Bag Targets

Bag Targets

Bag targets are exactly what they sound like – heavy-duty fabric bags stuffed with compressed synthetic fill or shredded plastic. They’re the entry point for most backyard archers because they’re cheap and they work.

The fill material stops your arrows through friction and compression. Shoot into it enough times and the fill starts breaking down, compacting in the middle where everyone aims. Eventually arrows blow through or get stuck so deep you need pliers to extract them. That’s when you know it’s time for a new one or to add more fill.

Field points only for most bag targets unless the manufacturer specifically rates them for broadheads. Broadheads slice through the fabric and destroy bags fast. Some newer models claim broadhead compatibility – check the specs before you find out the hard way.

Weight is the surprise nobody mentions. An unfilled bag target weighs nothing. A filled one can hit 20-30 pounds depending on size. Good for stability in wind. Bad for moving it around your yard or hauling to shoots.

Morrell and Field Logic make solid bag targets that last. Generic brands fall apart faster but cost half as much. You get what you pay for, but if you’re just starting out and shooting a few times a week, cheap bags work fine for the first season.

Target faces wear out before the bags do usually. Most bags have replaceable covers or you can just tape new paper targets over the shredded spots. Keep shooting until arrows punch clean through, then replace.

For the money, bags are hard to beat if you’re shooting field points at home and don’t want to spend $200 on foam. Just know they’re temporary. A year, maybe two if you rotate shooting spots. Then you buy another one or upgrade to foam.