Home > Outdoor > Hunt / Fish

The Best Archery Targets of 2023

Practice never makes perfect, even in bowhunting. However, a lack of practice will almost guarantee failure in the field.

Practicing archery target shooting(Photo/Josh Kirchner)
Support us! GearJunkie may earn a small commission from affiliate links in this article. Learn More

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


Best Overall Archery Target

Rinehart Targets RhinoBlock

Specs

  • Height 16″
  • Width 13″
  • Depth 13″
  • Material Rinehart’s trademarked solid, self-healing foam
The Best Archery Targets of 2023(Photo/Rinehart)

Pros

  • Durable
  • Versatile layout (two 3D sides and four with dots)
  • Great for lowlight practice

Cons

  • Can be hard to pull arrows
Best Budget Archery Target

BlackOut 4-Sided Layered Foam

Specs

  • Height 18″
  • Width 16″
  • Depth 11″
  • Material High-density layered foam
The Best Archery Targets of 2023(Photo/Cabela’s)

Pros

  • Affordable
  • Field point and broadhead capable
  • Fairly lightweight at 10.5 lbs.

Cons

  • Not the most durable with broadheads
Most Versatile Archery Target

365 Archery High-Performance Trio Target System

Specs

  • Height 18, 24, 36, and 48"
  • Width N/A
  • Depth 10"
  • Material Self-healing foam
The Best Archery Targets of 2023(Photo/Scheels)

Pros

  • 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

Cons

  • Lacks a bit in durability and the core actually crumbles over time with a lot of use
Best 3D Archery Target

Field Logic GlenDel Full Rut Buck 3D Target

Specs

  • Height 62″
  • Width 14"
  • Depth 14"
  • Material Foam (Open Layered PolyFusion Technology)
The Best Archery Targets of 2023(Photo/Field Logic)

Pros

  • Lifelike and life-size
  • Replaceable and rotating core
  • For all skill levels
  • Easy arrow removal

Cons

  • Doesn’t hold up well in the sun
Most Portable Archery Target

Rinehart Targets 18-1 Portable Archery Target

Specs

  • Height 15″
  • Width 15″
  • Depth 15″
  • Material Trademarked solid, self-healing foam
The Best Archery Targets of 2023(Photo/Rinehart)

Pros

  • Long-lasting
  • Easy for travel
  • 18 different shooting sides

Cons

  • Can be hard to pull arrows
Best Bag Archery Target

Morrell Yellow Jacket Supreme 3 Field Point Target

Specs

  • Height 25″
  • Width 25″
  • Depth 12″
  • Material Weather-resistant textile
The Best Archery Targets of 2023(Photo/Morrell Targets)

Pros

  • Affordable
  • Easy transport
  • Great for beginners
  • Weather resistant

Cons

  • Field points only (cannot shoot broadheads)
Best of the Rest

Field Logic Block 6 x 6

Specs

  • Height 18″
  • Width 18″
  • Depth 16″
  • Material PolyFusion Layered Foam Technology
The Best Archery Targets of 2023(Photo/Field Logic)

Pros

  • Can use field points and broadheads
  • Six sides for shooting
  • Layered foam aids in easy arrow removal

Cons

  • Will start to shed chunks from shooting broadheads

Morrell High Roller

Specs

  • Height 13″
  • Width 13″
  • Depth 13″
  • Material Morrell high roller foam
The Best Archery Targets of 2023(Photo/Morrell Targets)

Pros

  • 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.)

Cons

  • The target is red, so will leave a nice red mess on the ground from pulling broadheads out

Delta McKenzie Big 8 Archery Target

Specs

  • Height 16″/20"
  • Width 15″/18"
  • Depth 13″/13"
  • Material High-density urethane foam
The Best Archery Targets of 2023(Photo/Delta McKenzie)

Pros

  • Very durable
  • Highly visible aiming spots
  • Can use both field tips and broadheads

Cons

  • Can be hard pulling out field-tipped arrows

Archery Targets Comparison Table

Archery TargetsPriceHeightWidthDepthMaterial
Rinehart Targets RhinoBlock$23516″13″13″Rinehart’s trademarked solid, self-healing foam
BlackOut 4-Sided Layered Foam$55-8518″16″11″High-density layered foam
365 Archery High-Performance
Trio Target System
$150-37018-48″N/A10″Self-healing foam
Field Logic GlenDel Full Rut
Buck 3D Target
$26562″14″14″Foam (Open Layered PolyFusion Technology)
Rinehart Targets 18-1 Portable$16515″15″15″Solid, self-healing foam
Morrell Yellow Jacket Supreme
3 Field Point Target
$8025″25″12″Weather-resistant textile
Field Logic Block 6 x 6$11218″18″16″PolyFusion Layered Foam Technology
Morrell High Roller$13013″13″13″Morrell high roller foam
Delta McKenzie Big 8 Archery Target (16″)$18916″/20″15″/18″13″/13″High-density urethane foam
Long-range bowhunting
(Photo/Josh Kirchner)

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.

hunting arrows
(Photo/Josh Kirchner)

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

Archery target Rinehart
(Photo/Josh Kirchner)

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.

Archery target size
(Photo/Josh Kirchner)

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.

Bowhunting
(Photo/Josh Kirchner)

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

What archery targets last the longest?

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.

What is an archery target made of?

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.

Can I shoot a broadhead into my target?

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.

Do targets dull broadheads?

Technically, yes. However, this dulling is very minimal.

Can I shoot my target with a crossbow?

You’ll have to check the specs of your target. There are some targets that are crossbow capable, like the High-Performance Trio Target System from 365 Archery. Targets that are rated for crossbows have to be rated for speeds north of 350 fps.

How far should I stand from an archery target?

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.

Is a bag target better than a foam target?

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.


Subscribe Now

Sign up to receive GearJunkie content direct to your inbox.

Subscribe Now

Sign up to receive GearJunkie content direct to your inbox.