Choosing the best practice target for your crossbow is much different than for a compound bow. Several different criteria needs to be considered due to the additional speed and energy developed by modern crossbows. Compound bows typically top out at around 350 FPS and 80-110 Ft-lbs of kinetic energy, whereas the newest crossbows regularly shoot up to 500 FPS with nearly 200 ft-lbs of kinetic energy.
Here is a list of the best crossbow targets out today as well as some additional factors to consider when purchasing the best crossbow target for you.
Our list of the best crossbow targets for all situations and budgets:
The Morrell Yellow Jacket Crossbow Field Point Bag Target is a top-notch choice for crossbow enthusiasts looking to hone their accuracy and prolong the lifespan of their equipment. This target boasts exceptional durability thanks to its multi-layered design, which can withstand the high-speed impact of crossbow bolts without damaging them. Its distinctive yellow and black colors provide excellent visibility from a distance, making it easier for shooters to aim precisely. The bag target’s easy arrow removal feature ensures that you won’t struggle to retrieve your bolts, saving time and effort during practice sessions. With multiple target zones and aiming points, the Morrell Yellow Jacket Crossbow Field Point Bag Target offers a versatile and enjoyable shooting experience for archers and crossbow hunters of all skill levels, making it an excellent and cost effective investment for those seeking to improve their crossbow shooting skills. MSRP is $64.99.
The Yellow Jacket Kinetic X 500 FPS Archery Target by Morrell stops arrows up to 500 fps. It sports a polypropylene bag cover that’s built for field points. The Morrell Targets 144 Yellow Jacket is a remarkable addition to the world of archery and target shooting. This target stands out for its impressive size and durability, making it an excellent choice for both beginner and advanced archers. The Yellow Jacket’s patented Multi-Layered Density Design ensures that arrows are easily stopped and removed without damaging them, enhancing the longevity of both your arrows and the target itself. Whether you’re practicing with a compound bow, recurve bow, or crossbow, the Morrell Targets 144 Yellow Jacket is a versatile and reliable target that can withstand the repeated impact of arrows while providing hours of enjoyable and productive shooting sessions. It is weather-resistant and can be left outside. It comes with four shooting sides. It’s 16” by 16” by 16” and is best found on Amazon.
The Bigshot Targets Kinetic 650 20-Inch High-Kinetic-Energy Crossbow Field Point Target is made for ultra-fast crossbows.
Currently, it can handle the fastest crossbows on the market. It incorporates Iron Man stuffing and a five-stage, multi-layered aramid core to stop fast arrows. It has 95 aiming points.
The Hurricane Category 5 High Energy Bag Archery Target is a solid pick for those shooting fast crossbows. It’s rated to stop arrows and bolts up to 620 fps. It even sports all-weather construction. This 25” by 25” self-standing target is a great buy, especially for the money.
The Block Infinity Crossbow Target is a 16”, 20”, or 22’ square faced option that works really well stopping both field points and broadheads (fixed and mechanical) . It uses PolyFusion Technology and uses friction (not force) to stop the arrow. It sports six-sided shooting with five unique designs. It stops arrows and bolts up to 520 fps.
The Morrel 9-ball shooting target is a versatile and innovative shooting target designed for improving marksmanship skills. This target system features nine circular target zones of varying sizes, providing shooters with a challenging and dynamic shooting experience. Each target is made from durable materials, ensuring longevity even under heavy use. The Morrel 9-ball shooting target is not only ideal for honing accuracy with handguns and rifles but also a fun backyard game with friends and family.
The Titan 10X HD Broadhead Target by BIGShot is an excellent offering. It’s designed to stop the TenPoint Nitro 505 (505 fps). It provides incredible stopping power and minimum effort for arrow removal. It has 10 shooting faces and over 150 aiming points. It’s 17” by 17” in size.
The Speed Trap Archery Target by Blackout is four-sided and stops shots up to 520 fps. It’s compatible with field points, fixed-blade broadheads, or expandable broadheads. It utilizes open layered PolyFusion technology in a 20” by 18” by 20” sizing.
The SpeedBag 24” Crossbow Max Bag Target by Delta McKenzie is a great selection. It’s ideal for even some of the fastest crossbows on the market. It also includes color contrast graphics, a sight-in calibration grid, and is compatible with field points or target points only. The dimensions are 24” by 24” by 10” and weighs 50 pounds. MSRP is $64.99.
More to consider when selecting a crossbow target:
One question to ask yourself is what the speed rating of your target is and be certain to match it to the rated speed of your crossbow arrow. If you choose a target that is underrated, and shoot a crossbow arrow into it, you may be in for an unpleasant surprise. Hyper fast arrows can shoot all the way through a target and exit the back, or bury themselves up to the fletching, making them hard to grab to pull out. When shooting into a foam target, sometimes the lacquer on the shaft heats up as it penetrates the target causing the arrows to adhere to the target so it is nearly impossible to pull them out by hand. You may need to get an arrow puller to get them out, like this one -the Legend Spear Archery Puller.
Another hack worth trying is to coat your arrows, especially when they are new and the lacquer isn’t worn off yet, using ScorpionSableVenom rail lube and pull them out quickly after you shoot. Don’t let them sit for more than a few minutes or they may fuse to the target necessitating the use of the arrow puller mentioned above. These tips are important as you choose a target.
Also, know that a hanging bag target will tend to dissipate energy faster than a block target that is positioned on the ground, and therefore arrows tend not to penetrate as far into a hanging bag target. This tends to make the hanging targets easier to use and suffer from less penetration than the stationary blocks might experience.
The last question to consider is if you will be shooting broadheads into the target. Again, check the ratings of the targets to see how they perform, but know that if you shoot a broadhead (fixed or mechanical) into any target it will typically be harder to pull than a field tipped arrow.
In conclusion:
Choosing the best crossbow target is a crucial decision for any crossbow enthusiast or hunter. A high-quality crossbow target should provide durability, easy arrow removal, and a variety of target zones to challenge and improve your accuracy. Whether you prefer foam or bag targets, the key is to invest in a target that matches your skill level and shooting style. Additionally, considering factors like weather resistance, target size, and the ability to withstand high-speed crossbow bolts is essential. Ultimately, the best crossbow target for you will enhance your shooting experience, helping you become a more proficient and accurate crossbow shooter while ensuring your equipment remains in great shape for many seasons of archery enjoyment.
Affiliate Disclosure: This article was written without bias or any paid advertising from the companies and brands listed above. Affiliate links were placed in the article after submission from the author. If you found this review helpful, and plan to purchase a crossbow target – please use the links above where we earn a small commission at no additional cost to you – thank you.
I’ve been an outdoor communicator since 2010. Since then, I’ve been blessed with a full-time career in the outdoors, and I’ve worked for most of the major hunting magazines and websites, including Field & Stream and Outdoor Life. As a deer and turkey hunter, these are the topics I cover most, but I also dabble in other areas, too, including conservation, predator hunting, small game hunting, and more.