Homemade archery course target ideas

[TimRadke]

Probably getting ahead of myself here, but I just put an offer in on a house that would allow me to put in a few targets (6-8, depending on how I do it) in a course (on 2 acres of woods).

Money's a bit tight, but I'm looking for some ideas on targets that could withstand the elements, are inexpensive, yet fun and semi-realistic... I shoot trad, but my wife and a few friends still shoot with training wheels, so I'd need something durable enough to stop all kinds of arrows..

I'm thinking perhaps some sort of bale targets that I could staple a paper target onto... quick and easy to change targets that way...

Any suggestions?  What are you guys using?

Thanks in advance!

[Lizard lick]

If there is a tractor supply or Northern tool or any place that sells prefab utility trailers there will GIVE you the foam block that separate the trailers when being haled I tie my to a tree base do to the wind blowing them in all different places. You can hag them to

[Billy]

Milk and or water jugs,tied in place by contractor string.

to a bush, from a limb, aerial, close to the ground.

[Red Beastmaster]

I made a course in the small woodlot behind the house. I have a dozen feed sacks and heavy dog food bags along a trail I made. The bags are stuffed with plastic (grocery, salt, mattress bags), twisted at the top, and wired to saplings. I keep them about 2' from the ground to stay above the snow. I can shoot the looped course from either direction taking any shot I wish as I walk up to the next target.

The bags are tough and as they get worn I just drop them into a new bag. My neighbor shoots it with his compound and has never had a pass thru.

Best part is they cost me nothing.

[Rob DiStefano]

roving targets are easy to create and you've got some perfect comments on that already - nothing all that special needed.  just make sure to use judo points!

[razorback]

Can't beat feed sacks stuffed with plastic or flyscreen wiremesh. Stop by your local grocery store and ask when they get a delivery. The pallets are often wrapped in plastic and most stores would be happy to give it away. Many also have those bins for recycling bags, just ask to raid them for material. Couple of layers of cardboard works real well too. Ihave a box that is about 5" thick and 30"*22". I just stuffed it with all my recycling cardboard and I don't get more than an inch of penetration from my 50# selfbow. Not real good in the rain but a good stopper.

[Deadbolt]

I just made a foam block...stacked 6 1" foam pieces and taped them together jußt to test if it willk stop the arrow. My 53# bow was stopped in a hurry asnd it coost me a few pieces of tape. You could wrap em with plastic to hold their shap better if you shoot a lot.

[Danny Roberts]

If you know some cattle farmers, take the mesh they've taken off their round bales and stuff in burlap, feed or plastic dog food sacks.

[beyondmyken]

Read the article Rag Doll Moose in the latest edition of Traditonal Bowhunter for some ideas.  By using bags to make front and hind quarters, you get much more realistic 3D animal shape than a painting or silhouette.

[ron w]

Like in Masters of the Bare bow II, just use hay bales set in different settings. Use a spray paint can to put a spot for something to focus on. When they are used up spread them around and they will bio-degrad. Then just get some more...

[Ia Hawkeye]

Don't know what your terrain is like, but we always dug dirt bunkers and used paper targets.

[DngrsDan]

I said this in another post about targets....
a great source of free plastic to stuff your targets with are mattress and furniture stores. They throw the plastic that these are wrapped in away and it's heavy duty stuff. Stops my arrows without a problem.

[TimRadke]

Thank you Gentlemen!  I will be saving up plastic bags and looking for some burlap!

-Tim