The Best Archery Targets of 2025

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.

Writer Morgan Nowels is also obsessed with bowhunting and moonlights as a bow tech a few Saturdays a month at a well-established shop in Nashville, TN. That gives him the unique opportunity to talk shop with some of the best in the business and gather insights from others who have built their careers around archery.

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.

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.

Materials

Most archery targets fall into three material categories: bags, stacked foam, and high density foam. There are tradeoffs of all three.

Bag targets are pretty inexpensive, but are not compatible with broadheads. However, many are quite large and are excellent for long-distance shooting on a budget. Or, if you plan on shooting at small 3D targets like the Rinehart Signature Coyote 3D Archery Target at a distance, bag targets are nice to have kicking around to place behind it. It could save you from losing a few arrows.

Stacked foam targets are also friendly on the wallet, but they simply will not hold up long term to consistent use. You can shoot broadheads at them, but that will shorten the lifespan even more. The stacked foam layers will start to get cut to pieces and fall out. Over time, the whole target will collapse on itself. With budget being the biggest selling point, these targets are best for archers who plan on shooting occasionally and will only shoot broadheads for a few reps before heading out on a hunt.

High-density foam is the most expensive and offers the best overall performance. Every brand has its own special foam formula, but they all work much the same. The high density allows the targets to take more hits from field points and broadheads alike. If you need the ultimate in durability, its the only way to go. And over the course of multiple seasons, you end up saving money.

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 you 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 topple 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.

Removable/Replaceable Cores

Some archery targets have a removable and replaceable core. In the case of standard targets, like the 365 Archery High-Performance Trio Target System, that means you get two targets in one. You can purchase it in the larger size for long-range shooting in your backyard, but pack up the core in the bed of the truck for hunting camp.

Almost all 3D targets have a removable core, and you should shy away from any that don’t. If you’re doing things right, most of your shots will land in the core, and after a few seasons of shooting, you can keep the “bones” of the target and swap out the core for a much more reasonable price.

Usually targets with removable cores are more expensive, but being able to replace the most heavily shot portion will extend the life of it drastically.

Price and Value

If you’re new to the sport, the price of archery targets can seem steep. Is it really worth it to drop that kind of coin on something you’re going to shoot to pieces? Can you get by with the cheap target you’ve been eyeing? Is the dude at the archery shop just trying to make a high-dollar sale? This section is here to answer those questions.

Budget Targets

Budget targets are available for prices below $80. Every target in this price range is going to be a bag target or a stacked foam target. If you plan on hunting, skip the bag target and opt for the BlackOut 4-Sided Layered Foam target. Bag targets aren’t broadhead compatible, and you’ll have to shoot broadheads before the season to ensure your broadheads and field points are hitting in the same spot.

But, bag targets are fairly large, and offer decent durability. If you’re on a budget and want the safety net a large target gives you at long range, a bag is a good option.

Neither will be as durable as more expensive targets. With mildly consistent shooting, neither of these types of targets will get you through a calendar year. But if you plan on shooting a month or two out of the year, its a no brainer to go budget.

Mid Tier Targets

For $110-$250 you can get a target that’s the cream of the crop, like the Rinehart Targets RhinoBlock. In this price category, you can get high density foam targets that will take hard hitting field points and broadheads.

Most targets in this range will stand up to consistent shooting and many are multi-sided. When you shoot out one side, rotate the target, and boom, you’ve got a new one. You can even find some budget 3D targets like the Rinehart Signature Coyote 3D Archery Target. That particular target is very high quality, but stays in the mid-tier price range due to it’s small size. Other cheaper 3D targets that fall in this price range may be larger, but won’t feature a removable core, which is a big drawback.

Speaking of size, the only thing lacking in mid tier targets is just that. High density foam is expensive to make, so to stay in this price point, targets have to be smaller. If you want to shoot long distance at a durable or 3D target, you’re going to have to fork over some more money.

Premium Targets

For over $300 you can get awesome life like 3D targets with removable cores, and huge standard targets like the largest of the 365 Archery High-Performance Trio Target System.

If you want to comfortably shoot at distances of 80 plus yards and have a target that will withstand not only your arrows, but the elements as well, this is the way to go.

Even if you don’t plan on consistently shooting at ultra long distances, a large target is really nice to have when sighting in your bow. Setting a 60 yard pin gets a bit sketchy when shooting at a tiny block with a pin that hasn’t been set yet.

However, if you don’t have a dedicated shooting range, you won’t have a realistic use for these targets. But for those looking to set up the ultimate backyard course, get yourself some 3D deer and a massive block target for fun long range shooting.

FAQ