The four target types at a glance
| Type | Best with | Arrow removal | Broadheads? | Typical price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bag | Field points | Easiest | No | $30–$80 |
| Foam block | Field points + broadheads | Easy–moderate | Often yes | $60–$200 |
| 3D animal | Hunting practice | Moderate | Yes (on most) | $150–$400 |
| Crossbow-rated | Fast bows and crossbows | Moderate | Varies by model | $60–$250 |
Bag targets stop arrows with layers of loose synthetic fill. Blocks stop them with friction between foam layers or with dense self-healing foam. 3D targets are foam animals with a replaceable core. "Crossbow-rated" is not a shape — it is a speed rating, usually printed as an FPS number. Check that number against your bow before you buy.
Bag targets: the practice workhorse
Morrell Yellow Jacket Stinger — about $30. The classic cheap bag. It is useful for new archers shooting field points from bows of moderate speed, and arrows pull out with two fingers. Who it's for: beginners and kids' setups. Limitation: field points only — one broadhead will shred the fill — and the cover wears through with heavy use. Cheaper alternative: honestly, there isn't much cheaper that is still safe; if $30 is too much, build the DIY backstop below and hang a paper face on it.
Delta McKenzie Speedbag 20" — about $40–$50. A step up, rated for very fast bows (the maker lists ratings up to 525 fps on this line). Who it's for: compound shooters with fast setups who burn through cheap bags. Limitation: still field points only, and at around 20 inches it is small for long-range practice. Cheaper alternative: the Yellow Jacket Stinger above, if your bow is not a speed demon.
Foam blocks: for broadheads and all-around use
Block Classic 18 — about $65–$90 depending on retailer. The layered-foam standard. It stops arrows with friction, so removal is easy, and it takes both field points and broadheads. Who it's for: one-target archers who want a single cube that does it all. Limitation: fixed broadheads chew the layers faster than field points do, so its lifespan drops if you shoot heads often. Cheaper alternative: a plain bag target, if you never shoot broadheads.
Rinehart 18-1 — about $160–$200. An 18-sided ball of dense self-healing foam. Rotate to a fresh face when one wears, and it shrugs off broadheads better than almost anything. It also has a handle and is easy to toss in a truck. Who it's for: bowhunters who practice with broadheads a lot and want one target to last years. Limitation: the price stings, and arrows take more effort to pull than from a bag. Cheaper alternative: the Block Classic 18 covers the same jobs for less, just with a shorter life.
3D targets: practice that looks like the hunt
GlenDel Full Rut Buck — roughly $170 and up. A life-size foam deer with a large replaceable vital-zone insert. Shooting a deer-shaped target from odd angles teaches you where "the spot" is when there is no bullseye printed on it. Who it's for: bowhunters in the last months before season, and anyone training for 3D shoots. Limitation: it is one animal at one size, legs snap off if hit, and replacement cores are an ongoing cost. Cheaper alternative: tape a paper deer-vitals face over a foam block — far less fun, most of the training value.
Crossbow-rated targets
Morrell High Roller family — about $130 for the standard, roughly $210 for the Big High Roller. Solid poured self-healing foam, with the big version rated for bolts up to 500 fps. Crossbows hit much harder than vertical bows, and an under-rated target means buried bolts and ruined fletching. Who it's for: crossbow shooters, and compound shooters over ~350 fps. Limitation: heavy, and pulling bolts from dense foam is a workout — a rope-style puller helps. Cheaper alternative: the Delta McKenzie Speedbag handles fast field-point work for a third of the price; save the foam for heads.
The DIY backstop: the cheapest "target" of all
You can build a serviceable field-point stop for under $25. Pack a sturdy woven bag (an old feed sack works) tight with plastic shrink wrap, shipping bags, or old clothes. Compress hard, stitch or zip-tie it shut, and hang a paper target face on it. It stops field points, arrows pull easy, and you can re-stuff it forever. It is not safe for broadheads, and it will not stop a fast crossbow — treat it as a beginner and practice-volume tool. Whatever you shoot, put something behind it: a stack of plywood or a horse stall mat catches the miss that ruins an arrow or a fence.
How to choose in 30 seconds
- Field points only, normal bow speed: cheap bag target.
- Fast compound or high volume: speed-rated bag.
- Broadhead practice: layered block or self-healing foam.
- Bowhunting prep: add a 3D animal if the budget allows.
- Crossbow: check the FPS rating first, everything else second.
New to broadheads and tuning? A well-tuned bow saves targets too — start with our guide to tuning a compound bow, and if you are still deciding on the hunting path itself, read bowhunting vs. rifle hunting.
Sources Checked
- Outdoor Life — Best Archery Targets of 2026 — category picks and speed ratings for the Block, Rinehart, Delta McKenzie, and Morrell models.
- Lancaster Archery Supply — current listed prices for the Rinehart 18-1, Speedbag 20, Block Classic 18, and Morrell High Roller line.
- Academy Sports — Morrell Yellow Jacket Stinger price.
- Cabela's / Bass Pro — GlenDel Full Rut Buck listing.
Prices checked July 2026 and rounded; they move around by retailer and season, so treat them as ballpark figures.