The Target.—The standard target is 4 feet in diameter, although smaller targets may be used indoors or where shooting distances are limited. It consists of a target boss or backing of straw on which is fastened the target face. Quoting from the Constitution and By Laws of the National Archery Association of the United States:
The face of the target shall consist of a central disc, 96⁄10, inches in diameter, and four concentric rings, each 48⁄10. inches in width, painted respectively from within out gold, red, blue, black, and white.
The values shall be: Gold, 9; Red, 7; Blue, 5; Black, 3; White, 1.
To make a target face, procure some white cloth not less than 4 feet square. Sign painters' cloth is good, but two pieces may have to be sewed together to obtain the width. Oilcloth is also desirable and may be bought wide enough for the face of the target.
Spread the cloth on the floor and fasten with thumbtacks. Nail with a brad one end of a strip of wood, such as a cheap yardstick, to the floor at the exact center of the cloth. On the stick, mark distances of 44⁄5, 93⁄5, 142⁄5, 191⁄5, and 24 inches from the brad. Holding a pencil at these marks, rotate the stick and describe the five circles required on the target face. It is only necessary now to paint the spaces between the circles with the required colors. The outer ring, being white, need not be painted, except that a black line must be painted against the outer circle to define the limits of this ring.
The colors should be flat; that is, they should dry without a gloss because a shiny target is hard to see. For this purpose, colors ground in japan and thinned with turpentine are good, because they will not only dry flat but they will dry in a few hours. A less expensive method is to buy cheap lacquer in colors such as are sold at the 5 and 10-cent stores in small cans. Where the cloth has a chance to absorb the paint, even lacquer will be sufficiently flat and it dries immediately. For the center circle, however, a real gold effect should be obtained by coating with gold radiator paint. Chinese red will serve for the adjacent ring, a bright blue for the next, black for the next, and nothing for the outer ring if it is already white and not glossy.
A target face as just described will serve as long as the cloth holds together or as long as the colors can be readily distinguished. Since it is not necessary to paint a new face very often, it pays to do a good job.
The making of a target boss, however, is not so readily done. It represents hard work as well as a special kind of skill and demands a good grade of rye straw. Neither wheat straw nor hay will make so good a boss, but rye straw is not easily obtained as a rule. For these reasons, the purchase of a serviceable target boss is justifiable, even by those who enjoy making their own tackle, and especially so if several share the expense. At this writing the cost of a good quality rye-straw boss is around $16. Except for the satisfaction which might result from personal craftsmanship, it is doubtful if a home-made target would pay for the time and trouble involved. For those who, nevertheless, would like to try their hands at making one, the following brief directions are given:
Squeeze some straw tightly in a bundle about 4 inches in diameter and wrap firmly with strong cord of tarred hemp. Continue the procedure by adding more straw as the bundle begins to thin out, squeezing tightly and wrapping firmly until the wrapped straw assumes a rope-like appearance. After a length of several feet has thus been made up, coil it tightly in the manner that tape is wound. Using the hemp cord and a heavy upholstering or sacking needle, sew the spirals snugly together. Keep on forming more "rope," more turns to the spiral, and sewing them in place until a flat disc rather more than 4 feet in diameter is reached. The target face may now be fastened to the completed boss.
The Target Stand.—To make a support for the target take three pieces of soft wood 1 inch thick, 3½ inches wide, and 6 feet long and loosely bolt them together at the top with a ⅜-inch bolt as in Figure 29, E, thus forming a tripod. The bottom end of each piece is pointed by sawing off a corner diagonally so that each leg of the tripod may be forced a short distance into the ground for a firmer support. The sawed edges of the front legs should face the front, and the one on the back leg should face the rear.
The target rests on two short projections of ⅜-inch iron rod, each one screwed to a front leg about 27 inches from the bottom. This puts the center of the target approximately 4 feet from the ground, which is the regulation distance. These iron rests should be flattened at one end and have screw holes bored in them for fastening to the legs. A short length of rope attached to the front legs will limit the amount of spread.
The Butt.—In place of the regular target boss, the butt may be used. This is nothing more nor less than several bales of hay or straw laid one on top of the other. It has the advantage that fewer misdirected arrows get past the target because of the greater area obstructing the path of flight. If the bales are closely fitted in a frame and tilted slightly backwards, the conditions for shooting will be similar to those obtained by using the more portable target. The butt should be protected against rain with a suitable covering when not in use.
Whichever type of target is used, as little metal as possible should be exposed against which a chance arrow might shatter itself. For this same reason, metal tripods should be avoided.