6 Durable Archery Targets That Endure Season After Season

Your child comes home from camp, a friend’s house, or a school program with a new, all-consuming passion: archery. Suddenly, your backyard looks like the perfect place for them to practice hitting a bullseye. Investing in their new interest is exciting, but choosing the right equipment, especially a target that can take a beating, feels like a big decision.

Choosing a Target That Grows With Your Archer

We’ve all been there. Do you buy the inexpensive target that might last one season, or do you invest in something more durable for an interest that might fizzle out by winter? It’s a classic parenting dilemma, balancing support for a new passion with the practical reality of a budget and a child’s ever-changing focus.

The key is to match the target to your child’s current developmental stage and equipment, not just their enthusiasm level. A seven-year-old with a 15-pound recurve bow has vastly different needs than a 14-year-old shooting a 45-pound compound bow. The right target makes practice fun and rewarding; the wrong one can lead to lost arrows, frustration, and a brand-new bow collecting dust in the garage.

Before you choose, consider three things. First, the arrow type your child uses—almost all youth archers start with field points, not broadheads. Second is bow poundage, or the draw weight of their bow, which determines how much stopping power is needed. Finally, think about their practice goals, whether it’s casual backyard fun or training for a local competition.

Morrell Yellow Jacket: The Classic Youth Bag Target

If your child is in the initial "I want to try it!" phase, a simple bag target is a fantastic starting point. It’s the perfect partner for the low-poundage bows typically used by younger archers, generally in the 6-to-10-year-old range. This is the target that lets them experience the thrill of hitting the mark without a huge upfront investment from you.

Bag targets work by using friction to stop the arrow. They are filled with a synthetic material that "grabs" the arrow shaft instead of stopping it with brute force. The biggest benefit for young archers is incredibly easy arrow removal. A child who can pull their own arrows feels successful and independent, which is a powerful motivator to keep practicing.

The Morrell Yellow Jacket is a durable, weather-resistant option that has become a staple for a reason. While it’s designed strictly for field points and won’t hold up to the high-poundage bows they might grow into, it perfectly serves its purpose. It supports that initial spark of interest and builds a foundation of confidence.

Block Classic: Layered Foam for Easy Arrow Pull

So, your archer has stuck with it for a season or two. Their draw weight has increased, and their accuracy is improving. This is the moment to consider upgrading from a simple bag to a layered foam target, and the Block Classic is an excellent next step for archers in the 9-to-13-year-old range.

Unlike a single solid piece of foam, the Block features layers of foam compressed together. When the arrow enters, it slides between the layers, which use friction and compression to stop it. Just like with a good bag target, this design allows for remarkably easy arrow removal, preventing the fatigue and frustration that can come from wrestling arrows out of a dense target.

This type of target is also more versatile. It can handle arrows from more powerful bows and, depending on the specific model, can even be used with certain types of broadheads. This makes it a smart investment that can adapt as your child’s skills and equipment evolve, bridging the gap between beginner and more serious intermediate practice.

Rinehart 18-1: Self-Healing Foam for Longevity

When you see a true commitment to the sport, or if you have multiple kids sharing equipment, investing in longevity makes sense. The Rinehart 18-1 is a workhorse, built for families who need a target that can absorb thousands of arrows and still be ready for more. This is the choice for the archer who practices consistently, week after week.

Its signature feature is its "self-healing" foam. After an arrow is pulled out, the foam material expands to close the hole, dramatically extending the life of the target. This is the technology that justifies the higher price point—you are buying a target that is designed to last for years, not just a season. It’s a practical solution to avoid the cycle of buying a new, worn-out target every spring.

As the name implies, the 18-1 offers 18 distinct sides to shoot at. This brilliant design encourages the archer to aim for different spots, which prevents any single area from getting worn out too quickly. It’s a durable, long-term piece of training equipment that supports a growing passion and holds its value exceptionally well.

Delta McKenzie Speedbag for High-Rep Practice

There’s a point where practice shifts from "let’s see if I can hit it" to "let’s see if I can hit it 100 times in a row." For the dedicated youth archer focused on refining form through high-repetition shooting, a heavy-duty bag target like the Delta McKenzie Speedbag is essential. This is built for the archer who is past the basics and is now grooving their technique.

While it looks similar to a youth bag target, a "speedbag" is a different class of equipment. It’s larger, denser, and specifically engineered to stop arrows from the faster compound bows common among teen archers. Its large face provides a generous aiming area, perfect for building consistency from various distances.

The primary mission of a speedbag is to endure hundreds of shots in a single practice session while still offering two-finger arrow removal. For a competitive archer, pulling arrows is part of the training cycle, and a target that makes it quick and effortless allows them to focus their energy on their next shot, not on fighting with their equipment.

BigShot Iron Man: For Serious Youth Competitors

When your child begins to take part in competitions, their practice needs change. They are likely using a high-performance bow, and their training requires equipment that can match its power and precision. The BigShot Iron Man series is designed for this level of serious commitment.

These are robust foam targets engineered to stop high-speed arrows from powerful compound bows without fail. Their large size and exceptional stopping power give a young competitor the confidence to practice from longer distances without fear of arrow pass-throughs. This isn’t just a backstop; it’s a piece of serious training gear.

An investment in a target like this is an investment in your child’s athletic pursuit. It’s less portable and more substantial than other models, but it is built to absorb the daily practice regimen of a dedicated archer for years. It’s the kind of target that can see them through their entire competitive youth career.

GlenDel Buck: A Durable First 3D Practice Target

At some point, many young archers want to move beyond shooting at circles. Their interest may turn toward bowhunting or the sport of 3D archery, where competitors shoot at life-sized animal targets. The GlenDel Buck is an outstanding entry point into this world.

A 3D target fundamentally changes the practice dynamic. It teaches an archer to aim at an anatomical shape from different angles, judging distance and arrow placement in a way a flat target never can. This is a critical skill for both 3D competition and ethical hunting.

The most important feature of the GlenDel Buck for a growing archer is its replaceable core. The "vitals" area, where most shots are aimed, can be removed and replaced once it’s worn out. This means you don’t have to buy a whole new deer target, just the insert, making it a far more durable and cost-effective investment for long-term 3D practice.

Maintaining Your Target for Year-Round Use

No matter which target you choose, its lifespan depends heavily on proper care. You wouldn’t leave a musical instrument or a new bike out in the elements, and an archery target is no different. A few simple habits can protect your investment and keep it ready for practice.

The two biggest enemies of any target are water and sun. If possible, store your target in a garage, shed, or under a covered patio when not in use. Prolonged exposure to direct UV rays can break down the foam or the fabric of a bag target over time, making it brittle.

Most importantly, encourage your archer to use the whole target. Whether it has multiple dots or multiple sides, rotating where they aim prevents one spot from getting shot out while the rest of the target remains pristine. This simple act of spreading out the wear and tear can easily double the life of any target, ensuring it endures season after season.

Ultimately, the best target is the one that gets used. By matching the target to your child’s current bow, skill level, and goals, you’re not just buying a piece of foam or fabric. You are providing a reliable tool that builds their confidence, rewards their dedication, and supports their unique journey in a lifelong sport.