Homemade Cross Bow Target

While you do need a target for practicing with your crossbow, you do not need to spend much money in acquiring one. Build a target with materials from around your house or purchase a few inexpensive materials. Either way, the target must be thick enough or have enough material inside of it to stop an arrow, so plan well to assure that your target has enough mass.

Things You'll Need

  • Large plastic-lidded container
  • Plastic bags (like those from a grocery store)
  • Cardboard
  • Old pieces of carpet
  • Old clothing
  • Other "junk" material available around the house, like foam or mop heads
  • Insulation
  • Feed bags
  • Duct tape
  • Twine
  • Glue
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Instructions

  1. Target in a Plastic Container

    • 1

      Cut a circle from the lid of a large plastic container the size of your desired target. Leave an inch or two around the rim of the lid to hold the material inside the container.

    • 2

      Place several layers of old carpet at the bottom of the container. These will ensure that no arrows break through the bottom of the container.

    • 3

      Place plastic bags, old clothing or insulation over the layers of carpet. Pack them tightly. Top with a piece of cardboard to hold everything in place. Place the lid on the container. If the layers have too much give, put more material underneath the layer of cardboard.

    Cardboard Target

    • 4

      Cut two large circles of cardboard. These will serve as the basic frame of your target.

    • 5

      Stack a variety of "junk" materials like clothing, foam, carpet or cardboard on top of one piece of cardboard until the pile is approximately seven inches high. Top with the other piece of cardboard. Secure these pieces with liberal glue or duct tape.

    • 6

      Secure the materials by punching holes around the edges of the cardboard and "sewing" the pieces together with twine. Alternatively, wrap the whole thing with twine.

    • 7

      Mount the target on an easel braced against a fence or tree, or hang it from a tree or other frame.

    Feedbag Target

    • 8

      Purchase two burlap feed bags from a hardware store. Put one bag inside the other to form a double-layered bag.

    • 9

      Fill the bags with old clothes. Pack them tightly enough to prevent arrows from passing through the bag.

    • 10

      Sew the bag shut with twine. Hang it or mount it on a frame or tree.