With a little planning you can build a safe backyard range in an small area. The first requirement is the right bow. There are a few other specialized styles around, such as the English-style longbow, but these are not for beginners or even intermediate archers. The recurve bow has been around for at least 50,000 years. Many archers think of a recurve as a beginner's bow.
Nothing is further from the truth.
Shooting a recurve bow well requires much more consistent practice than shooting a modern compound bow. Part of the reason lies in the bow's performance. When shooting a recurve, you lack the mechanical advantages a compound bow gives you. This means that as you hold the bow at full draw, you are trying to aim while maintaining the maximum pressure possible. The more times you shoot in a session, and the longer you hold the bow at full draw, the harder it is to do.