How to Build a DIY Target and Backstop For Your Home Range

DIY Target Stands

You can make your own target stand from wood or PVC pipe. Construct the base and a square frame for the target to hang from. Add hooks to the top bar of the frame to hang the target. Bag targets will usually come with loops on the top corners so you can hang them from the hooks. For field point practice with most vertical bows, you can use any bag target found at your local archery range or on an archery manufacturer’s website.

If you’re looking for a traditional round target, you can cut a section of ethafoam down to the right size and place a classic 10-ring archery target cover over it. For a circular target, you can use a tripod-style stand (which can also be built from PVC pipe or wood) rather than a square frame.

A Guide to Safety

The ATA created a series of three Archery Range Guides to teach archery ranges and communities how to build their own ranges, including the regulations, materials and so forth. The guidelines are designed for archery ranges at places like retail shops and state agency-owned properties, but elements of the Temporary Range Guidedocument could easily apply to an at-home range. The guide provides recommendations to minimize the risk of injury with safety barriers and buffer zones.

Safety Barriers

Safety barriers are backstops positioned behind the targets to catch stray arrows or arrows that shoot through the target. Safety barriers can include items that are thick or strong enough to stop an arrow. Arrow safety nets, thick foam play mats or yoga mats, and hay bales are examples of potential backstops.

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