October 28, 2014
By Tony J. Peterson
Have you ever wondered why so many archery targets feature contrasting colors on their faces? Sure, they are eye-catching while you stroll the aisles of a big-box store or peruse a website looking for a new addition to your backyard shooting range. Aside from looking cool, those high-contrast colors do something else for you: they make it easier to hit what you're aiming at.
Think about the difference between aiming at a deer with its featureless brown hair or a block-style target with white spots on a black background. For your pin to find the right spot quickly and easily, the black-and-white target is the way to go. This isn't a gimmick that target manufacturers use to inflate the egos of bowhunters across the nation; it's a tried-and-true system for making shooting easier .
This does wonders for confidence, and anyone who knows anything about archery success knows how important confidence is . You can buy better shooting by dropping 10 or 12 Benjamins on a new bow , but you won't get the same results as learning how to shoot with proper form and then solidifying that lesson time and time again with tight groups. Believing you can hit exactly where you need to is the biggest step toward actually doing just that. And it all starts with the right target.
Following are 10 new offerings that do just that.
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Cabela's | Elite Stop Target Highly-visible aiming spots"http://www.cabelas.com/product/Cabelas-Elite-Stop-Target/1356786.uts" target="_blank">Elite Stop Target from Cabela's make getting into the summer shooting groove simple. Rated for field points, practice broadheads and all styles of broadheads, this is the perfect choice for the bowhunter looking to not only gain confidence, but to fine-tune their set-up throughout the year. Each Elite Stop Target measures 15x15 inches on the face (13 inches deep) and weighs 13 pounds. Price: $ 100
Cabela's | Outfitter Broadhead Target If you don't want to tear up your practice target with broadheads, consider a broadhead-dedicated target like the
Outfitter Broadhead Target from Cabela's . This 18-pound target is designed with high-density foam to stop both fixed and mechanical broadheads. The Outfitter Broadhead Target is also ideal for traveling hunts and for storing at the hunting shack. You can fire a few pre-hunt arrows and make sure your setup is still dead-nuts-on before ever heading to your stand.
Price: $ 60
Delta McKenzie | Bowhunter ShotBlocker A lot of archery targets are held together by straps, wires, bands, cables or even plates. As you might imagine, this can lead to target degradation due to arrows whacking the supports. This was the impetus behind the Welded-Core design of the
Bowhunter ShotBlocker from Delta McKenzie . Shoot all four sides without worry about excessive foam slivering and reap the benefits of a long-lasting target that offers some of the easiest arrow removal on the market.
Price: $ 80
Delta McKenzie | Bowhunter ShotBlocker with ArrowShield Technology Designed with the same Welded-Core technology as the original ShotBlocker, the latest target in the line-up is the
Bowhunter ShotBlocker with ArrowShield Technology . An energy absorbing outer-wrap allows Delta McKenzie to utilize killer graphics like those of a deer's skeletal structure and vital organ layout all-the-while dually slowing down arrows and contributing to longer target life.
Price: $ 90
Field Logic | Block Invasion It would be impossible to calculate the sheer amount of shots that the Field Logic Block Targets have taken over the years. Suffice it to say that it's probably somewhere in the "bajillions" category. Their latest, the
Block Invasion , is sure to encourage the count to tick ever higher. The Invasion features Block's easy-to-shoot black-and-white color scheme and is capable of handling all broadheads and field points shot into both the front and back.
Price: $ 110 (20x20x14 inches)
Hips Archery Targerts | X2 Big Game Whether you use field points, fixed-blade broadheads, or mechanical broadheads, the new
X2 Big Game from Hips Archery Targets can handle the abuse thanks to the use of 2-inch thick layers of heat-welded Endurance Foam. Thicker layers resist shredding and allow for even distribution throughout the large target (24x22x16 inches) ensuring there are no soft spots or weak points. Take aim at multiple bulls-eyes on six sides of this target to hone your shooting game and ensure that you're field ready come fall.
Price: $ 180
Morrell | Outdoor Range Target Take the
Outdoor Range Target and you'll see that it's covered in aiming points of various sizes and colors. This is by design, and is intended to give you something specific to aim at whether you toe the line at 15 yards or 100. This isn't the most portable target at 50 pounds, but that's not what it's meant for. Instead, consider this the perfect addition to your home shooting range or perhaps a permanent fixture at the hunting shack.
Price: $ 145
Morrell | Yellow Jacket Supreme II Field Point Target It's safe to say that Morrell's line of Yellow Jacket Targets have soaked up hundreds of thousands of arrows across the country. The latest offering in the line-up — the
Yellow Jacket Supreme II Field Point Target — is certain to continue this trend. Constructed with 54 layers of material to ensure longevity, this target features an E-Z tote carrying handle and measures a full 23x25 inches on its multi-colored face.
Price: $ 70
Rinehart | Rhino Bags Rinehart is well known for a comprehensive line-up of 3D targets; however, they are far from a"http://www.rinehart3d.com/products/#i90" target="_blank">Rhino Bags. They serve as a great choice for anyone looking for a highly mobile target covered in top-notch graphics. To ensure your muscles wear out long before your Rhino Bag does, each is designed with exclusive Smart Core with Kevlar Technology. This not only greatly improves durability, but also contributes to easy arrow removal. Price: $ 60
Rinehart | Zombie If you prefer your brains uneaten, or at least fancy yourself the next Sheriff Rick Grimes should a zombie apocalypse occur, you'll want to brush up"http://www.rinehart3d.com/products/#i88" target="_blank">Zombie Target from Rinehart. Aside from the novelty aspect of arrowing the undead, you'll find that the Zombie contains all of the features that make Rinehart targets virtually indestructible while re-introducing something that is often lost when shooting spots — pure fun. If your target shooting sessions have gotten stale, this is a great way to shake off the doldrums while working on developing confidence. Price: $ 100
