Whether you’re someone who just took an interest in archery or a hunter who’s been using a bow and arrow for sport for years, anyone who needs to practice archery needs an archery target.
Archery is a relaxing sport that helps with concentration, focus, and coordination and the right archery target is a great way to get even more out of it.
While a hunter might be looking for a realistic 3D model to keep up with their skills during the offseason, a casual archer might want to work on hitting small targets or find a way to have archery competitions with their friends.
Whatever you’re hoping to do with your bow and arrow, there’s an archery target that will help you do it.
Archery Target Buying Guide
Before we reveal our list of the top six archery targets of this season, we’re going to talk a little bit about what you need to look for when buying an archery target.
The very first thing you’ll need to decide is how you’re going to use it. Do you want one for the outdoors or do you have an indoor space you’d prefer to use?
Do you want to work on your precision for hunting or do you just want to have fun hitting the target? Once you know what you’re aiming for with your target, you can start to figure out which one will best suit your needs.
The Right Fit
Although there are several kinds of targets out there, each is designed for a different kind of bow and arrow. Some are meant to take the power and force of a broadhead shot by a crossbow while others are only meant to be used with light bows and field points.
Bag Targets
Bag Targets are the most common and most basic. They’re strong and durable and made to take a lot of abuse, so they’ll last a long time. They have a wide surface area and are good for beginners to learn on.
They’re typically stuffed with a synthetic material that allows the arrows to be removed easily and are designed to be used as field points. Broadheads can be really hard to remove and may even tear the outer material.
This is a basic target that can be used with almost any bow set up.
They’re mostly also best suited for indoor use as the covering is porous and could be ruined by extended time outdoors; however, there are some that have a weatherproof coating that can handle being left outdoors all the time.
They’re usually also really heavy, so carrying them from one place to another isn’t always an easy thing to do.
Foam Layer Block Targets
Best for use with light bows, these targets are durable, portable, and lightweight. Friction brings the arrow to a stop as it enters the multiple layers of foam, which will prevent the tips from breaking.
The foam itself can be damaged if it’s used with a heavy bow or broadhead arrow as they have a little too much power and could rip the foam. These are great for outdoor use because of their portability.
Usually, they will have a sturdy handle to carry them from place to place along with metal lined holes so you can easily hang them from a branch.
3D Practice Targets
3D Practice Targets are for use with a compound bow and are one of the best ways for a bowhunter to practice. They’re made of foam and come in the shape of almost any animal species you can think of.
They will often have the organs of the animals mapped out on them so that the hunter can learn where to best land the arrow for a swift and painless kill. Broadhead arrows are again a bit too much for this target as they can tear the foam.
One good thing about these, though, is you can usually replace part of the foam if it gets damaged.
Durability
Since the point of an archery target is for it to be shot hundreds and hundreds of time, one of the most important features it can have is durability. It has to be able to stand up to being pierced by an arrow repeatedly.
If you’re using a foam layer block target, it should also be strong enough to withstand the elements.
Even if you don’t leave it outside all the time, you might want to practice when it’s cold or maybe even a little windy outside so make sure your foam layer block target can withstand a bit of the elements.
Durability will also determine the kind of arrows the target will be able to take. Some targets cannot handle broadhead arrows without taking some damage. This is especially true when removing them.
Make sure you check the target you’re considering to see how easily arrows can be removed. This is just as important as it being able to withstand the piercing of the arrow in the first place because of the damage it can potentially cause.
Some targets will offer removable and replaceable foam sections so that when certain area do get worn or damaged, you can just replace the necessary section. This is an especially good quality for a 3D target to have.
They tend to be fairly expensive plus you’re basically aiming for the same places every time you use it.
This will lead to a specific area getting damaged much faster than others. Being able to replace the foam in this situation is a real money saver because you definitely won’t want to buy a new 3D target.
Color
For a bag or block target, you’ll notice that the colors are bright and contrasting. Sometimes they’re bright neon colors, other times they’re black and white.
This is to make it easier for you to see what you’re aiming for and more likely that you’ll hit it and a great way to start or just to refine your skills.
Some targets are even designed with different shooting games on them so you might see bright colored rings or dots.
Bag and foam block targets will often have a side with a graphic or 3D representation of an animal’s vital organs – heart, lungs, liver – so you can practice aiming for bow hunting.
3D Practice Targets are the color of whatever the animal is that they’re modeled on and they come in a lot of varieties; deer, boars, turkeys, bears, raccoons, even ducks, and coyotes.
While a brightly colored target will help you practice your aim, if you’re a bowhunter, it’s a good idea to practice with something that somewhat resembles what you’ll be encountering in the real world.
3D targets will also have the vital organs outlined so you can practice exactly where to hit.
Now that we know a little bit more about what to look for, here are our six best archery targets of this year.
Best Archery Target Reviews
1. Morrell Yellow Jacket YJ-380 Dual Threat Target
The Morrell Dual Threat Target will not only help you with your aim, but it’s also fun to use. It has four sides with different targets. Please note that this is a FIVE PACK option I’ve linked to, but you can also get the SINGLE option!
You and your friends can practice and compete over who it the best archer. It’s a 19” x 19” x 19” cube, so it has a lot of surface area to aim for.
It can stop arrows moving at 380 feet per second. With its intensely durable construction, it’s made to withstand not only thousands of arrows but can also be left outside during rainy weather.
It’s designed for both fieldpoint and broadhead tips.
Its one disadvantage is that it’s almost too durable. New archers might not be able to get the arrows to penetrate until they get their strength up a bit.
Pros:
- Stops arrows traveling up to 380 fps
- Handles for carrying and hanging
- Four-sided targets
- Durable
Cons:
- Not ideal for new archers
2. Rinehart Rhinoblock Target 
Designed to help you improve your accuracy, the Rinehart Rhinoblock Target is easy to see from far away and even has 3D images on the side to help with aim. Other sides of the cube have large and small targets and internal organs.
In all, there are forty target zones to aim for. It’s filled with what is called “self-healing foam” so it can take a beating. Unlike most other targets on the list, with this one, you can easily use a variety of arrows, including broadheads.
The foam inserts for the bullseyes are removable and replaceable should any damage occur.
The target is extremely durable with a rope handle for carrying and mounting holes to hang it up on branches at just the right height for you. It’s clearly visible and allows you to work on your distance shooting as well.
The side of the 3D graphic is not replaceable, though this generally won’t be a problem. The self-healing foam is very durable but for anyone who is an extremely heavy user of this, you might find some eventual wear and tear.
Pros:
- 3D images
- Large and small targets
- Self-healing foam
- Can tolerate broadhead arrows
Cons:
- Not all foam inserts are available
3. GlenDel Pre Rut Buck 3D Archery Target
This is a highly rated 3D target of a buck for anyone wanting to practice their aim before bow season.
Not only is it lifelike, it has marked vital organs to help with aim and accuracy so that when you’re out hunting, you know where to aim for a quick, clean kill shot. It can take arrows traveling up to 390 fps.
This target is designed to be the same size and hold the same presence as a 250-pound buck.
This will not only help you get used to aiming at one, but will also adjust your perception as to just how large a buck of this nature is. It’s made to take a lot of hits and won’t lose its shape.
Vital organ inserts are removable and replaceable in case the foam starts to wear.
This specific 3D target has a lot of target areas – four large ones that each correspond to a different vital organ on the deer.
The manufacturer claims it has seven times the shooting area as comparable targets, which gives you a lot of room to prepare for the season.
Pros:
- Same size as a 250-pound deer
- Four large target areas for vital organs
- Replaceable foam inserts
Cons:
- Expensive
4. Morrell Outdoor Range Field Point Bag Target
The Morrell Outdoor Range Field Point Archery Bag Target is a great choice if you want a big, heavy bag target that you can leave outdoors. It’s pretty heavy at around fifty pounds, so don’t plan on moving it around after every use. It isn’t really designed to be portable.
It has multiple different targets of different sizes so you won’t wear out any portion of the bag. There’s always a different spot to aim for. It has a really impressive surface area of 29” x 31” so you have a lot of room to practice.
It gets its durability from its patented multilayered density design, which gives an astounding 76 layers of thickness. It has a nucleus center to stop any arrow and an internal framing system that means every part of the target is solid enough to hit.
It’s designed for extended outdoor use and is 100% weatherproof so you can leave it outside and be assured that it will stand up to the weather. Some users have stated that their target had some loose staples along the bottom, but overall, this is a highly rated option from a reputable brand.
Pros:
- Large surface area
- Heavy and durable
- Weatherproof
- Can leave outside
Cons:
- Heavy
- Some complaints of loose staples
5. Morrell Yellow Jacket J350 Field Target
Able to stop field points moving up to 350 fps, the Morrell Yellow Jacket YJ350 is intended for use with crossbows and has a lot of targets to aim at.
The brightly colored design has five red circles on each side so you can work on your arrow placement. The sides with the targets are 20” squares, which is a really great size for practice.
The Yellow Jacket has a thick, durable outer cover that’s water-resistant and can withstand a lot of time outside. Inside, it has a sturdy frame and firm core which make it a lot easier for you to remove arrows from.
It has a strong handle so you can carry it to your practice area as well as two metal-rimmed holes so you can hang it on nails, tree branches, etc.
This target isn’t made to be used with broadhead arrows as they can get stuck and ruin the inside of it when trying to remove them.
Pros:
- Large, 20” square surface
- Five targets on two sides
- Durable
- Portable
Cons:
- Not to be used with broadhead arrows
6. Field Logic Block CB16 Crossbow Archery Target
Field Logic’s Block Black CB16 Crossbow Archery Target has four sides of four small but highly visible targets. It’s made of exceptionally sturdy foam that can take field tips and broadheads while still making it easy to pull them out.
One word of caution: broadheads fired from a powerful crossbow could be difficult to remove without damaging the foam or arrow tip.
This is a really lightweight target with a convenient handle, which makes it easily portable so you can practice anywhere you have space. While the foam can handle broadhead arrows, some users report that it is very hard to remove them.
Its core is made of PolyFusion technology, which makes it durable and strong. If you can avoid damage by removing your arrows, this target should last you a long time.
Pros:
- Four sides of targets
- Can handle broadheads
- Lightweight
- Portable
Cons:
- Broadheads shot from a crossbow may cause damage when trying to remove them
- Can be hard to remove arrows
And those are our six best archery targets for this season! As you can see, whether you’re a hunter or someone who wants to start learning archery, there’s a target that will suit anyone.
Final Thoughts & Recommendations
The Morrell Double Duty 400 FPS Field Point Archery Bag Target is a large cube with a different target on each side: a dartboard, a bullseye, a nine ball game, and a vital organ diagram.
This is a fun way to practice and compete with your friends to see who has better aim. It’s portable and easy to hang or rest on any flat surface.
The Rinehart Rhinoblock Target has forty zones to aim for including various sized targets and even a 3D image of vital organs to practice for hunting.
It’s full of self-healing foam and can handle any arrow, including broadheads. It has some replaceable foam inserts so any damage that occurs is easily fixed.
If you’re a hunter looking for a way to keep your aim up during the offseason, then the Field Logic Glendel Pre Rut Buck 3D Archery Target is worth a closer look.
It has a large target area with areas for each vital organ with replaceable foam inserts so you can continue to practice for a long time.
For a large, bag target that heavy and durable, try the Morrell Outdoor Range Field Point Archery Bag Target. It’s got a huge surface area – 29” x 31’ – so it will wear slowly because there are so many places to aim.
It’s made for extended outdoor use and it 100% weatherproof with 76 layers of thickness. At fifty pounds, this one will stay where you put it and remain solid and reliable.
For a smaller, more portable outdoor option, try the Morrell Yellow Jacket YJ350 Field Point Target. It has a lot of targets to aim at and has a thick, durable cover.
Its thick handle makes it easy to carry and the mounting holes make it easy to place wherever you need it to be.
The Field Logic Block Black CB16 Crossbow Archery Target is made of sturdy foam. It has four sides with small, highly visible targets so there’s plenty of places to aim.
Its PolyFusion core makes it really durable. It can be hard to remove some arrows from it, but for light bows and arrows, it shouldn’t give you any problem and will last a long time.
There are a lot of different kinds of archery targets and finding out what one is best for you truly depends on how you’re going to use it.
You can build your own or invest in a high-quality professional target. If you’re a hunter, a 3D archery target will help keep you sharp and precise during the offseason.
If you’re just starting out in archery or if you just want to have a little fun, there are a lot of different options to pick from.
You can find targets that can sit outside all year round, facilitate a game between you and your friends, or help you figure out how to aim for a vital organ. Consider what you want to do with your bow and arrow then find the target that will best help you get there.