Tutorial: How to choose your target?

Winter is almost over and Spring season is just around the corner. Now is the time to find the ideal target for you!

We covered the bases and pros & cons for you:


Portable targets:

Best choice if you just want the opportunity to shoot some arrows safely in your backyard. They come in either a bag type or a block type and are easy to carry. The portables have got some cool bright colored targets printed on it. This makes them a great training tool and a must-have for every archer that doesn’t have the space for a full target range at home. It’s perfect to take with you while travelling as well!

• Avalon Tec targets
• Field Logic Black Hole
• Delta McKenzie Chunk Mo Foam

Pro’s:

• Easy to carry.
• Can be used in smaller spaces.
• The foam or fabric used is gentle for your arrows.
• Different targets printed on the block or bag.

Cons:

• Limited in size.
• Bag targets can be heavy.

Layered foam targets:

These targets come premade with a wooden frame or loose in packs to build your own target wall. They are best combined with a target stand. Ideal to shoot blank bale or to add a target face on it.
-Layered foam target

• Avalon Pack Band target
• Target Tech Banded target
• Target Tech EROS target

-Layered foam strips

• Avalon layered foam strips
• Target Tech EROS layered foam strips

Pros:

• Available in small & large sizes.
• Foam is gentle for your arrows.
• Straps make it easy to replace the foam.
• Can be shot at it standing alone or by using a target stand.

Cons:

• Large size (130cm) is heavy and difficult to maneuver.
• For some of them the wood needs to be treated when leaving them outside.

Foam targets:

These come in different sizes with or without interchangeable centers. Targets without interchangeable centers are disposable after usage. Those with interchangeable centers are convenient for archery clubs as it is easy and cheap to only change the centers instead of the whole target. These targets are perfectly weather resistant, so no need to store them after every use and great for outdoor archery.


-Foam targets without interchangeable center:

• Avalon targets in foam
• REFO targets in foam
• Fawofield foam tagets

Pros:

• Available in different sizes and thicknesses or densities.
• Targets for leisure use as well as competition use and everything in between.
• Great all-round targets.

Cons:

• Disposable targets: when worn out you need to replace the complete target.
• The larger sizes can be difficult to maneuver.

-Foam targets with center

• Avalon target with single center  
• Avalon target with multi center
• Danage Domino target

Pros:

• Long-lasting targets worth the investment.
• Foam is gentle for your arrows.
• Very easy to replace the center or part.

Cons:

• Pricy.

Straw targets:

Straw targets are very durable and economical. They have a traditional look and therefore are mostly used by traditional archers.

• Egertec straw bosses
• Karphos stramit targets

Pros:

• Sustainable.
• Economical.
• Traditional look.

Cons:

• Quite heavy.
• Material not gentle for your arrows.

3D targets:

 

Perfect to prepare yourself for hunting season, train your 3D skills or simply have fun shooting different shapes of targets. These are mostly life-sized targets to help gain perspective and experience shooting at spots not marked by bull’s-eyes. They come as wildlife or are phantasy-based, making it a lot of fun. These targets can be more expensive. Some of them can handle broadheads and do offer replaceable inserts for their “vitals” section. A 3D target can also help you evaluate your shot placement to ensure clean & ethical shots.

• Small 3D targets
• Medium 3D targets
• Large 3D targets
• Extra Large 3D targets

Pros:

• 3D targets offer variation and are fun to shoot.
• Wide range of targets available.
• Available in small size and life sized large targets.

Cons:

• Large models can be pricy.