It’s about putting in the reps, and the only way to do that is by having a good archery target. Something that can withstand the constant abuse you’re about to inflict on it.
We’re the type who aims to shoot their bow every single day of the week. Bending the limbs back is one of our ultimate passions. So, you might say we’ve gotten pretty good at destroying archery targets through the years. That means we’ve got a clear picture of what makes a good target. We need something that is both durable and practical for our goals.
If you still want to learn more about picking out the right archery target for you, as well as some practice routines for when you do find a target, be sure to check out our Buyers Guide, FAQ, and comparison chart.
The Best Archery Targets of 2023
Most Versatile Archery Target
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Versatile target that can be used for shooting in the backyard, long-range, and good for travel -
Replaceable core -
Can handle crossbows as well as compound bows
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Lacks a bit in durability and the core actually crumbles over time with a lot of use
Best Bag Archery Target
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Affordable -
Easy transport -
Great for beginners -
Weather resistant
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Field points only (cannot shoot broadheads)
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Portable -
Can use both field points and broadheads -
Weather resistant -
Resembles dice, so can make up archery practice drills. Roll the die. Whatever number it lands on is how many arrows you have to shoot into the bullseye! (We’re just spitballing here.)
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The target is red, so will leave a nice red mess on the ground from pulling broadheads out
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Very durable -
Highly visible aiming spots -
Can use both field tips and broadheads
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Can be hard pulling out field-tipped arrows
Archery Targets Comparison Table
Why You Should Trust Us
Some people are into cars, and some are into football. GearJunkie contributor Josh Kirchner’s thing is bowhunting. He eats, sleeps, and breathes it every day of his life — and has been for the better part of a decade.
In order to suss out the best archery targets in the game, these were tested in a variety of different conditions, with both field points and broadheads (where applicable), at a short distance and at a long distance, over a period of up to a year. In other words, the coals were poured with thousands and thousands of arrows.
When testing a target, we’re intentionally looking to make it fail. Arrow after arrow will be shot into the same spot to see what the result is, even with broadheads (and a variety of them at that). We’ll also leave it out in the yard for extended periods of time to see how it handles getting sun-baked, rained on, etc., and if the performance changes. Josh is a traveling bow hunter too, so he always brings a target with him.
In addition to personal experience, we’ve also considered the experience of others around us as well as what the top-selling archery targets were at the time of writing this, with various price points in mind.
The archery targets listed will do well in a wide range of homes and hunting camps.
Buyers Guide: How to Choose an Archery Target
We’re all a little different with archery. Some of us are the more casual, pick-your-bow-up-once-a-year types, and others count arrows in their sleep rather than sheep. In order to get the best archery target for you and your specific needs, there are a few key factors to consider.
Price and Durability
The biggest factors that come to mind first with archery targets are far and away price and durability. We are with black-and-white intention beating this thing up, putting holes in it over and over again. With that being said, some targets are rather expensive. Whichever route you go, we think, is a reflection of your habits. How often are you planning on shooting?
If it’s only ever so often, then a more affordable target will likely do just fine. If you’re a shoot-your-bow-every-day kind of person, getting a more affordable target will send you right back to the store sooner than later. The bottom line is: less expensive targets aren’t nearly as durable.
Size
The size of an archery target needs to be taken into consideration too. And there are a few reasons for that. Is this going to be a target that you take on the road? If so, a smaller target will be a better fit, quite literally. Another is, are you planning to shoot long-range with it? If the answer is yes, a bigger target would be better suited, giving you more room for error.
Remember, the further back we stand, the smaller a target gets. This will make aiming even harder. And then, of course, there are medium-sized targets that are a kind of jack-of-all-trades.
Weight
Some targets are more lightweight, and others are pretty dang heavy. A target that weighs more is inherently going to be sturdier. A lighter target, while more portable, will have a larger reaction when an arrow hits it. It could swivel and even top over, depending on the design.
It’s not fun having to readjust a target repeatedly with each shot. On the flip side, targets that weigh more can handle more. They are also far less portable though. It’s a give-and-take. Err on the side of take, depending on your needs.
Do You Need to Shoot Broadheads?
Not all archery targets are broadhead capable, and that’s fine. Just know that when jumping into this. Consider your needs here. If you’re a bow hunter and need the ability to test fixed-blade broadhead flight, then you 100% need a target that can handle that. But, if you’re not planning on hunting or shooting your broadheads in practice, then you don’t need to pony up the extra dough for a target that can eat broadheads.
Visibility
“Aim small, miss small.” This is a common phrase in the shooting world, and it carries well right into the archery space. All of these targets, besides the 3D, have dots to aim at. The color and size of those dots will have an impact on how well you can aim. Smaller dots encourage more precision but are harder to stay locked on at longer distances. Larger dots don’t cater as much to precision but are great for longer ranges because they’re more visible. And the color of the dot matters as well.
This is more personal than anything. For us, we’ve noticed that it’s harder to aim at a lighter-colored dot than it is a darker one. Your sight pin color comes into play here. A green pin will be harder to aim at a green dot.
3D Is Fantastic for Bowhunting Prep
We’ll say the number one way to get prepared for archery season is by shooting 3D targets. It’s one thing to aim at a dot; it’s quite another to pick a spot like you will have to do on an animal.
We strongly suggest that bow hunters out there have at least one 3D target that they can practice with. It’ll let you “act like you’ve been there” when that buck is finally standing in front of you come season. Not to say that 3D targets aren’t for those who don’t hunt, but let’s call a duck a duck or, we should say, a deer.
FAQ
Foam cube targets like the Rinehart Targets RhinoBlock are going to last the longest. With that being said, they are also going to be harder to pull arrows out of. These targets can last anywhere from a year to years, depending on how much you shoot them.
Most archery targets are made of either polyurethane foam or layered foam. Bag targets are often filled with random things like cardboard, cloth rags, and foam scraps.
Yes and no. There are specific targets designed to handle broadheads and some that aren’t. Make sure that your target is broadhead capable before sending one downrange.
Technically, yes. However, this dulling is very minimal.
This is all dependent on your skill level as an archer. Most people will start out learning to shoot at 5-10 yards and work their way up from there. A good baseline is 20 yards, and it’s what most folks practice in their backyard. More skilled archers will shoot targets well past 100 yards.
Bag targets are great for backyard practice with field points but lack the ability to shoot broadheads into them. They’re also fairly affordable. Foam targets are more expensive but are usually broadhead capable. So, to answer the question, it depends on what your motivations are. If you need to shoot broadheads, then a foam target is going to be better for you.
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