arrows.Raised 4 boys,all grown up and all deeply involved in traditional archery.So,get those 2 boys into it now.Bingham archery has some youth kits for TD recurves....with your WW skills it's a no brainer.
Thanks, I appreciate that! I'll have to look into Bingham archery.
That wooden tabletop you placed the cut wood on is gorgeous
I raise chickens and always knew that those empty feed bags would serve another useful purpose and glad I saved them. I probably have 20+ of them folded away in storage and any new bags, I started throwing away. I was saving them for sand bags, trash bags and now I can use them up quicker with arrows. Thanks.
I packed that plastic into an old car tyre, with cut out one side as the front of the target and wrapped it with the same material like you... it works like charm, it has a handle and is highly portable... when I rip through the front face I will just use some tape and nylon trash bags, to patch it up... It will add layers on top of it and will last a long time I hope. Thanks for the video.
Everyone seems to have a workshop but me
He used a saw and a drill.
@@SurgicalSnowball My point wasnt i don't have those tools, it was just a statement that most of these videos on youtube, everyone has a workshop and i don't. But thanks for that
@@heheWoWrules12 I get ya man, he said at the start it only cost him the price of the screws then he proceeded to cut everything up and assembling it with 15k+ tools.
George Smash u could make this with a hand saw and nails u fucking complainer!!!!!
George Smash I used my kitchen table in my basement for the longest time until I got a shop
A little advice, I used A LOT of grocery bags to make mine. Pack them in the target individually (meaning don't stuff a bunch of bags into one bag and then stuff it.) it creates voids where your arrows won't stop as quickly and it's a pain to try and back them out once the fletchings make it into the bag. Nice vid!
Awesome advice. I'm glad others are chiming in with other free materials that will get the job done!
Thanks to this video, built one several years back, have built a second. Great target!
I make DIY targets as well. I usually will go to good will and find old comforters,blankets,pillow's and sheets and stuff my target with those and they last a couple seasons no problem. Thanks for sharing!
Hello from France
Thank you for this DIY
I made mine yesterday, following your advice, with some modification due to the material used. I used insulating cork sheets, woolen blankets, heavy cotton sheets, and scraps of fabric.
Great job! We built 30 of these targets a few years back. Luckily we had a sock factory in our home town that had a plenty of throw a ways we used. Enjoy your videos, keep them coming.
That's a handy source of target stuffing!
I saw a $65 target on Amazon and thought, 'I can just build one.' The next day UA-cam has this video in its suggested section. I've been saving up noncorrugated cardboard and plastic for years in hope that I would find a better fate than a landfill; this is quite serendipitous.
Sounds like a perfect match! let me know how it turns out.
This is a great target!! Making one for my 10 year old who’s getting his first bow for Xmas...the factory ones are just too expensive and not big enough for a beginner to learn to shoot! This target is the perfect size and definitely looks super durable!! Thanks so much for making this video 😊
bro just ask your neighbours for foam and use tape to repair existing targets, I promise u it's very cheap =))
Great project video!
I built a target using the pallet wrap plastic (not as nice and fancy as your though, lol). I got mine from The Home Depot and Walmart receiving areas for free (they were happy to give it away!) I wadded it up and then tightly packed it into the target that is 1.5' deep. By packing it tight, I estimate that I've literally shot thousands of arrows into it and never had one pass completely through. That plastic is really "grippy" and stops the arrows extremely well but the arrows can still be pulled easily! A few times so far, when a soft spot developed, I just pulled out the pallet wrap plastic, re-fluffed it, wadded it up again and then firmly repacked it and it was good to go again!
nice guide. cant wait to try this for a 60x60 cm target. i work at a convenient store so we get a lot of plastic wrap i can get for free, and my father in law is a farmer, so he got the grain sacks. just perfect :)
That's awfully convenient! Make sure you stuff it as tight as possible, and let me know how it works for you.
yeah i will :) i use cardboard boxes stuffed with plastic wrap now, but they don't last very long. and if they are not stuffed tight enough, the arrows go right through. the grain sacks are a great idea and i cant wait to try it. i got the weekend off, so i cant wait to get started :)
Now its done and tested. Works perfect :) 75x75x25cm and arrows only go in around 15cm.
I made a similar target to this for a local archery club about 8yrs ago, and packed it with old tyre inner tubes from a tyre fitting company, they made really good long lasting targets, but with tubeless tyres becoming more and more popular, the supply was drying up.
That's a good idea for a filler. Too bad it's getting hard to come up with tubes these days. Another option is wool. My buddy's in-laws have sheep, so he has a free supply of wool and he uses that to stuff his target with. It is VERY effective, but makes the target a little heavier.
Yes the tubes where very heavy, but like you I added wheels and handles :)
hey! tire tube works? i have a lot of tire tubes!
wow. first time i heard of a radial arm saw! thanks!
Really a cool tool isn't it?
I seen your video like 3 years ago and made my target been going strong siting outside ever since thanks man great target
You Sir, are a man's man. Your children are lucky to have you as father. This is also a good tutorial.
Thanks for the step by step instructions. Very handy for a novice wood worker. I am very pleased with the finished product. BTW, I did end up buying several pieces of equipment and am glad I did. I'm now committed to learning some wood working skills.
I worked at a feed mill when i was a teenager and came up with the same materials! feed bags and wrap.
Thank you I’m totally going to use this and make one, I love being able to reuse instead of wasting materials so this is perfect for me. Keep doing what you do and making amazing videos much love ❤️
That's awesome, I hope your's turns out as good as mine!
Some used carpet hanging relatively free on the back helps on overpenetration. My best one was rubber conveyor belt. (That one is heavy and that can be a massive negative).
I've made a similar target - Found the best thing to stuff it with is the thick black plastic that often covers pallets of goods - I can get free from work where it is waste. Stops pretty much most things including crossbow bolts. Made mine with chicken wire stretched over the frame first then stapled a square of plastic tarp over that. when the tarp is shot out I just replace the tarp and the chicken wire keeps the stuffing in place. The wire doesn't effect the arrows at all and the target is practically everlasting with only minimum maintainance.
Good lord that kid is adorable! Great job on the target as well, my wife has recently gotten into archery and I've been looking for a good cheap way to make a target that she can use at home.
Thanks David! If your wife is anything like mine, she won't be pulling very much draw-weight, so you won't have to stuff this target nearly as full, unless you plan to shoot at it too.
I built a very similar one this summer before even seeing this video. I actually used the liner for a shipping container of grain as the stuffing and worked amazing! So nice to have a large 4’x4’ target from “garbage”. Works a real treat but unfortunately my cobra 80lb crossbow is just too powerful for it with the tiny darts but it does catch all other arrows amazingly!
I used an old sleeping bag and a feed bag. Perfect little target. Put little 10"×10" 1/4" plywood on bottom so it's flat and same on top along with stapleing feed bag to the top plywood
That sounds like a simple solution!
Great tip. Just made my boy a bag target but didnt think about the plywood
Made one very similar filled with layers of carpet with the shipping plastic in between. Good design sir! Its lasted a long time and easy to change out
This seems so much easier than the home-made ones where you have to clamp down cardboard or carpet. Awesome idea - thanks for sharing!
Bro that’s a dang good target you just made
Well thank you very much!
Great target! I’m using cotton fabric of old t-shirts and the like in mine. It even stops broadheads easily and does not tend to stick on the arrows as the melted plastic does.
Yup that's exactly the solution I was looking for cheap and functional !!
you are a legend this target really works for years i had to buy hay bails which kept on breaking down with wet weather NOT ANYMORE Thank You Gunflint Designs
Now that's some real "Reduce, Reuse, Recycling" taking place! Love it...great job!!!👍😎
Great idea for an inexpensive target. Good looking assistant target builders, ready to help.
Thanks!
Nice idea for my recurve bow in the back garden. Thanks for sharing
Thumbs up just for the cute little helpers you have!
Great target! I used to do a lot of target archery many years ago. I miss it. Another thing to add to the list of hobbies and money pits.
So many hobbies... If I could pick one thing and stick with it I might become an expert at something. I just have too many interests - I think I need to retire so I can enjoy them all.
Nice job bud! It's nice to see that you like archery. I'll consider making something similar, as I too enjoy archery. And it looks like your little handyman is quite helpful when it comes to your projects, lol.
Those boys are fun to have in the shop with me, but they don't exactly make the projects get done any faster ;)
Gunflint Designs lol, yep. Handy but in the way, its just how boys are :)
Today is the first time I came across your channel, Ultimate workbench popped up as a recommended video. Followed by this video. Going to check out more. Looks like I have my Sunday planned out now. And by the way nice shooting in heavy winds. New Sub.
Thanks Eric!
If you run two lengths of all thread through the inside with a board on top you could use it as a way to compact the material inside. Nice job and video.
That's a good idea. I haven't had a problem with compacting it enough just using my weight, but your way might be easier.
Gunflint Designs
My brother did it with a cardboard target he made. Worked really well.
Mark, great idea...You could use old carpeting or scraps of carpet...You lay it down flat as if carpeting the inside of the target and just build the layers up...You'll NEVER have to replace it again...You caulk every square inch of seams where the wood meets, marine varnish the wood and side it with roof shingling...It'll be heavy as a rock but your kids grandchildren could use it or until Jesus gets back! Nice job...
Nice target! I take a small cardboard box and stuff it super tight with cloth scraps then wrap it in duck tape and make an X out of masking tape for a to-go target.
great video. Going to build this for the twins' birthday this year as a surprise since they did a little archery in cub scouts and loved it. Thanks for making this!
Used carpet pad is awesome for material for stopping arrows. Great video!
Thanks Cory! The local archery club here uses layers of carpet stacked up and a ratchet strap around the whole thing to compress the payers together. It works very well.
You are blessed with such a spacious back garden!
I have used rubber mulch to make a pellet/.22 LR trap. I bet it would work well for arrows too.
I use a cardboard box filled with rags. When the target side gets all shot up I tape a new piece of cardboard over it.
If your accuracy is pretty good and you dont mind a smaller target. I take a feed bag, layer as much old clothes, towels, blankets that fit, layer the materials like a loaf of bread. Then wrap bag target in layers of shrink wrap,make it tight and compressed, take duct tape to form the bag square or rectangle.
Stops my 185lb, 370ft per second, crossbow well, easy pullout, keep target dry.
I work in a lab and I use large styrofoam lined carboard boxes acquired from sample deliveries for target practice. I insert a smaller styrofoam box into the large one to add more resistance.
Is it a denser styrofoam, or just your standard white packaging kind? How deep will arrows penetrate it?
@Gunflint Designs, the regular kind. The arrow tends to penetrate about 1/3 of its shaft length. I did wrap duct tapes around the entire surface of the box to secure bull's eye paper printouts on it.
A tip for anyone using chipboard outside take silicone or caulking and seal the edges of the boards.
To fill your target, you could use old folded blanket or cleaning fiber from mechanics shops. I’ve made a target with old tissues and I found they stop the arrows faster.
Used to work in warehousing. When people left the organisation or got new uniforms, their old uniforms bearing the company logo had to be destroyed. I’d fold em up and pack em flat and compressed into cardboard boxes, then taped the boxes shut. Marked in permanent marker to indicate which way the clothes were packed, they stopped arrows and .22 bullets. I was able to bring back around a box per week of heavy duty workwear and they last absolutely forever if dont store them exposed to the elements. I ended up arranging the boxes into shaped targets with expired hard hats, makeshift shields, mock weapons and the like.
But yeah, most organisations that do receiving will be more than happy to give out cardboard and pallet wrapping. If you needed wood to make a frame, most organisations are happy to give away pallets for firewood. Free pine planks.
I save cardboard boxes, stuff them with old clothes and rags and many layers of other cardboard. I then use spray mount on the back of a target and press it on the box or use a stencil and spray paint targets. I use old bails of hay for the back drop. Just make sure that you remove any snaps, buttons and zippers from the clothes so you don't damage the arrows.
Very ingenious. I like the size and the movability of it. I made a PVC frame for the target on the left that was pretty mobile, but I like your target a lot better. Nice reuse of material. Great job!
Thanks!
Made a similar target with a big cardboard box stuffed with pallet wrap and plastic bags. At 20 yards arrows didn't even go through the back. Menards/Home Depot/Lowes is a great place to look for pallet wrap.
Awesome!
And now i'm building targets for my daughter! Suscribed!
Fantastic build. I have built a few targets myself and utilised a lot of different materials as stuffing. Wrapping plastic, worn carpets, hay, and my favourite coir ( coconut fiber). I also use a backing material to stop my arrows from protruding, It's called MCR (Micro Cellular Rubber). MCR is used for making floaters.. Over here in India I get a 12 feet by 12 feet board with 4" thickness for about 12$. Con's : you better have an arrow puller.
That's a very cool idea! So where do you get so much coconut fiber that you can fill up a target?
I have a friend that uses sheep's wool. It works really well but tends to make the ends of your arrows a bit waxy after a while.
I come from a tropical place. Coconuts everywhere. Pretty much everything like rugs, carpets, ropes and mattresses were made out of Coir. Loads of junkyards have them lying ard. One more thing that I rely upon as stuffing material, straw mats..
Haha, sheep wool sounds interesting too. But got no sheep in this weather of ours... India's crazy hot, always...
Great design!
Great vid and thanks! We just throw a tarpaulin over the target when we're not shooting and tie it with a bunjee cord to keep out the weather. Cheers from Aussie land - Dave
If you staple the target face material to the 2x4 frame and still do to pocket holes to make the face plate when your target material needs replaced take the face plate off and staple a new one over the old one them put your face plate back on gives you more support plus your stuffing won't fall out.
I took two hay bails and joined them together with a ratchet strap . the strap is able to compress the hey so well that iv never had an arrow poke through. if you start to get a bit to much penetration, just advance the ratchet till its stupid tight again. the only downside to it is its heavy and sheds when you move it. I don't know how dense you can compress the hay if you make it more than two, but two is plenty for compound bows.
Thats a good option!
Good project. Here are a few tips. First, you don't need all that structure. On diagonal at the back will make the 4 15" plywood sides stiff and stable enough to work. Less for an arrow to hit and get damaged. Stretching the face material. Here I can really help you. This works for screen doors, painting canvas, re-doing a mesh office chair with heavy duty window screen. When you attach the material you want to start in the middle of each side. So staple top center, then pull tight and bottom center, then do the sides. Now you have a tight diamond in the middle of your box. Now just work down each corner triangle to the wood corners. The fabric will be stretched, any wrinkles will just work their way to the corners and disappear. There are canvas tools, like pliers that help this process, you can just use squared off linesman pliers, Channel-locks or just your fingers. Personally I'd have turned the frame side ways so only 3/4" is facing front and I'd bevel the inside edges, but I don't know how often you're going to have arrows hitting near the perimeter.
You might also design your box a bit like a trash compactor to pack the stuffing a bit tighter and denser. You'd be amazed what you could do with leverage. Gosh with this project, and all the PVC long bows and DIY arrow How Tos on UA-cam, I should be out in my backyard shooting arrows.....
Nice work, I was wondering about a target to make, this comes right on time! I was thinking about stacking flattened cardboard in there. It would be a little more work but those stopped my arrows quicker than this plastic and hurt them in no way....and it's also free
I can go to the stove pellet co in town and get all the shrink wrap that I want plus tons of huge plastic bags that go over a pallet with a ton of pellets on it. Sounds like a plan to me.
For your grain sack I use old tarps from construction companies. They are always throw in tarps with holes especially roofers. I know not everyone has a grain co op down the road. Even harbor freight gives them as their free coupon every couple months.
Good advice Billy, that's a great option!
Thumbs up for the little dude.
Nice video, thank you.
Like it. I may refine the one in my head. The top piece will be hinged, so I can retrieve a stuck arrow/ field tip. I might also make the top out of ASB Plastic for weather. (I have a plastic supplier near me that sells scraps, remnants.) thank you for the tutorial!
Old pillows work great too.
I built a very similar target years ago. Faced it with thick cardboard, old refrigerator boxes. Winter weather and lots of shooting necessitated re-facing it every year. One election year after the election was over I noticed all of the candidates corrugated plastic campaign signs still posted around town and decided they would work great for a target face. They work great! Very stiff, allowing greater compression of the pallet wrap, weather proof, take multiple shots, etc. probably should contact the candidate to see if they would donate the old signs to you.
Now that's a great source of free materials!
Holy poop! I would kill for that shop.
It's taken a number of years building it up to this point, but I sure am happy with it!
Good video. Gonna build one for my daughter. Thank you.
Thanks Chris, I'm glad you found it helpful.
I just rolled up an old rug we had taped round each end it holds up to my 60lb recurve hunting bow took 3 mins to make only used feild points tho i used a broadhead and it came quite far out the back stops feild points tho
Fantastic. I am hoping to make this today. Thank you!
You're welcome Dyana! I'm about a week behind on answering comments, so how did it turn out? Did you get one built?
Ok neato, the main thing I needed was the filling recommendation. I created a fantastic, olympic-sized target without a wood frame to worry about hitting with expensive arrows (a hunter shoots closer and might miss less?) but I wound up sinking $70 in PVC "rubber" shower lining. I just fastened alternating layers of free spongey foam and the lining sheets, by "sewing" them together with giant stitches of string. They were a little loose, but leaned up against supports in back it was phenomenal for a year or so of constant use. I may try this route, here, as there's plenty of pallet wrap at work, but I do worry about hitting the frame with Easton A/C/C arrows. I could at least make that wide, front, inner frame part out of PVC "wood" or something an arrow might survive. Thanks
I have some similar made with a bag of that, and filled with pieces of fabric that are not in use... your idea of the frame is better..!!
Built a double target side by side similar to this but stationary. We used feed sacks and filled them with old clothes. Works good and arrows don’t go thru it .
Awesome bench! I'm watching those videos next!
I just made this target.easy and awesome. thank you.
Studs and wingnuts would be a nice upgrade for holding the front plate to the frame.
Nicely done and very entertaining
Thanks 👍👍👍
Thanks!
I've made many similar targets. I might do a UA-cam video where I make my single shooting direction version. I've also gained access to a semi truck mud flap; I think I will make it the center of a two direction variant. The old grill wheel idea...I can't believe I didn't think of it before.
If you do make a video come back and let me know, I'd like to see your solution!
I shoot a recurve. this is a perfect idea for my bow. the velocities for a recurve are about half what a compound does, but it has much more kinetic energy. either way very good target!!!!!
I'm glad you like it Joshua! You'll have to let me know how yours turns out.
I made a smaller target and filled the box with closed cell plastic foam packing. Cut the foam to fit tight glue where necessary.
This is a good idea. Thanks for showing.
Great job. Thanks for sharing. I envy you...you have fantastic cutting tools..great workplace...man I wish I have a neat place to work with.
Thanks. It has taken me years of slowly accumulating them, but I am definitely pretty well set up now.
Use old cloths instead of plastic. The plastic melts and sticks to the arrows. Also old cloths make the arrows come out super easy.
good ideal ... wonder how expand foam would work.. going to build one and try it.. thanks..
I have tried repairing 3D targets with expanding foam. It works alright, but it's never as strong as the original. YOu'll have to let me know how it works out for you. I would guess that by the time you get it filled up, it's no longer very cost effective.
Woodworking and archery! Two of my favorite things. New sub. Cheers! Chris.
Mine too! Thanks for watching!
Awesome job man. Nice work bench also. 👍🏻
Great project! It's awesome how it turned out!
Thanks! If you build one I'd love to see a picture!
Nice job man watching from Ireland.
Damn, I was just short on cash for this build. Only about $20,000 short on machinery costs
all you need is a drill and labor
@@quinnmccloud7139 you need a 30$ drill from walmart lmao
Back before drills, people used hammers and nails on just about everything. I’d prioritize owning a drill (or at least having access to one, like a friend or parent’s) over having an archery target. But you could build this using nails instead.
take a large box, fill it with cloths, Duct tape it closed. arrows come out super easy a 3 year old could pull them.
Not to mention the kids... You need two of em
Cardboard box filled with old clothes works great. Good thing is when the box is wasted just get another box and cram everything in including the old box!
Yep, that's definitely a good option!
Wow a lot of work buddy. The best archery target by far is a cardboard box full of old clothes. Remove all buttons and zippers and cover the box with clear packing tape. All Free. Does not wear out. Simply cover the front with new cardboard once a year. Works with all arrowheads never breaks fletching and pulls out with 2 fingers.
I have most of the material, I'm missing the 2 kids, you don't mention where you get them or how much that are.
The kids are not essential to the project, but they do make the building process far more enjoyable - however there is an additional cost in time when involving them.
They are not cheap, I am still calculating the total invoice for them. As far as where you get them, I'm afraid I'm not qualified to answer that... you should look for a 6th grade health teacher for that one.
My man you just made my day!!! thank you for that. I actually found a lot of card board at home and I mean a lot, so I will start with that and all the foam I can get my hands on :)
You see Harvin, when a man and a woman love each other very much sometimes they.......
Lol
Harvin Batista hahahaha
Sometimes they what?! Don't leave me hanging! LOL
Old clothing works great for stuffing also. I wore out 3 bag targets with the same set of clothing. If the center gets "soft" just open the bag and rearrange. weight might be an issue with a target the size of this one tho.
Yep, old choose is a good and common fill. I think with the wheelbarrow nature of this design moving it around wouldn't be a problem, but the weight might make it hard to lift into a truck and transport anywhere.
I love this. I was already subscribed to your channel from some other project but found this while on Pinterest on DIY archery targets. Thanks.