Great Gear
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and a ripped-up bag cover. ese
bag targets aree rectangular
and designed to stand alone or
rest against another object or
be mounted on a target frame.
While some bag targets are
marketed as weather-resistant,
it is wise to keep them out of
the rain as being soaked wet can
make their material deteriorate
faster, shortening their lifespan.
e lling material of a bag
target will usually last longer than
the cover material itself, which
is why some bag targets come
with replaceable covers. ey
also tend to be heavier than their
foam counterparts, which can
make setup and take-down more
cumbersome.
FOAM BLOCK TARGETS
ese targets are literally made
up of solid or layered blocks of
foam. ey can be built of either
solid foam or a softer foam
type. When an arrow impacts
a foam block target, friction is
generated as it passes through
the foam material, making the
arrow slow down until it nally
stops. Foam targets are not easily
destroyed as the layers of foam
absorb the impact of arrows by
spreading their power rather
than centralising it in a single
location. e most damage one
can do to a foam target might
arise by pulling out the arrow too
fast and taking a chunk of foam
with it. What is great about foam
targets is that they are equally
capable of stopping simple eld
points as well as sharpened
hunting broadheads. Not only
are they lightweight and easily
portable but also very durable.
Take into account that bows with
a heavier draw weight might be
too powerful to use with these
lightweight foam targets, since
the arrows can become deeply
lodged in the foam, making it
rather di cult to remove them.
Always set up the foam target
in a way the foam layers are
arranged vertically rather than in
a horizontal position. You want
to shoot through the foam layers
and not across them. Foam block
targets come in a wide variety of
styles, from simple bullseyes to
multi-faceted targets that look
like dice. Although foam targets
are generally more expensive than
bag targets, they outlast the latter
type and are more convenient at
the same time.
3D TARGETS
Last but not least, we have 3D
targets. ese are made of the
same material as foam block
targets, they do however come
in the real-life shape of various
animals ranging from deer,
wolves, bears... to more exotic
beasts such as dinosaurs. You
can nd virtually any animal
species in 3D form. Due to their
nature, they are not as portable
as foam block targets yet still
remain lightweight. ey o er
a more realistic target practice
experience for the bowhunter
community, not to mention
more fun. is target type is ideal
for lifelike hunting simulations
from any angle or distance
imaginable. When, for example,
practising from a tree stand,
you can set your target up in a
realistic scenario. is will help
you get accustomed to shooting
at the silhouette of an actual
game animal. Many of these
3D targets contain di erent
overlays, such as exposing the
vitals on the outside to help you
improve your ability to deliver a
clean kill shot. Others have point
values intended for competitive
shooting. Most 3D archery
targets also contain replaceable
mid-sections, prolonging their
lifespan. Both eld points and
broadheads can be used for these
targets although, as with regular
foam block targets, broadheads
can get lodged too deeply,
making for di cult removal.
Whether learning to
shoot straight, practising for
competition or simply improving
your skills and accuracy for
next hunting season, there is
an archery target designed
speci cally for your type of
shooting. Whether bag, foam
or 3D target, every type can
help you become a better, more
con dent archer in a safe and
fun way, regardless of your skill
level.
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