by Jackson | May 1, 2017 | Reviews
The top reasons that you need to have the best archery target you can get your hands on is to protect your arrows, make sure the arrows get stopped, and has a long target life. These sound simple and I’m sure that most targets will do this for a couple of arrows, but let’s say you shoot 10 arrows a day for a year. That’s 3,650 arrows into one target every year! Even if you shoot half that or less most targets that seem OK at first glance may not hold up to this level of use, especially if you want to shoot more than 10 arrows a day. Most of my acquaintances from backgrounds in archery and bow hunting agree that most of the time, you get what you pay for with targets. It is far better to buy a more premium target as your first archery target so that you can get used to shooting at the same target continuously, at the same time getting more mileage out of it and ultimately saving money.
Archery targets
First, a few tips on caring for your target.
- Sun and weather can make your target wear down much quicker. If you can’t put it somewhere covered, at least try to put a tarp on it. That being said, a couple of weeks here and there in harsher elements shouldn’t have too much of an impact on your target if it is well made.
- Keep your archery targets away from pets or animals, especially dogs! I learned that one by experience. I am amazed what can be done in one minute by two teething Labrador Retrievers.
- Don’t use broadheads when practicing with a target, broadheads are designed to tear and will greatly decrease the life of your target. Be sure to use practice arrowheads if possible.
Now on to the best archery targets
The 5 Best Archery Targets
The two big things with targets are stopping power and how easy it is to pull out your arrows. This target does both very well. It’s only made for target points, but don’t let that stop you because this block will hold up for years of use. This one comes in white and yellow with different shoot able sides and faces. I found the link for the yellow one. This target is pretty big and heavy at 19 inches on each side and 32 pounds, you shouldn’t lose it. Priced around $70-100, this is an excellent target.
Shoot the hurricane! This bag target does a great job of stopping arrows and letting you pull them out without much effort. A bag target normally does better with a stand, but this one still seems to do very well on its own. The burlap type material will eventually wear out, but it’s going to take a lot of use to get to that point. The target has a set of deer vitals on the back to double the life of the target. Priced around $50, you get a great target that should last for years.
This is the target that I use at home. I love shooting the block. This is a combination target which means that it can handle field points and broad heads. You can shoot all 4 sides and the black and white gives you a nice high contrast to focus on. The only downside is that these types of targets grip the arrow tighter to be able to handle broad heads. Broadheads can even rip the foam out of the target, but they can do that to any target. A solid target that will last for a very long time. Priced around $115 -130, you get a great target for the money.
A classic foam layered target that stops arrows through friction, this target has great stopping power. This block is just a bit smaller and lighter than the others so if a heavy target is a problem, then this is the solution. I originally started out shooting a foam layered target and have always had a good experience. This one is no different. If you’re shooting a heavyweight high-speed bow, this one might move a bit. Priced around $70-200, this target works well for all ages
Designed as a broadhead target, this block gives you 18 different spots to shoot at. This one will grip your arrow very tightly to stop broadheads fast. I love the angled corners because you need that if you’re going to be shooting from an elevated position. A lot of people have gotten them with blurry painting so heads up. This target does exactly what it was designed for, stopping broad heads. Priced around $110-150 for an arrow stopping machine.
Shooting a good target makes archery more fun and enjoyable. You’ll get more fun out of your time shooting when you have a target that stops your arrows, lasts a long time, and it’s easy to get your arrows back.
by Jackson | Apr 7, 2014 | Archery Accessories
You can have a lot more fun when you get to add some variety to your shooting targets. When I started shooting at my house, I had The Block to shoot at. That was great and I was very happy and only shooting for a short time every couple of days. The excitement of shooting for the same diamond most times wore off after a couple of months and even shooting at the deer vitals on the other side was helpful, but it wasn’t enough.
Printable targets
Then I found printable targets
I wasn’t too sure about the idea of printable targets when I first heard of them, but I thought I’d take a look anyways. I’ve always been a bit skeptical so it’s just my nature. So I took a look and ever since then, I’ve actually been pretty sold on them. I need variety in what I shoot and that’s part of the reason I love 3D shooting courses. You can’t always have your own 3d shooting course so having different targets to shoot at comes in right after that.
40 Pack Animal Printable Targets
I like hunting and I needed to practice, but all I had was a block target and my backyard. These printable targets where just the ticket for getting to feel like I was hunting and being able to practice at the same time. You get 10 game animal hunting targets that are each on one page. Then, you get the same 10 animal targets that are blown up images and can be printed off on multiple pages. It’s a great way to practice on a different shooting target while having fun. Priced at $3, you’ll be paying a few pennies per target after the first printing.
How about shooting zombies?
The other cool thing about printable targets is that you don’t have to just shoot a circle or a deer. You can get creative and have a lot more things to shoot. Take zombies for instance. With the zombie craze going on, you might as well practice shooting zombies. You’ll have a lot of fun shooting at them instead of a circle or square.
20 Pack Zombie Shooting Targets
These zombies are a lot of fun to shoot. You get to shoot them on single pages or you can print off the large image on multiple pages to make them more life-like. Priced at $3, they’re a great deal of fun since you can print them off for years to come.
Buy the 70 Pack Animal and Zombie Target Combo for only $5
So, my thoughts on printable targets is that they are very useful when you need variety, get bored easily, or need cheap targets. There’s really nothing that fits that bill besides these.
by Jackson | Mar 17, 2014 | Reviews
When you choose to go hunting, you can greatly increase your success by practicing with a life-size 3D target. Shooting 3D archery targets helps you to know the exact location you need to hit and you can try as many shots that you can think of to make your chance of a successful hunt much higher.
All that being said, 3D targets are considerably more expensive than a block target. When I joined an archery club, I was able to shoot all their 3D targets and that gave me a chance to try out several different ones and see what I liked about them. Most of these aren’t shipped in packaging so if it’s a long delivery, they can get the paint rubbed pretty good.
All the 3D targets are made from foam. They are made to be destroyed, seriously, you’re going to shoot at it until it falls apart. They are also not as strong and as big most of the time as you think. You can still have a great experience with them, they just are normally more fragile on the legs. They are only made to be shot at in the core areas, not thrown or dragged around. Take care of your target so that it lasts longer and makes the experience more enjoyable.
 The best 3D archery targets
Field Logic Glendel Pre Rut Buck 3D Archery Target – The Glendel buck is a monster. A huge, sturdy version of a 250+ pound buck. You get a big foam target that has a huge replaceable vital area. What’s neat about the vital area is that it is both removable and multi-sided. This means you can shoot several sides of the foam core before you have to replace it. There have been shipping issues so just make sure to check the contents once they arrive. Priced around $190 for the target and a replacement core costs about $45. You shouldn’t need a replacement for a long time though.
Field Logic Shooter Buck 3D Archery Target – This is the best less expensive 3D target. For $90 you get a good smaller size deer that stands up to plenty of use and has the great feature of a replaceable vital core area. The replacement core is $30 so you can buy a few of these for the cost of the best archery targets. This is a great deer to shoot and works for most people if they just need a good deer to shoot at.
Rinehart Tom Turkey
– There’s more to hunt than deer. This tom turkey isn’t strutting around, but the size is good and with multiple angle vital markings, you can practice all the different shots you’ll need to successfully harvest a turkey. This is a good value and very helpful if you’ll be doing any small game animal hunting. Priced around $130 and worth checking out.
Delta boar target
-Shooting feral hogs and wild boars can easily be tested with this target. This Delta target is heavy-duty and definitely worth the price. It will hold up for a long time and take a lot of shots. There are no replaceable parts, but it will hold up to plenty of shooting. Priced around $450, it will be a good investment.
Mckenzie 20125 Aim-Rite Bear
– This is a small bear target, but it will really help you get set up for a real one. The vitals blend into the target helping you prepare for the real things. It’s a great price if you’re looking for a large target and not animal specific. The “self-healing” foam helps the target look nicer for a longer time. Priced around $180, it’s a great value, plus it has a replaceable insert if you need it.
Shooting a 3D target is a huge benefit and definitely worth looking into. If you don’t try them for hunting, you will definitely see them in many archery competitions.
