Finding the Best Archery Target for You

We're embarking on an exciting journey to find the best archery target today.

Archery is an excellent hobby in which you shoot arrows at a target with a bow.

A good target is necessary if you want to practice and improve as an archer.

​Now, let's explore what makes a target the ideal option!

Why does the Right Target Matter?

Selecting the appropriate target is crucial to becoming a great archer.

As the saying goes, practice makes perfect!

And the only way to practice is if you have a target.

One thing that beginners might not realize is that different types of archery targets are better for different types of archery.

Some targets are great for shooting with a traditional bow, while others are better for compound bows.

Some archery targets are great for shooting with hunting broadheads, while others will simply fall apart if you do that.

Knowing which type of target is right for your situation is the key to having a long lasting archery target.

Types of Archery Targets

There are several types of targets to choose from:

• Foam Layer Blocks: These targets are like big, squishy blocks. They are lightweight and portable. Arrows lodge in them with ease and can be pulled out easily. These targets are also the least expensive so they can work well for archers on a budget. The flip side of that is Foam Layer targets are also the smallest targets which can make them a little difficult for complete beginners to use.

• Bag Targets: Bag targets are like giant pillows filled with stuff that stops arrows. They are very durable and great for carrying a lot of arrows. Their big size makes bag targets ideal for beginners who aren’t very accurate yet or intermediate archers using a recurve that want to shoot from a longer range without losing arrows. Unfortunately, the big size of bag targets makes them difficult to move around. Another downside to bag targets is that they aren’t good for shooting with broadheads, most only work well with field points.

• 3D Targets: Due to their realistic animal appearance, these targets are fantastic! They are excellent for simulating hunting scenarios. 3D targets come in all sorts of shapes and sizes to represent different animals. The most common 3D targets are deer and elk. Some 3D targets have a removable section that you aim at so you only have to replace part of the 3D target.

What Makes a Target the 'Best'?

The ideal archery target is long-lasting, visible from a distance, and doesn't break arrows.

Furthermore, it should be simple to remove your arrows from. But the ‘Best’ target will vary from archer to archer.

For a bowhunter, a Foam Layer target (or some hybrid of this) is going to be best because it’s easy to transport to a hunting camp and practice right before a hunt.

On top of that, Foam Layer targets handle broadheads the best, so you can tune your setup to shoot well with the actual broadheads you want to use on your hunt.

Anyone who shoots a recurve bow can appreciate a giant bag target and that might be the best for that type of archer because it has the most room for error.

It should also be enjoyable to shoot at, of course!

Taking Care of Your Target

Once you’ve decided which type of archery target you want to go with, you still have to take care of it to make it last.

And to get the most out of your archery target, you have to take care of it.

The biggest thing you can do to make your target last is to keep it out of the sun as much as possible!

UV rays from the sun will disintegrate your target faster than anything else you can throw at it.

For most archers, this is going to mean bringing your target inside every time after you go shoot.

The only real exception to this is with Bag targets.

Because they’re so heavy and somewhat difficult to move around, there are covers you can buy to keep them out of the sun when you’re not using them without having to drag them inside.

These covers also help protect against the second thing that will destroy your target: Moisture.

Keeping your target as dry as possible is a must.

Moisture isn’t quite as bad for your target as sunlight is, but it’s still going to break it down in the long run.

The worst thing you can do is shoot your target while it’s wet!

This will damage your target faster and cut its life down significantly.