Medieval archery targets: styles, materials and Australian practice
Medieval archery targets were substantial pieces of equipment rather than flat, concentric circles. A typical English boss was a thick cylinder of packed straw or hay, compressed with rope and often covered with cloth or paper. The archery butts where it stood could be ranked targets, earthworks or practice installations, so “target” in a historical source may describe both the object and the place.
Recreating one for a modern club or historical event means balancing authenticity, arrow containment and Australian weather. Local medieval groups, suppliers and events can be checked through the Medieval Life directory, while the choices below show what survives, what works and what should be adapted.
What a medieval target actually was
A boss was more than a bale. Builders laid fibrous stems in alternating directions, packed them densely and bound the circumference with rope, a binder called the tiller in some English records. A cloth or paper face carried scoring marks, heraldic devices or contest numbers. The familiar bullseye has modern roots; medieval targets often used small marks and records kept by a keeper instead of painted rings alone.
Several forms existed. A straw boss could stand on a timber frame; a woven rush or reed butt was lighter; and an earth-backed butt formed a durable range feature. Archers also practised “pricking” by drawing the bow against a hardened straw surface without loosing. Blunt arrows, bodkins and broadheads each behaved differently, so target density and facing mattered as much as decoration.
Matching a target to a regional bow tradition
England and Wales supply the most familiar late-medieval image: self-bows for general archery and yew longbows developed under royal encouragement, including the military policies of Edward III. Longbows demanded substantial training and produced fast arrows, making a firmly bound, deep straw boss a sensible reconstructed answer. Welsh self-bow traditions require more than calling any short bow “Welsh”; bow length, stave shape and arrow weight should reflect a chosen period and source.
Continental Europe used crossbows extensively, and later medieval Eurasian and Near Eastern traditions included composite recurves assembled from horn, wood and sinew. Those bows are not interchangeable with an English longbow kit. Their lighter arrows and different release can still use the same broad principle—a dense, yielding face—but the target should be labelled honestly as a reconstruction rather than a universal medieval design. Mixing traditions can teach useful comparisons without pretending one kit represents all of medieval Europe.
Choosing historically plausible materials
Wheat, oat, barley and rye straw could become target material, although long fibrous stems bind better than short dusty chaff. Hemp or sisal rope provided compression, while paper and linen cloth made replaceable faces. Timber frames, rawhide bindings and earth existed in related uses, but surviving recipes varied by place and period. A mixed-material build is often more credible than a modern arrangement wearing an old label.
Regional evidence should guide selection rather than a generic internet recipe. Comparative work on ancient craft traditions, including historic metalwork, demonstrates how local ores, fibres and workshop methods shaped finished objects. For an Australian build, clean local straw, commercial sisal and cotton duck are practical choices; imported untreated straw, bark or feathers may require biosecurity checks, so consult BICON and state agriculture authorities before bringing plant material into the country.
| Feature | Packed straw boss | Reed or rush butt | Earth-backed butt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Historical fit | Well suited to late-medieval English examples | Regional construction with less uniform evidence | Consistent with surviving “butts,” though facings varied |
| Materials | Straw, rope, timber and cloth or paper | Bundled rushes or reeds and rope | Compacted earth with timber or straw facing |
| Behaviour | Absorbs arrows and can be re-tilled | Light and springy, but splits when dry | Permanent range feature; vulnerable to erosion |
| Australian use | Watch for mould, fire risk and UV damage | Check dryness and brittle stems | Plan for heavy rain and site upkeep |
Building a safe straw boss
For club use, a common reconstructed size is 60–90 cm across and 15–30 cm deep, although no single historical dimension should be treated as universal. Alternating layers of straw resist settling, and evenly spaced rope bands keep the face firm without crushing the stems. Build the body in a rigid cradle, leave the centre unobstructed and use a stable, purpose-made stand; an improvised frame can tip when a large group shoots.
The face can be heavy cotton duck with replaceable paper attached at the centre. Hand-drawn scoring marks, a central boss and restrained heraldic motifs suit a medieval display without implying that every fourteenth-century target looked identical. Keep straw behind the scoring area, remove damaged paper after each session and never use an exposed boss for broadheads. Put the installation behind a proper backstop and leave no path for a missed arrow.
Clubs, customs and the Australian market
Melbourne and Sydney have dense networks of indoor archery clubs and active medieval communities, so urban groups commonly use climate-controlled lanes and portable bosses. Canberra and Adelaide face hotter summers, frosty winters and strong UV, while Queensland’s humidity and insects make ventilated storage essential. These are local realities, not reasons to abandon the project: they determine where a target stands, how it is tied and how often its straw is replaced.
At a medieval gathering, open training day or formal display, treat the boss as a safe range fixture rather than a fairground decoration. Straw comes through grain, fodder and agricultural suppliers, while craft and hardware markets in Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra and Brisbane provide rope, canvas and timber. Australian clubs can consult Archery Australia and state associations, and local branches of the Australian Society for Creative Anachronism can help identify specialist bowyers and fletchers. A small digital stall may feature a bonus round game, subject to age and promotion rules, but it should not replace supervised shooting.
Seasonal care and practical safety
Australian conditions can undo a well-made target quickly. During humid weather, keep straw off concrete, inspect for condensation and spread it for drying; in Queensland, isolate stored material from insects and check timber stands for termite damage. Before a hot, dry event, remove loose straw from the immediate area and observe local fire restrictions. Rotate an outdoor boss away from afternoon sun and replace compressed or brittle sections rather than hiding them beneath new paper.
Safe practice begins with the arrow, not the artwork. Use purpose-made blunt or bodkin-style practice heads according to the range rules, inspect shafts and nocks, and match arrows to the bow’s draw weight. Blunt arrows can still injure, so establish a shooting line, waiting area and clear retrieval routine, and have a competent instructor demonstrate drawing and release. Historically inspired equipment does not reduce the need for modern range discipline.
Learning resources and the next shoot
For younger participants, The Medieval Life’s young readers’ book list offers a route into material culture, warfare and daily life. Pair it with adult histories, museum object records and primary translations; a game can engage interest, but only handling a bow, arrow and boss reveals how weight, balance and compression actually work.
Before your next club session, tape a 20-centimetre circle at the centre of your existing target, shoot ten blunt-headed arrows from your normal distance and record the spread; that baseline will show whether your next adjustment belongs to the bow, arrow setup or target face.