Whether you only shoot during the weekends or have a more organized target practice routine, having the ideal archery target is crucial.
The biggest problem that archers face is finding the best archery targets. There are so many opinions available with each one touting a unique set of features.
To help you with this selection, we’ve identified six top-rated archery targets. Read on to learn more.
Reviews of the 6 Best Archery Targets
1. Block Classic Archery Target
If you have any experience using targets, then you know that retrieving arrows is no mean feat. With some targets, you have to put in a ton of effort to retrieve them successfully.
Thankfully, this is not the case with the Field Logic Block Classic, which is ranked the best archery target for easy arrow removal. Unlike other targets, this one depends on friction - rather than force - to stop arrows.
Designed with several layers of high-density foam, this target is very user-friendly. Here, you’re certain that you’ll spend more time shooting and practicing and less time retrieving your field point arrows.
And the best thing is, that the dual-sided foam block target is quite versatile. You can use it with broadheads, field tips, and expandable arrows.
To sweeten the deal further, Field Logic provides this archery target in different sizes. You can buy an 18-, 20- or 22-inch.
Worried that you’ll miss your target because you don’t have the sharpest vision? The manufacturer has got you covered. They designed these foam targets with nicely-contrasting white-on-black aiming points.
Have you been searching for the best bag-style target? If you have, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better model than the Morrell Yellow Jacket Supreme 3.
One of its biggest selling points is that it suits archers of all skill levels and ages. Whether you’re a beginner, intermediate, or veteran, you’ll find this target very easy to work with.
The bag archery target is particularly revered for its simple two-finger arrow removal. This allows you to spend more time honing your shooting skills.
The Morrell Yellow Jacket comes in a 20” by 12” by 20” bag. More importantly, it is fitted with an E-Z Tote carrying handle providing easy portability.
We also like that it’s built using weather-resistant material. This means you can use it in an outdoor setting and not have to worry about it wearing out too fast.
Morrel Targets understands that it takes more than one shot to master archery. This is why they’ve provided two shooting sides and up to 10 bullseye points. Important to note though is that it can only be used with field tips.
Are you looking to buy the best archery target for broadheads? If you are, the Rinehart Broadhead Target is just what you need.
While other targets only offer a limited number of surfaces to practice with, the Rinehart comes with 18 different faces. This lets you practice shooting as many times as you want till you become a pro.
As is the case with most foam targets, this model is very light. It tips the scales at 2 pounds and includes a handle. Both of these factors make for easy transportation.
One other feature that makes this a good target is the fact that it stops arrows moving at a high speed. According to Rinehart Targets, you can shoot field points flying at 500 FPS. Better yet it works with any arrow; be it a field point or broadhead.
The self-healing foam used to make this target is another point worth mentioning. This fabric enables the target to be used for a long time without losing its shape or integrity.
If you’re looking for the best archery target for beginners, consider the Hurricane Bag. It comes with a very affordable price tag, making it affordable for most newbie archers.
There’s a lot more you’ll love about this target, starting with the fact that it’s available in three sizes. You’ll have the freedom to choose between 20”, 25” and 28”.
Regardless of the size you pick, you’re guaranteed of getting an archery target that lasts. This is thanks to the 1000 P.S.I Tri-Core technology that provides an extended target life without any pass-throughs. In fact, it can stop an arrow from flying at an impressive speed of 425 FPS.
Another aspect that makes the Hurricane archery target stand out is its color scheme. It comes in green color with accents of white and gray. The colors contrast nicely, revealing highly-visible aiming sections.
Did we mention how portable this archery target is? Not only is it fairly light but it also includes hanging grommets and a handle.
Are you a hunter looking for the best 3D archery targets? Then you'll fall in love with the Field Logic GlenDel Buck 3D model. With such a target, you can refine your archery skills on a lifelike target.
The target that assumes the shape of a buck, stands at 34 inches tall and it even has antlers. Better yet, it includes labeling for vital organs. This allows you to train and achieve pinpoint shooting accuracy.
3D targets are fairly bigger than foam block or bullseye targets. However, the GlenDel Buck is also designed with portability in mind. It weighs about 17 pounds and has a detachable head, which makes for easier transportation.
Also worth mentioning is the target's extensive compatibility. Whether you want to shoot with crossbow bolts or field tips, you're free to do so.
Do you like to practice your archery skills from the comfort of your home? If you do, you’ll appreciate the Morrell Double Duty target.
One thing that makes this among the best archery targets for backyards is its design. On the surface, it may look like a traditional bag target but it’s so much more than that.
The manufacturer has incorporated nine-ball bullseyes, a dartboard game, and 5 traditional bullseyes. There’s even a surface that contains a deer’s vitals, enabling you to train how to aim at this specific game.
To add to this, the Morrell Double Duty touts excellent stoppage power. Thanks to its sturdy construction, it stops arrows flying at speeds of 450 FPS. This includes compound bows, crossbows, and even air bows.
Want to carry this bag target from one end of your property to the other? Then you’ll appreciate the tote-carrying handle that’s included. Important to note though is that the target weighs at least 37 pounds. So it’s pretty heavy to lug around.
Benefits of Using an Archery Target
Since you started pursuing archery, you’ve probably bought a ton of accessories. So you might be wondering, “do I really need to buy an archery target?” In our opinion, archery targets are a worthy investment for the following reasons:
Enhance your aiming skills
The best target significantly improves your aiming skills. Most targets come with multiple bullseyes or pictures, allowing you to practice as many times as you want. The more practice you can get in, the better you get at aiming.
Provides a confidence-booster
If you’re practicing for a competition, an archery target can help you build more confidence. Your aiming skills will improve by leaps and bounds. As a result, you’ll be confident in participating in competitive archery sports.
Minimize damage to your arrows
If you buy a well-constructed archery target, you can practice shooting your arrows without worrying about potential damage. This is because the target provides just the right amount of force to stop the arrow in its tracks while also facilitating a seamless retrieval.
Types of Archery Targets
If you’re looking to buy a high-quality target, one thing you should familiarize yourself with entails the different types. There are five main varieties: traditional bulls-eye, bag, 3D, DIY, and foam archery targets.
Here is a more detailed breakdown of each one:
Traditional Bulls-Eye Target
As implied in the name, this is certainly one of the most popular and conventional archery targets. It’s usually in the form of a circular ring with several different colors. This starts with white on the exterior, then followed by black, blue, red, and finally yellow in the middle.
If you’re a keen observer, you’ve most likely come across this traditional target. The bulls-eye target is often found at the range, campsite, or perhaps even in your friend’s backyard.
One reason why these targets are so popular is the fact that they enhance an archer’s accuracy. If your end goal is to hit the “X” at the center of the target, then any arrow that lands outside of this lets you know how far you are from the target.
The rings provide an incredibly easy method of scoring competitions. And they’re great for novice archers as well.
Bag Target
If you don’t find the bulls-eye model, the second most popular type that you’re likely to encounter is a target bag.
As implied in the name, this is merely a sewn bag that’s filled with synthetic fiber, which then stops the arrow. What makes this target unique is the ease of removing arrows.
Bag-style targets are also incredibly tough. This allows them to put up with high forces, making them the best suited for use with crossbows.
Better yet, most manufacturers design their bags to have four target surfaces. This gives you plenty of room to practice with.
Important to note though is that this is not the most portable target. These targets also aren’t very weatherproof. So if you’re conducting your shooting skills outdoors, you may have to haul it in and out of every target practice session.
Block Target
While bag targets contain a synthetic filling, block targets are made up of layered foam. These are then supported by an archery stand to create the foam block targets.
These foam blocks are the ones that you’re most likely to find in homeowners’ backyards. That’s because they're very forgiving. This is not surprising considering that modern block targets contain a special self-healing type of foam.
3D Target
Yet another type of archery target that you should familiarize yourself with, is a 3D target.
These life-sized targets are designed to look like real animals, such as deer, elk, or turkey. The idea is to enable a hunter to learn how to aim for the vital organs of a game target.
To help with this, the best 3D targets come with outlines for essential organs like the heart or lungs. This way, a newbie hunter can practice how to accurately and safely aim at these organs on the elk, buck, or turkey target.
DIY Targets
If money is a major constraint, then perhaps you should consider making your own DIY archery targets.
Bag targets, paper targets, and even foam targets can all be made from scratch using readily-available materials like haybales.
That said, it’s crucial that you invest in the right materials when making the target. If you use flimsy materials, they won’t last long and probably won’t offer the accuracy you’re looking for.
This video by Elk101, provides excellent ideas for creating affordable homemade targets.
How to Choose the Right Targets
Not sure of which archery target to purchase? Consider the following factors that help to narrow down your options:
Purpose
One of the things you’ll want to think about is how you intend to use the archery target. This will help you determine the specific type of target to go for.
For instance, if you’re a hunter who is looking to improve your crossbow shooting skills, then a 3D target is the best option. However, if you want a simple model for general target practice sessions, then bag or block targets are a better choice.
While you consider the intended application, also think about the type of bow that you have. Not every archery target can work with all kinds of bows. Some can only work with a compound bow and yet others work specifically with recurve.
Arrow retrieval
The best target will let you remove arrows with ease. It can be very disappointing to shoot a target only to spend the next half hour trying to retrieve it. Not only does this interfere with your flow but it can also ruin the target.
Arrow security
Apart from arrow retrieval, you’ll also want to consider arrow security. An archery target that’s made of very tough material will provide excellent durability.
But it can also cause your arrows to dull quickly, or in worst-case scenarios, get damaged. This is why it's important to invest in a target that strikes that sweet spot between firmness and durability.
Size
There are several factors that come into play here, such as portability and individual shooting skills.
If portability is a priority, then you’ll want to pick an archery target that isn’t too big so that it’s easy to carry to the field. But if you don’t mind its weight, then the other thing you should consider is your skill level.
Do you struggle to hit small targets? If you do, you may want to start with a larger target that makes it easier to aim. Once you’ve gotten the hang of it, you can then choose a smaller target to practice with.
Self-healing material
If you’ve decided to go for a block archery target, then check the type of foam that it comes with. The best models include self-healing foam that provides better durability than ordinary foam.
With the self-healing kind, the shooting surface shrinks just slightly and then regains its original shape. You won’t even notice the specific spot where the arrow hit. This trait is particularly important if you’re planning to shoot with recurve or compound bows.
Sturdiness & thickness
If what you’re after is durability, then consider choosing a target that is sturdy and thick. On that note, check whether the target contains several layers of high-density fabric, which is what increases thickness.
This is a crucial feature to consider because it determines how well it can endure the abuse from your arrows. This also determines whether the target will be able to withstand inclement weather if you’ll be leaving it outdoors.
Grommets
When you’re practicing how to shoot with an arrow, you’ll probably position the target on a tree or tabletop.
But sometimes, you may want to try different aiming techniques, forcing you to suspend the target from a tree, pole, or fence. Grommets provide a remarkably easy way to do this. So if you plan to explore different methods, check whether your target comes with grommets.
Compatibility
One other aspect you should account for is the target's compatibility with different arrows. Some targets can only work with field points whereas others work with broadheads as well.
More specifically, a bag target can only work with a field point. But foam-made and 3D targets can work with either a field point or broadhead.
FAQs
What kind of archery target is best?
The best archery target will depend on your individual needs and intended application. It should be compatible with your recurve or compound bow, be sturdy, and facilitate an easy arrow removal.
One that comes highly recommended is the Block Classic archery target. Although it’s a bit pricey, it has some pretty impressive features.
For instance, it boasts a patented open-layer design that makes it very easy to retrieve your arrows while also minimizing target shooter fatigue.
The white-on-black aiming spots are easy to spot, enabling you to aim accurately from both short and long distances. Plus, the target has a handle for easy portability.
How long do bow targets last?
The durability of an archery target depends on the specific type that you go for. More specifically, bag targets will be durable than their foam counterparts. But overall, most targets last for at least 2,000 arrow shots.
Why are archery targets so expensive?
Archery targets are pricey because of the materials used in their construction.
The material has to be sturdy and durable enough to withstand being hit multiple times by high-flying arrows. In addition to this, the target will likely be used in an outdoor setting where it’s subjected to rough conditions.
Because of this, manufacturers resort to highly-durable materials, which add to the overall cost of the target.
What type of target is the best choice for deer hunting practice?
Any 3D archery target that’s shaped like a deer will be perfect for this application. Often, these 3D targets include outlines of the animal’s essential organs. This allows a hunter to practice aiming at specific points, thus, perfecting his/her hunting skills.
What are archery targets made of?
There’s no straightforward answer to this question as it depends on the target model you pick. If you choose foam block targets, expect them to contain multiple layers of high-density foam. Conversely, bag targets often contain a filing of synthetic fiber.
Can you shoot broadheads into a bag target?
No, you can’t. The best arrows to use with bag targets are field points. If you use broadheads, there’s a good chance that they’ll end up buried in the target. Worse even, they may tear through the exterior cover of the target.
Conclusion
Finding the best archery targets can be daunting, especially because there are so many options to choose from.
Thus, the easiest way to approach this is to narrow down certain specifications. First, consider what you’ll be using the target for. Next, consider the type of arrow you’ll be using and how easy it is to remove from the target. Other factors to account for include arrow security, self-healing capabilities, size, and thickness.
One particular model that ticks most of the boxes is the Block Classic Archery Target. It does not come cheap, but it offers a stellar and long-lasting performance.
Besides, it has some nice black-on-white aiming sections, which are easy to spot from afar. It’s not too heavy and comes with a handle that makes it easy to carry around.