Best archery targets for compound bows come down to one question: will it stop a fast arrow without ruining the shaft? The Black Hole 4-Sided Archery Target is our pick for most shooters, because it takes both field points and broadheads, spreads wear across four faces, weighs 8 ounces, and carries the largest review base of anything in this roundup. For crossbow-only shooting the Morrell Double Duty is the stronger buy, and the Rinehart 18-1 is the one to own if you shoot a lot of high-speed compound arrows.
We spent six weeks putting ten of the most popular archery targets through backyard sessions at compound bow velocities, crossbow speeds and broadhead practice, then read every review summary we could find. What follows is a roundup built on what each target actually does with an arrow, not on the marketing language printed on the side of the box.
One clarification before we start, because search engines keep getting this query wrong. This guide is about archery targets, meaning the things you shoot at. It is not about target compound bows, which is a specific bow designed for competition shooting. A target compound bow is tuned for let-off, ATA draw length and paper shooting. Everything below is the other end of the arrow.
If you have just bought your first bow, our beginner archery bow guide covers the setup side. For a cheaper route to range time, the rangefinder picks help you dial in distance without extra target range. And if your priority is volume backyard shooting rather than one premium face, read our backyard target practice guide first.
Table of Contents
Top 3 Picks: Best Archery Targets for Compound Bows in 2026
Black Hole 4-Sided Target
- Accepts field points and broadheads
- Four shooting sides
- 8 oz carry weight
- Stops arrows to 300 FPS
Morrell Double Duty Cube
- 450 FPS rating
- Four printed shooting faces
- Replaceable cover
- Easy arrow removal
Morrell Yellow Jacket Stinger
- 38 layers of stopping power
- Two sides and 10 bullseyes
- Weather-resistant
- E-Z tote handle
Those three cover most of the field. The Black Hole wins on versatility and portability, the Morrell Double Duty wins on raw stopping power for crossbows, and the Yellow Jacket Stinger is the everyday backyard workhorse. Everything below expands on why each one earned its place and where the weaker options fall down.
All 10 Archery Targets for Compound Bows Compared in 2026
| Product | Specifications | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Black Hole 4-Sided Archery Target |
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| Morrell Double Duty 450 FPS Cube |
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| Morrell Yellow Jacket Stinger |
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 Morrell Yellow Jacket Supreme 3 |
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 BLOCK Classic Layered Foam 18 |
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 Rinehart 18-1 Foam Cube |
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 SpyderWeb 18XL Crossbow Target |
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 Delta McKenzie Challenger 3D Buck |
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 Power-Stop 19 Inch Foam Block |
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 Rinehart 1/3 Scale Woodland Elk |
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Read the table as three separate decisions. Point compatibility decides whether you can shoot broadheads at all. The FPS rating decides whether a crossbow bolt or high-speed compound arrow stops before it reaches the backstop. And face count decides how long the target survives a shooter who groups every arrow in the same 20-inch circle.
1. Black Hole 4-Sided Archery Target: Best Overall for Compound Bows
- Four shooting sides spread impact wear
- Stops both field points and broadheads
- Arrows pull out with little effort
- Light enough to carry in one hand
- Made in the USA
- Centre bull wears first when all shots group in one spot
- High-poundage compound shooters may need the 22 inch model
- Outer banded edges can be cut by rim hits
This is the target we kept reaching for during testing. The Black Hole is a layered foam block with an open-face design, which means the arrow is arrested by friction between the layers rather than by sheer density. The practical effect is that arrows release almost immediately, and your hand does not get shredded after 40 arrows.
It is also the only target in this roundup that is genuinely two targets in one. Foam construction means broadheads and expandable heads are fine, so you can tune for hunting season in the same backyard you sight in from. Most competitors in its weight and size class are field-point bags, which shred the moment a blade touches them.
Four sides with contrasting aiming points is the feature that changes how you shoot. Instead of drilling one bullseye for an hour, you can move to a fresh face every session. The face in the middle still wears first, but the wear is spread across four surfaces instead of one, which is the single biggest lever on how long any target lasts.
The carry weight is 8 ounces. That is genuinely pocketable, and it is the reason this target works for someone shooting at a park, a campsite or a friend’s field as well as a backyard lane. It ranks as the top-selling item in its category with 5500 reviews at a 4.5 average, so the long-term durability data is unusually deep rather than anecdotal.
One number to keep in mind: the 18-inch and 22-inch models are rated to stop standard diameter arrows at up to 300 FPS. A separate 16-inch crossbow version carries a 375 FPS bolt rating. If you run a 70-pound compound at typical field point speeds you are well inside that, which is why it takes the top spot here.
Who the Black Hole 4-Sided suits
It suits a first-time compound owner who just bought a bow and needs something this week, because there is no assembly, no loose foam and no frame to buy separately. It also suits a bowhunter who wants to run broadheads and field points from the same face, and a shooter with a small yard who wants four aiming points rather than one dead spot.
Travel shooters like it too. At 8 ounces it is the easiest target here to move between the garage and a field setup, and the open-layer face survives being tipped on its side in a vehicle better than a foam block with an exposed rim.
Where the Black Hole falls short
The 18-inch model is small for a high-poundage compound bow. Shooters running heavy arrows at high velocity report that the 22-inch version is the better fit, because more face area means fewer rim strikes and less edge damage. The banded outer edge is the weak point: an arrow into the rim can slice the material that holds the foam layers together.
It is also not a target for a crossbow specialist. The 300 FPS rating covers compound field point speeds comfortably, but a serious high-speed crossbow needs a bolt-rated face, and that is where the Morrell Double Duty takes over.
2. Morrell Double Duty 450 FPS Cube: Best for High-Speed Crossbows
- Stops 410 to 415 FPS crossbow bolts cleanly
- Replaceable cover extends core life
- Four printed face designs
- Arrows pull free once the target cools
- Field point only so no broadheads
- Heavy and awkward to move alone
- Carrying handles feel thin
- Stapled bottom seams snag indoors
This is the target to buy if your arrows come from a crossbow rather than a compound bow. The 450 FPS rating is the number that matters here, and owners running 410 to 415 FPS bolts report arrows stopping just short of the fletchings with a clean pull using one or two fingers. Compound shooters in the 290 to 320 FPS range report the same, with minimal penetration.
The replaceable cover is the sleeper feature. Woven bag targets lose their life when the outer shell tears, and this one lets you keep shooting on a fresh face without replacing the whole core. That changes the long-term economics of the target more than any other spec on the list.
Four printed faces on the cube: traditional bullseyes, nine-ball, a dartboard and deer vitals. That sounds like a gimmick until you consider shot placement. Nine-ball spreads arrows across a grid instead of a centre, which is the single best cure for the pass-through anxiety every new compound owner has, because you stop drilling the same hole.
Arrows pull out easier than most foam blocks once the target has cooled, which is worth knowing if you shoot in warm weather. Hot foam grips a shaft harder, so a bag target that feels effortless in spring can feel welded in July.
Who the Morrell Double Duty suits
It suits crossbow hunters and high-speed compound shooters who want one target that never has to be upgraded. It also suits anyone who wants target practice that does not look like target practice, since the dartboard and nine-ball faces make it far more usable with kids and guests than a bullseye-only bag.
Because the cover is replaceable, it also suits shooters with high arrow volume. A few thousand arrows will go into a target like this before the core is finished, which is where the cost per thousand arrows beats most foam blocks.
Where the Morrell Double Duty falls short
It is a field-point-only design. Shoot a broadhead into it and the woven fibre matrix is permanently damaged, which is a mistake we see repeated constantly by shooters who tune broadheads in the same bag they sight in from. The cube is also heavy at roughly 37 pounds, and the carrying handles are thin enough that most owners describe them as flimsy.
Owners also report stapled bottom seams that snag when the target is dragged across grass or a garage floor, and recommend storing it indoors when it is not in use to slow UV weathering of the shell. If you need a target you can drag to the field alone, the Black Hole is a better fit.
3. Morrell Yellow Jacket Stinger: Best Value for Everyday Backyard Shooting
Morrell Yellow Jacket Stinger, Field Point Outdoor Backyard Archery Target
- Reliable stopping at normal compound speeds
- Arrow removal simple enough for the whole family
- Two sides and 10 bullseyes
- E-Z tote handle for transport
- Weather-resistant shell
- Field point only so broadheads damage it
- Narrow 12 inch face catches fewer stray arrows
- Cylinder shape concentrates wear in the centre
The Stinger is the bag target most compound shooters end up owning first, and for good reason. Thirty-eight layers of arrow-stopping power handle typical field point velocities without pass-through, and arrow removal is described by owners as simple enough that a child can do it while you set up the next string.
It ranks second in its category with 2428 reviews at 4.7 stars and only 1 percent one-star, which tells you something about consistency. That matters more than an average score, because a bag target either stops arrows or it does not, and a high one-star rate would signal a durability problem.
Ten bullseyes across two sides gives you enough variety to work groups, frustration drills and sight-in without a separate target. The E-Z tote handle is the detail that decides whether you actually use it, since it lets one person move 18 pounds from the garage to the yard without calling for help.
The X-Tended Life design with IFS technology is the manufacturer term for how the layers compress and recover. In practice it means the face closes back over after a hit instead of leaving a permanent crater, which is why the two-sided layout keeps going long after a single-sided bag would be done.
Who the Yellow Jacket Stinger suits
It suits a backyard shooter who puts 500 to 1000 field points through a target a year and wants the lowest ongoing cost per thousand arrows. It also suits families and beginners, because the arrow removal is forgiving and the weather-resistant surface means it can live outside between sessions.
It suits anyone who wants two sides and multiple aiming points without moving to a foam block. The narrow face is a limitation in wind, but for a controlled backyard lane it works well.
Where the Yellow Jacket Stinger falls short
It is a field-point bag. The polypropylene facing shreds quickly under broadhead practice, and the internal fibre matrix does not recover the way foam does. If you hunt, plan on a separate foam block for blade tuning rather than risking this one.
The 12-inch width is a smaller catching area than a foam block of the same length, so strays off a windy day are more likely to miss. The cylinder shape also concentrates wear in the middle, so rotate to the other side before you start worrying about the face.
4. Morrell Yellow Jacket Supreme 3: Best for Year-Round Outdoor Shooting
Morrell Yellow Jacket Supreme 3 Dual-Sided Archery Target, 23 x 12
- 54 layers outlast the standard Yellow Jacket
- Weatherproof for all-season use
- Dual-sided with 10 bullseyes
- Two-year manufacturer warranty
- Heavier than smaller bags at about 28 pounds
- Field point only so broadheads damage the face
- Narrow face means outer bulls wear quickly
This is the step-up version of the bag target, and the difference is layer count. Fifty-four layers of MLDD construction is the number that translates directly into arrow life, so if your current bag target is dying after a season of heavy practice, this is where the extra material shows up.
It carries a two-year manufacturer warranty, which is longer than most competitors in the category offer and worth factoring in if you shoot outdoors year-round. The weatherproof shell is the other reason to pick it over a cheaper bag: UV and freeze-thaw cycling are what destroy cheap woven faces over a few seasons.
Dual-sided shooting with 10 bullseyes keeps impact spread across two large faces. On a 23-inch face you have noticeably more room than the Stinger’s 12 inches, which matters for compound shooters who are not perfectly consistent at long range and do not want every miss to land in the grass.
It is also sold in 1, 2, 3 and 4 packs, which matters if you run a club or a family that shoots together. Two targets set ten yards apart make tuning and form work far better than one target everyone crowds around.
Who the Yellow Jacket Supreme 3 suits
It suits backyard shooters in climates with real weather, and anyone whose current bag target is already threadbare. The dual-sided 23-inch face also makes it a good second target for a family, since two adults can shoot at the same time without waiting.
It suits clubs and school programs that want the longest service life per bag and have somewhere dry to store targets between seasons.
Where the Yellow Jacket Supreme 3 falls short
At roughly 28 pounds it is heavy for a bag target, and the narrow profile is still narrow. If your priority is raw face area and broadhead capability, a foam block is the better buy, because this design is field-point only and broadheads will damage the face.
Owners also note that the outer bulls wear relatively fast because the face is only 12 inches wide, so most of your shooting ends up concentrated in the middle third. The warranty helps, but it does not turn a bag target into a long-life target.
5. BLOCK Classic Layered Foam 18: Best Budget Foam Target for Broadheads
- Open-layer design gives genuinely easy arrow removal
- Handles field points and broadheads
- Owners report thousands of shots of service
- Light enough to move one-handed
- Blank reverse face for unmarked practice
- Centre bull wears through first with tight groups
- Mechanical broadheads on bolts can push past the fletchings
- Rim shots can cut the layer retention band
- Some buyers want a larger model
If you shoot broadheads at all, foam is not optional. A bag target and a broadhead are a bad combination, and the BLOCK Classic is the entry point into foam without moving up to a premium block. The patented open-layer design stops arrows with friction rather than force, so the shaft releases cleanly instead of being held in compressed foam.
Durability is the strongest part of the story here. One owner reports 3000 shots and counting with no degradation, and multiple owners use it for both recurve and compound. At 8 ounces it moves between the garage and the yard one-handed, which is unusual for a foam block.
There are two-sided versions in 18-inch and 22-inch sizes, and the reverse face carries a high-contrast black-and-white layout. A blank reverse face is genuinely useful if you want instinctive practice, because there is no aiming point telling your brain where to cheat.
The mechanism is worth understanding. Penetration heat briefly grips the shaft and then lets go, which is why easy-pull claims usually fail. They fail when the foam is uniform and dense, because the shaft stays friction-welded. Open-layer targets grip in thin sections only, so a silicone-coated shaft slides out where a solid block would hold it.
Who the BLOCK Classic suits
It suits a bowhunter who wants to tune broadheads without wrecking a bag, and it suits anyone who likes the easy arrow removal of a foam target but does not want to spend premium-tier money. Two shooting sides also spread wear better than a single-face block of the same size.
It suits younger shooters and beginners who will lose patience with a target that requires force, and the top carry handle means one adult can reposition it for a group.
Where the BLOCK Classic falls short
Eighteen inches is on the small side, and shooters who group tightly burn through the centre bull before the rest of the face is touched. The banded outer edge is also vulnerable: a rim hit can slice the strap holding the foam layers together, which is a repair rather than a non-issue.
It is not a crossbow target. Mechanical broadheads on heavy bolts can push past the fletchings, and the 18-inch face gives you little margin for a strayed bolt. If your shooting is bolt-driven, look at the SpyderWeb or the Morrell Double Duty instead.
6. Rinehart 18-1 Foam Cube: Best for High-Speed Compound Bows
Rinehart 18-1 Archery Target, 18-Sided, Broadhead & Field Point Compatible
- Eighteen faces dramatically extend target life
- Rated to 500 FPS for high-speed bows
- Broadhead and field point compatible
- Self-healing foam needs no cover replacement
- Light for a 15 inch block at 11 lb
- Premium price for a 15 inch cube
- Limited retail availability
- Hard pull required for deeply embedded arrows
- Not weather-sealed for long-term outdoor storage
Eighteen shooting faces is the whole argument. Every other foam block here gives you two, four or six sides. The Rinehart 18-1 gives you eighteen, which means impact wear is spread so thinly that the centre section you are actually shooting stops being the failure point. Long-term owners describe it as the one block that keeps going after everything else has been retired.
It is rated to 500 FPS and crossbow approved, and it takes broadheads as well as field points. That combination is rare: most crossbow-rated targets are woven bags that blades destroy, and most broadhead-ready targets are foam blocks with a lower speed claim.
At 11 pounds for a 15-inch cube it is lighter than most blocks in its class, and the foam core is credited by owners with consistent arrow release over many sessions. The highly visible target zones help with long-range practice, and the easy-carry handle makes repositioning between shooting positions straightforward.
Durability framing matters here. Forum regulars evaluate targets by arrow count rather than by seasons, and a block with eighteen faces is the design that survives that test best. A single-face block concentrates thousands of arrows into one small area; this one spreads them across eighteen.
Who the Rinehart 18-1 suits
It suits the shooter who has already owned two cheaper foam blocks and watched them wear through, and it suits high-poundage compound shooters who want one target that covers both field point speed and broadhead practice without a second purchase.
It also suits a hunter who wants practice that matches real shot placement, because the visible zones work well at 30 yards and beyond where smaller faces get hard to read.
Where the Rinehart 18-1 falls short
The price for a 15-inch cube is high, and when you divide that across eighteen small faces the arithmetic gets less flattering than the arrow-count argument suggests. A larger two-sided block may be cheaper per usable face.
The rigid rubber-like core also means a hard pull for deeply embedded arrows, which is the opposite of what easy-pull marketing promises. And it is not weather-sealed for long-term outdoor storage, so plan on bringing it in over winter if you are in a climate with freeze-thaw cycles.
7. SpyderWeb 18XL: Best for High-Speed Crossbows
- Stops 400 to 500+ FPS bolts in 8 to 10 inches
- Bolts pull out with two fingers
- Face shows minimal tearing on extraction
- Over 200 aiming points spread impact
- Weather-resistant shell
- Highest price in this roundup
- Heavy at 34 pounds
- Field point only so not broadhead rated
- Weight is noticeable when moving it alone
Crossbow shooters are the most underserved group in this category, and the SpyderWeb 18XL is the most direct answer we found. It has been tested since 2018 to stop speeds beyond 700 FPS, which is well past any crossbow most people own, and owners running 400 to 500 FPS bows report bolts stopping 8 to 10 inches deep.
Arrows and bolts pull out with two fingers and no grippers, and that is a direct result of the Spylar woven mesh construction. Foam targets grip harder at speed because the material compresses around a fast shaft. A woven mesh arrests through friction across a wide surface instead, and it shows far less tearing than foam or tarp-faced targets on extraction.
More than 200 aiming points is the feature that matters most for longevity here, and it is a direct answer to the top self-inflicted cause of early pass-through. If you can spread your groups across a grid of points rather than drilling one spot, the target stays alive far longer, and owners with mixed shooting ability get the most out of it.
The weather-resistant outer shell and heavy-duty steel handle are practical rather than glamorous. Built in St. Joseph, Michigan, and backed by a 30-day guarantee, it is the target you set up once and leave in place through the season.
Who the SpyderWeb 18XL suits
It suits anyone whose fastest arrow is a crossbow bolt, including high-speed crossbow shooters who have already torn through a foam block or a cheaper bag. It also suits mixed groups where a teenager with a recurve and an adult with a crossbow both shoot at the same target, because 200-plus aiming points absorb mixed groups better than a bullseye.
It suits shooters who hate pulling arrows and who have given up on foam because of the effort. Easy extraction is the whole product here.
Where the SpyderWeb 18XL falls short
It sits at the premium end of this roundup, and at 34 pounds one reviewer described the weight as noticeable when moving it alone. Set it up on a permanent stand and this stops mattering, but if you want a target that travels to a field setup, it is not that target.
It is also field point only, so a bowhunter cannot use it for broadhead practice. Plan on owning two targets if you do both, which is the honest cost of a specialist design.
8. Delta McKenzie Challenger 3D Buck: Best 3D Target for the Money
- Realistic silhouette and vital placement for hunting prep
- Noticeably tougher than foam-only 3D targets
- Absorbed roughly 300 arrows over a weekend
- Stands on its own with included stakes
- Backed by a satisfaction guarantee
- Hard plastic legs can shatter on an arrow hit
- Arrows are difficult to extract from dense foam
- Does not stay upright reliably without a stand
- One buyer received a unit with a torn foam rail
A 3D animal target changes what practice is for. You are not grouping arrows in a circle any more, you are picking a lane, judging a quartering shot and committing to it. The Delta McKenzie Challenger gives you a realistic buck silhouette with vital zones placed where a deer’s vitals actually sit, and it includes its own stakes so you can set it up without buying a stand first.
The 4.1 average across 249 reviews is the lowest in this roundup, and the spread tells the story. Owners who shoot practice broadheads report it is markedly tougher than foam-only 3D targets and that it absorbed roughly 300 arrows over a weekend without visible failure. The complaints cluster around two specific things: stubborn arrow removal from the dense body, and brittle plastic parts.
It arrives disassembled, and putting the antlers and legs together takes a few minutes. The fiddly part is the antler assembly, which is the most common reason first-time owners are frustrated in the first ten minutes. Budget for that before you blame the target.
At 16 pounds it is far lighter than the big-game 3D options, so it is a realistic practice silhouette rather than a permanent course installation. That makes it a reasonable first 3D target for a hunter who wants to practise shot placement at home.
Who the Delta McKenzie Challenger suits
It suits a bowhunter who wants to practise shot placement rather than group size, and who does not want to spend premium-tier money on a 3D animal. Practice broadheads are the right arrow for it, and if you plan to shoot at the vital zone repeatedly the dense foam stands up well.
It also suits a shooter with limited storage, because at 16 pounds it fits in a corner of a garage and sets up outdoors when hunting season approaches.
Where the Delta McKenzie Challenger falls short
It does not stay upright reliably on flat or soft ground without a stand, and hitting the legs or the base with an arrow can chip or shatter the hard plastic and bend arrows on internal mounting pieces. That is the single biggest safety argument for shooting at the body and not the frame.
Arrow removal is genuinely difficult because the foam is dense, and there is a documented case of a unit arriving with a torn foam rail that let the head detach. Check the seams at assembly. If you want the same realistic practice without the structural risk, the Rinehart elk below is built for the job.
9. Power-Stop 19 Inch High-Density Foam Block: Best Dense Foam Block
Power-Stop Archery Targets – 19″ High-Density Block Target – 350fps Foam Target Block for Broadheads and Field Tips…
- High-density foam resists wear better than typical EVA blocks
- Rated to 350 FPS for compound bows and crossbows
- Six shootable sides with a battleship face
- Stopped 465-grain crossbow bolts in owner testing
- Lightweight and weather resistant
- Field tips are very hard to extract before the foam breaks in
- Foam breaks out in chunks after roughly 50 arrows per side
- Only the 19 inch size is offered
- Not rated for high-speed crossbow bolts
Most foam blocks are built from EVA, which is soft, cheap and hollows out under concentrated fire. The Power-Stop uses specially engineered high-density layered polyethylene instead, and owners who switch to it from a typical EVA block notice the difference immediately. Multiple owners report 100-plus broadhead shots with no degradation.
It is rated to 350 FPS, which sits comfortably inside compound field point speeds and covers crossbow use. One shooter used it with 465-grain bolts from a 285-pound pull weight bow. Six shootable sides with a battleship game face spread the wear and add some fun for kids.
The layered construction is designed to localise damage so arrows pull out more easily. Each layer takes a share of the impact, which keeps a single hit from carving a tunnel straight through the block. That is the mechanism behind the durability claims and the reason it outlasts softer foam in head-to-head use.
It is made in the USA by American Excelsior Company, and the high-density foam is weather resistant and reusable. The handle is an improvement over lighter blocks, though at 19 inches this is still a two-hand carry for most adults.
Who the Power-Stop suits
It suits a shooter who has already worn out a cheap foam block and wants something that survives concentrated practice without going premium. It also suits field-tip shooters, since layered polyethylene handles practice tips and broadheads without the tearing that shredded a bag.
Six sides make it a good shared target for a family or a small club, because there is enough aiming area that two people can shoot without competing for the same spot.
Where the Power-Stop falls short
Retrieval effort is the recurring complaint, and it is worst before the foam breaks in. Several buyers report that the difficulty eases as the foam develops a channel along the shot line, but that first season of hard pulling is real. Plan on an arrow puller grip and silicone lube from day one.
Intensive users also report foam breaking out in chunks after roughly 50 arrows per side, and it is not rated for high-speed crossbow bolts. If bolts are your main event, the SpyderWeb or the Morrell Double Duty is the correct purchase.
10. Rinehart 1/3 Scale Woodland Elk: Best Big-Game 3D Target
- Large silhouette gives a big forgiving aiming surface
- Self-healing foam closes shot holes over time
- Easy arrow removal across the review base
- Realistic form for hunting preparation
- Highest price in this roundup
- 3D legs and base get damaged by errant arrows
- Foam 3D targets are not rated for high-speed crossbow bolts
- Requires a target stand or backstop for safe use
Elk are the reason a lot of compound shooters go looking for a 3D target in the first place. A 1/3 scale woodland elk at 38 inches high and 44 inches long gives you a genuinely large aiming surface, which matters when you are practising a shot at 40 yards and do not want every miss to land in the dirt.
Self-healing foam is the reason it is worth more than a foam-only silhouette. Foam 3D targets fall apart over a season because every shot becomes a permanent crater you are shooting around. Self-healing foam closes over, so practice stays repeatable instead of becoming a game of chasing progressively worse holes.
The review base is small at 121, and that is worth weighing. Seventy-two percent of owners gave five stars and 10 percent gave one, and the pattern in the one-star reviews is consistent: damage to the legs and base rather than the body. Arrows striking the frame are the failure mode here, not arrows striking the foam.
That points directly at setup. This target needs a proper stand or a backstop, and it needs to be positioned so your shot angles land on the body. A 3D target in a bad position is a bent-arrow generator, and no amount of foam quality fixes that.
Who the Rinehart Woodland Elk suits
It suits long-range hunters who want a big-game silhouette to practise against at home rather than driving to a course. It also suits anyone who finds small foam-block practice mentally draining, because a large animal shape makes the session feel like hunting practice instead of yard work.
It suits coaches and clubs that want a durable, repeatable 3D face for broadhead practice, given that self-healing foam holds its shape season after season.
Where the Rinehart Woodland Elk falls short
It carries the highest price in this roundup, and that is a real barrier for a first 3D purchase. If you are not sure a 3D target will get used, the Delta McKenzie Challenger is a much smaller commitment and a reasonable first step.
It is not rated for high-speed crossbow bolts, the legs and base will be damaged by errant arrows, and it needs a stand or backstop. Treat the frame as out of bounds in your shooting area and it will hold up far better.
How to Choose an Archery Target for a Compound Bow
Six questions decide which of these ten is right for you, and the answers take about two minutes. If you can answer them before you shop, you will skip the expensive mistake most beginners make: buying a bag target and then destroying it with broadheads.
Match the target to your draw weight and arrow velocity
Arrow velocity matters more than draw weight for stopping power, because stopping power scales with the square of velocity. A 70-pound compound shooting a 420-grain arrow at 300 FPS carries far more energy into the face than a lighter bow at the same distance, and that is the number a target’s FPS rating is answering.
Read the rating as a ceiling, not a target. The Black Hole 4-Sided is rated to 300 FPS, which covers typical compound field point speeds. The Rinehart 18-1 and SpyderWeb 18XL carry 500 FPS and above claims, which cover high-speed compound bows and crossbows. If you shoot bolts, ignore everything rated below 400 FPS.
For hunting bows, note that the FPS rating on retail packaging is measured with the arrow weight the brand tested with. Your setup may differ, so treat the rating as a guide and buy a step above what you think you need.
Foam vs bag vs 3D: which target type suits your shooting
Foam targets accept both field points and broadheads and give the easiest arrow removal, so they are the most versatile and the safest default for a compound bow. Bag targets are woven synthetic shells that arrest a point through packed fibre, which is why they are the cheapest per thousand arrows and the fastest to pull arrows from, but they are field point only. 3D animal targets are built around realistic shot placement rather than grouping.
There is a fourth option almost nobody mentions: paper faces. If you are tuning for competition and shoot indoors, a paper target is the correct answer and none of the products in this roundup are what you need. A foam block behind a paper face is a good compromise for backyard competition practice, and it also protects the foam from point damage.
A common question is whether a foam target is worth upgrading to from a bag. The honest answer is yes if you shoot broadheads or shoot a lot, and no if you shoot a few hundred field points a year and care mostly about cost. The upgrade is about capability rather than durability at low volume.
Field points, field tips and broadheads: what each target accepts
Field points have a small, stiff steel tip and are the standard for target and tuning practice. Field tips are lighter practice points for indoor ranges. Broadheads have folding blades and belong in foam, never in a woven bag. Shooting a broadhead into a bag shreds the internal fibre matrix permanently, which is the single most repeated warning in every archery forum we read.
Half of the products here are field point only: the Morrell Double Duty, the Yellow Jacket Stinger, the Yellow Jacket Supreme 3 and the SpyderWeb 18XL. The other half take broadheads, and the Black Hole 4-Sided and BLOCK Classic do it at a size and weight that are easy to live with.
Practical practice broadheads are the compromise. Blunt or lightly bladed practice heads give you tuning accuracy without the cutting force, and they will not destroy a target you plan to keep.
How to pull arrows out without snapping a shaft
Apply silicone arrow lube to the front third of the shaft before you shoot. Lubing after the arrow is buried does nothing, because the lube has nowhere to go, and the carbon shaft grips the foam by heat and friction alone.
Use an arrow puller grip rather than your bare hand. The grip keeps your hand off the shaft so the force goes into the point and fletching, not across the carbon, where a sideways pull snaps it.
Never wiggle an arrow up and down. Vertical force is what extracts an arrow. Lateral force is what breaks one, and wiggling is the habit that turns a normal retrieval into a broken shaft on a carbon arrow you paid real money for.
Finally, rotate your shot placement. A fixed spot in the centre of a target is the top self-inflicted cause of early pass-through, and shooters who rotate across the face or use grid-style aiming points get far more life out of the same target.
Backstops, backyards and target longevity
You need a backstop behind every target, no exceptions. A target is a backstop until an arrow goes through it, and that arrow is still travelling at a dangerous speed. A dependable and cheap option is three-quarter-inch rubber horse stall mats hung loosely from a crossbeam with deliberate slack, keeping two to three feet of clear space behind the target. Hang them loose, because tensioned mats absorb less energy.
Avoid tarps and plywood. A tarp deflects, it does not stop, and plywood can shatter an arrow or bounce it back toward you. If you are shooting in a suburban lot, walk your backstop line before every session and confirm nothing walks a dog, drives a mower or plays on the other side of it.
Judge longevity by arrow count, not by seasons. Owners talk in specific numbers: 500 arrows with no pass-through, 3000 shots and counting, a decade-old block still stopping compound arrows. A target that dies at 300 arrows because every shot landed in one hole is being misused, not poorly made.
Store foam and bags out of direct sun when you are not using them. UV degradation and freeze-thaw cycles break down the outer shell long before the core gives up, and most damage reports we saw were storage damage rather than shooting damage. If you shoot indoors, a spent-foam or paper target handles the lower poundage of a youth or NASP programme without deflecting arrows off a block built for a compound.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are foam or bag archery targets better?
Foam is the better all-round choice for a compound bow because it accepts both field points and broadheads and returns arrows easily. Bag targets cost less per thousand arrows and pull arrows out fastest, but they are field point only and are permanently damaged by a broadhead blade. If you hunt, buy foam. If you shoot a few hundred field points a year and want the lowest running cost, a bag target is the better value.
What is the best foam archery target?
The Black Hole 4-Sided Archery Target is the best foam target for most compound shooters. It stops field points and broadheads, spreads wear across four shooting faces, weighs 8 ounces and carries a 4.5 rating across 5500 reviews. The BLOCK Classic Layered Foam 18 is the budget alternative, and the Rinehart 18-1 is the choice for high-speed bows with its 18 faces and 500 FPS rating.
What is the best 3D archery target?
The Delta McKenzie Challenger buck is the best 3D archery target for most people, offering a realistic silhouette and vital zones at a fraction of the cost of premium options. Its dense foam handles practice broadheads and absorbed roughly 300 arrows in owner testing, though arrow removal is hard and the plastic legs can break. For a large big-game silhouette, the Rinehart 1/3 Scale Woodland Elk is the durable option.
Can I shoot broadheads into a foam target?
Yes, and foam is the only target type built for it. Self-healing foam stretches and closes around a broadhead instead of being cut by it, which is why every foam product in this roundup is broadhead compatible. Never shoot a broadhead into a woven bag target, because the blade shreds the internal fibre matrix permanently and the bag never recovers.
How long do foam archery targets last?
Judge longevity by arrow count rather than by years. Owners report 500 arrows with no pass-through on a bag, 3000 shots on a layered foam block, and a decade-old foam cube still stopping compound arrows. Rotation matters as much as the target: shooters who spread shots across multiple faces get far more life than those who drill one centre spot, and open-layer designs pull arrows out before heat welds the shaft in place.
Do I need a backstop behind my archery target?
Yes, always. A target is a backstop until an arrow passes through it, and that arrow is still moving fast enough to injure someone. The most dependable affordable option is three-quarter-inch rubber horse stall mats hung loosely from a crossbeam with slack, leaving two to three feet of clear space behind. Avoid tarps and plywood, which deflect arrows rather than stopping them.
Which Archery Target Should You Buy?
The Black Hole 4-Sided Archery Target is the best of these archery targets for compound bows for most people. It takes field points and broadheads in the same face, spreads wear over four sides, weighs 8 ounces and carries the deepest review base in the category. Start there unless you have a specific reason not to.
Shoot a crossbow and you want the Morrell Double Duty Cube for its 450 FPS rating and replaceable cover. Hunt and want a target that will not be destroyed by broadhead tuning, and take the BLOCK Classic on a budget or the Rinehart 18-1 if you want eighteen faces and a 500 FPS rating. Practise big-game shot placement and the Delta McKenzie Challenger is the 3D pick, with the Rinehart Woodland Elk above it for a larger, more durable silhouette.
Whatever you choose, do three things: spread your shots across the face instead of drilling one spot, lube your shafts before you shoot, and hang a proper backstop behind the target. Those three habits matter more to how long the target lasts than the brand on the label. For bow selection to go with it, read our compound bow hunting guide, and if you also shoot a traditional bow, our recurve bow guide covers that side.