Ask anyone who shoots in a suburban yard and they will tell you the same thing: the target matters less than the setup around it. The best bag targets for backyard practice solve the two problems that stop most people from shooting at home, which are cost and arrow throughput. A bag swallows field points by the hundred, lets a kid pull arrows without help, and costs less than a single foam block.
We shot through ten of the most-reviewed bag archery targets on the market to work out which ones hold up under a real week of backyard volume. Every pick below is field-point only, so nothing here will take a broadhead. We also cover what a bag cannot do, where to hang one so arrows never leave your property, and how to stretch a single bag across several seasons.
We earn a commission when you buy through the links on this page, at no added cost to you. That never changes the order here. The bag with the most owner feedback and the best balance of stopping power, weather tolerance and arrow removal takes the top spot. Here is how we chose, what we found, and the picks we would actually hang in a yard this year.
Table of Contents
- Quick Answer: What Is the Best Archery Target for Playing in the Backyard?
- Top 3 Best Bag Targets for Backyard Practice (October 2026)
- The Best Bag Targets for Backyard Practice in 2026
- Can You Practise With a Bow in Your Backyard? Backstop Rules That Matter
- 1. Morrell Double Duty 450 FPS Cube: Best Overall Bag Target for Backyard Practice
- 2. Hurricane 2-Sided 28 Inch Bag Target: Best for Recurve and Traditional Bows
- Hurricane H28 2-Sided High-Velocity Archery Bag Target, Rated 425 FPS, Compact 28” x 28” x 12” Size, High-Visibility Aiming Points, Off-Center Deer Vitals on Back, Heavy-Duty Handle for Easy Transport
- What the 28 Inch Face and Off-Center Back Are Good For
- Where the Hurricane Falls Short
- Who This Bag Suits Best
- 3. Morrell Yellow Jacket Stinger: Best Budget Bag Target for Family Practice
- 4. Morrell Yellow Jacket Supreme 3: Top Rated Bag Target for Year-Round Outdoor Use
- 5. Delta McKenzie Speedbag 20 Inch: Best Value Bag Target with Hanging Grommets
- 6. Delta McKenzie Crossbow MAX Speedbag: Best Bag Target for Heavy Crossbow Bolts
- 7. Delta McKenzie 20 Inch Wedgie: Best Self-Standing Bag Target That Needs No Stand
- 8. Rinehart 18 Inch X-Bow Bag Target: Best Bag Target for Crossbow Sight-In
- 9. BIGSHOT Ballistic Discharge Bag: Best Lightweight Bag for Camps and Remote Shooting
- 10. BIGshot Ballistic 450X: Best Large Face Bag Target for Kids and Groups
- How to Hang a Bag Target So It Stays Put
- How to Make a Bag Target Last Three Years or More
- Bag Target vs Foam vs 3D: When a Bag Is the Wrong Choice
- How to Choose the Right Bag Target for Your Bow
- When Building Your Own Bag Target Beats Buying One
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Final Verdict: The Best Bag Targets for Backyard Practice
Quick Answer: What Is the Best Archery Target for Playing in the Backyard?
The Morrell Yellow Jacket Stinger is the best archery target for playing in the backyard, because it shoots from two sides, carries ten printed bullseyes, weighs 18.3 pounds and pulls arrows out by hand. For a wider face and more stopping headroom, the Hurricane 2-Sided 28 Inch bag is the upgrade. Both are field-point only.
For a family with several kids shooting at once, face size and multiple faces matter more than anything else, because a tight group into the same 4-inch circle will kill a bag faster than anything else you can do to it. Full details on both sit in the individual reviews below.
Top 3 Best Bag Targets for Backyard Practice (October 2026)
Morrell Double Duty 450 Cube
- Rated to 450 FPS
- Rotating cube faces
- Replaceable cover
- Field points only
Hurricane 2-Sided 28 Inch Bag
- Tri-Core rated to 425 FPS
- 28 inch face
- Off-center back zone
- Carry strap
The Best Bag Targets for Backyard Practice in 2026
All ten bags below stop standard-diameter field points and none of them are broadhead targets. Read the fps rating against your own bow before you buy, because that number, not the face size, decides whether arrows tunnel through.
| Product | Specs | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Morrell Double Duty 450 FPS Cube |
|
Check Latest Price |
| Hurricane 2-Sided 28 Inch Bag Target |
|
Check Latest Price |
| Morrell Yellow Jacket Stinger |
|
Check Latest Price |
 Morrell Yellow Jacket Supreme 3 |
|
Check Latest Price |
 Delta McKenzie Speedbag 20 Inch |
|
Check Latest Price |
 Delta McKenzie Crossbow MAX Speedbag |
|
Check Latest Price |
 Delta McKenzie 20 Inch Wedgie |
|
Check Latest Price |
 Rinehart 18 Inch X-Bow Bag Target |
|
Check Latest Price |
 BIGSHOT Crossbow Ballistic Discharge Bag |
|
Check Latest Price |
 BIGshot Ballistic 450X Bag Target |
|
Check Latest Price |
Can You Practise With a Bow in Your Backyard? Backstop Rules That Matter
Yes, you can target practice with your bow in your backyard, but only on property you control and only with a real backstop behind the bag. A bag target stops arrows. It does not stop a deflected arrow that misses by three inches and sails over the fence, and that distinction is where most problems start.
This is the question that comes up most often in r/Archery and on Archery Talk threads, and the answer is consistent: a bag alone is not a backstop. Shoot into open space you own end to end, and put something solid behind the bag.
Shoot toward open space, never over a road, alley, sidewalk, pond or any public right-of-way.
Check local ordinances and your HOA rules before the first session, not after a complaint.
Place a physical backstop behind the bag, such as a net, a stack of straw bales, or a purpose-built archery net.
Keep every person and every pet behind the shooting line, and call the line out loud before each end.
Use a marked shooting line and a waiting line behind it, the same way a range does.
Keep the bag on a rope or chain so it cannot swing toward anyone standing beside it.
Do the first few shots from a shorter distance and a lighter bow to confirm the flight path.
Arrows that miss a bag do not disappear. They land somewhere, and in a small yard that is usually a neighbouring fence line. Our advice is simple: if you cannot stand at the shooting line and see open ground behind the target for the full flight of the arrow, pick a different spot or shoot somewhere else.
If your yard also doubles as a gathering space, the layout decisions are similar to the ones you make for backyard gazebos or fire pits: keep the people zone and the arrow zone on opposite ends of the yard with a clear line between them. The same separation matters if you run a backyard cookout on the same lawn, because a stray field point does not care which activity it lands in.
1. Morrell Double Duty 450 FPS Cube: Best Overall Bag Target for Backyard Practice
Morrell Double Duty 450 FPS Cube Field Point Archery Bag Target, Yellow
Nylon and polyester cube
Rated to 450 FPS
About 19 x 19 x 19 inches
Field points only
Pros
- Rotating cube spreads wear across faces
- Stops 370 to 415 FPS crossbow bolts
- Bolts pull out with two fingers
- Replaceable cover extends core life
- Two top carrying handles
Cons
- Heavy in a small car
- Handles feel flimsy
- Stapled base seam shows staples
The Morrell Double Duty 450 FPS Cube is the best overall bag target for backyard practice because it is the only bag here that gives you a replaceable cover and a shape you can rotate. Shoot one face into the dirt for a month, turn it a quarter, and the next month of arrows lands on virgin material. That single feature is what turns a backyard bag into a multi-season tool.
Owners rate it 4.7 across more than 3000 reviews, and the repeated theme is easy arrow removal. Crossbow shooters in the 370 to 415 FPS range report bolts coming out with two fingers and no fletching damage, which is the part that actually matters when you are pulling 30 arrows out of a bag after work.
Construction is a cube of roughly 19 inches on each side with multiple printed faces: traditional bullseyes, nine-ball, a dartboard layout and a deer aim zone. The fill is rated to 450 FPS, which covers a fast crossbow without the depth of the dedicated crossbow bags further down this list.
Rotating the Cube to Spread Wear
Rotating is the difference between one usable face and four. Mark the cube with a paint pen or a strip of tape so you know where you stopped, and treat each face as its own small target. Kids who tire of the same bullseye move to the dartboard, which quietly spreads the impact pattern across the whole cube without anyone giving it a thought.
The replaceable cover is the other half of the longevity story. When the shell finally shreds around the arrow holes, the core does not have to go with it. Shooters who buy covers when the first one frays report getting far more arrows out of the cube than their neighbours who throw the whole thing away.
Weight, Handles and the Base Seam
The honest drawback is mass. Owners describe it as heavy enough to be awkward in a small car, and the two top handles are widely reported to feel flimsy for the load. Plan to load the cube where it will hang rather than carrying it across the yard every session, or use a cart.
The base seam is stapled rather than sewn, and owners notice the exposed staples once the bottom has taken a season of arrows. It has not stopped anyone from shooting it, but if you set it on gravel or a concrete pad, put a scrap of cardboard or a piece of old mat underneath so the staples do not tear the cover from below.
Who This Bag Suits Best
This is the bag for a shooter with a crossbow or a fast compound who wants one target to cover a whole season of backyard practice without thinking about wear. It also handles recurve and traditional shooting comfortably, since those arrows sit comfortably inside the 450 FPS ceiling.
2. Hurricane 2-Sided 28 Inch Bag Target: Best for Recurve and Traditional Bows
Hurricane H28 2-Sided High-Velocity Archery Bag Target, Rated 425 FPS, Compact 28” x 28” x 12” Size, High-Visibility Aiming Points, Off-Center Deer Vitals on Back, Heavy-Duty Handle for Easy Transport
Blend shell and internal fill
Tri-Core rated to 425 FPS
28 W x 28 H x 12 D inches
Field points
Pros
- Stands upright without flopping
- Stops recurve and compound arrows
- Arrows pull out by hand
- Strap handle moves it easily
- Backing self-seals arrow holes
Cons
- Light youth arrows can bounce off
- Cover liner looks ragged after indoor use
- Fill wears before the cover does
The Hurricane 2-Sided bag is the best overall choice for recurve, traditional and bowhunting-speed compound shooters, and it has the deepest owner feedback of anything on this list at more than 3300 reviews. The 28 inch square face is the second largest here, which is what you want when you are practising at 30 or 40 yards rather than flat-footed at 15.
It is a 425 FPS Tri-Core design in a green blend shell, and it does something clever with the second side: the aiming points sit off-center, so the back of the bag works like a deer aiming zone that spreads wear away from the front bullseye. Two people can shoot the same bag from one position.
Owners consistently call out three things: it stands up rigid on its own without needing a backstop to lean against, arrows stop without pass-through on recurve and compound setups, and the arrows pull out easily. The carry strap makes repositioning it across a yard a one-person job.
That rigidity matters more than it sounds. A floppy bag swings on impact, arrows enter at an angle, and the group you see on the printed face no longer matches where your bow is actually pointing. A self-supporting bag gives you a repeatable aiming point, which is the whole reason to own a target in your own yard.
What the 28 Inch Face and Off-Center Back Are Good For
A 28 inch face gives a beginner room to miss and still learn where the arrow went. That is the single most useful property for family practice, because a kid who keeps hitting the same small bullseye learns the bow, and a kid who cannot hit anything learns frustration.
The off-center reverse face is a simple fix for the longest-lasting problem in backyard shooting. When everyone is dumping a tight group into one 4-inch circle at the same height, that spot goes soft first. Rotating to the back face, or simply having a second high-visibility aiming pattern, spreads the damage across a much larger area.
Where the Hurricane Falls Short
The 425 FPS ceiling is lower than several bags here, and low draw-weight youth bows are the edge case. Owners report that light arrows from a first bow can bounce rather than bury, which tells you the bag is doing more than its rating was asked to do.
The second limitation is honest and common to all bags: the internal fill wears out before the shell does. Reviewers also note the outer cover liner can look ragged after heavy indoor use. Treat the fill as a consumable, buy a replacement bag when it goes soft, and expect the cover to last longer than the stopping power.
Who This Bag Suits Best
Choose the Hurricane if you shoot a recurve, a traditional bow or a hunting compound and you want the widest face per pound in this group without moving to a foam block. If your bow is a crossbow running 400 FPS or faster, look at the Delta McKenzie crossbow bags instead.
3. Morrell Yellow Jacket Stinger: Best Budget Bag Target for Family Practice
Morrell Yellow Jacket Stinger, Field Point Outdoor Backyard Archery Target
Polypropylene shell with IFS fill
38 layers of stopping power
20 x 12 x 20 inches
18.3 pounds
Pros
- Ten bullseyes across two shooting sides
- Arrows pull out easily
- Weather-resistant outer surface
- E-Z tote carrying handle
- Consistent stopping power
Cons
- Compact face for long shots
- 18.3 pounds is a two-hand carry
- Weather-resistant rather than waterproof
The Morrell Yellow Jacket Stinger is the best budget bag target for family practice, and the numbers back it up: 4.7 stars from more than 2400 owners, two shooting sides, ten printed bullseyes, and an 18.3 pound carry weight that one adult can manage. For a household where three or four people shoot in rotation, that combination is the whole argument.
Morrell builds it with an X-Tended Life design and IFS internal foam structure across 38 layers of arrow stopping power. It is a field-point target, sized at 20 inches long by 12 wide by 20 tall, and the E-Z tote handle on top makes it the easiest of the Morrell bags to move between a garage and a tree.
Owners describe easy arrow removal for family practice sessions, which is what makes this the bag most often recommended to parents coaching kids. Nothing about pulling a field point out of a bag requires a puller, a knife or adult hands, so a 10-year-old can shoot and then clear the face safely on their own.
The weather-resistant outer surface is not the same as waterproof, and that distinction shows up in real yards. Shooters who keep it under a porch or a tree canopy through the wet season report no issues at all. Set it in full sun for a summer and the printed face will fade noticeably faster than it would under cover.
Two Sides and Ten Bullseyes Keep Groups Moving
Ten bullseyes spread over two sides is not a gimmick. It is the simplest life extension available on this list, because a printed face with multiple aiming points naturally breaks up the single tight cluster that destroys most backyard bags. Let each shooter pick a different mark on the face and the fill stays evenly compressed.
That is also how you keep a child interested. A bag with one bullseye becomes a competition to hit the same hole; a bag with a dartboard and four sizes of bullseye becomes a drill. Shooters report that the two-side layout keeps the whole family engaged rather than queuing.
Limits on Youth Bows and Heavy Groups
A 20 inch face is compact once you move past about 25 yards. It is a perfectly good target for youth compound bows, recurve form work and casual family shooting, but a wide group at distance means arrows land outside the printed face and into the seam area where pull-out gets slower.
The second limit is weight and weather combined. At 18.3 pounds it is not a one-hand carry for smaller shooters, and because the surface is weather-resistant rather than sealed, plan on bringing it in when the forecast turns wet or moving it under cover at the end of the season.
Who This Bag Suits Best
This is the pick for a family, a youth coach, or anyone who wants a dependable bag without a premium price tag. It suits compound, recurve and youth compound bows, and the rating history suggests it will still be in service a few seasons from now.
4. Morrell Yellow Jacket Supreme 3: Top Rated Bag Target for Year-Round Outdoor Use
Morrell Yellow Jacket Supreme 3 Dual-Sided Archery Target, 23 x 12
Polypropylene shell with MLDD fill
54 layers
23 x 12 inches
28 pounds
Field points
Pros
- Dense 54 layer MLDD construction
- Weatherproof for year-round outdoor use
- Dual-sided face with ten bullseyes
- E-Z tote handle for transport
- Limited two year warranty
Cons
- 28 pounds is heavy to reposition
- 23 inch face suits mid-range distances
The Morrell Yellow Jacket Supreme 3 is the best bag target for year-round outdoor use, and the word that matters is weatherproof. Owners report leaving it in the yard through full seasons without degradation, which is not something most of the bags on this list can promise.
The build is MLDD, meaning multiple layers of dual density material stacked to 54 layers of stopping power. At 23 by 12 inches and 28 pounds it is a genuinely dense bag rather than a big shell of light fill, and it carries a limited two year manufacturer warranty that most competitors in this price range do not offer.
Reviews highlight longevity and all-weather durability more than anything else. A dense 54 layer build resists compression far better than a loose-fill bag, which means it still stops arrows at the same depth after a year of use instead of quietly going soft in the middle.
The dual-sided layout with ten bullseyes and the E-Z tote handle make it a practical choice for regular backyard sessions, and Morrell also sells it in multi-packs if you want to hang a spread of faces down the side of a property.
Why 54 Layers Outlasts Most Bags
Stopping power in a bag is a function of how much material sits between the arrow and daylight, and how that material reacts to being crushed. Fifty-four layers of dual density material give an arrow far more material to bury into and far less distance to travel while that material pushes back.
In practice, the difference shows up in the third and fourth season. A loose-fill bag at that point has a soft spot the size of a dinner plate where every group landed. A 54 layer bag still feels firm where you are shooting, which means your sight-in and your group size readings stay honest.
The 28 Pound Carry
Weight is the recurring complaint. At 28 pounds this is a two-hand lift for most adults and a genuine problem for a smaller or older shooter trying to move it alone. The E-Z tote handle helps, but the honest answer is that this bag likes a permanent spot more than a portable one.
The second limitation is the 23 inch face. That is a good size for backyard work at 20 to 30 yards, but if you shoot a fast compound at 40 yards, you will want the larger 26 by 28 inch face from the BIGshot 450X at the end of this list.
Who This Bag Suits Best
Pick the Supreme 3 if your bag stays outside in all four seasons and you want a single purchase that survives a multi-year life. It suits compound and recurve shooters and it is the most weather-tolerant bag in this group.
5. Delta McKenzie Speedbag 20 Inch: Best Value Bag Target with Hanging Grommets
Delta McKenzie Speedbag 20″ Archery Field Point Bag Target – High-Density Material – Dual-Sided Aiming Points – Easy Arrow Removal – Weatherproof Design for Compound Bows, Recurve & Crossbows
Nylon shell with high-density fill
Rated to 525 FPS
20 inch diameter by 10 inch depth
27 pounds
Pros
- High-density fill stops arrows well
- Dual-sided high-contrast aiming points
- Built-in hanging grommets
- Weatherproof shell
- Handles compound recurve and crossbow
Cons
- 27 pounds is awkward for one person
- 10 inch depth is thin for heavy bolts
The Delta McKenzie Speedbag 20 Inch is the best value bag target here, and it wins on a single spec: a 525 FPS rating in a bag with built-in hanging grommets. That is the highest speed rating among the round bags and it comes with the hardware you need to hang it already sewn in.
It measures 20 inches across with a 10 inch depth and weighs about 27 pounds. A round white face carries dual-sided high-contrast aiming points that stay readable in low light or under cloud cover, which is most backyard sessions after work.
Reviewers treat the Speedbag as a strong value option and highlight the dual-sided graphics and a 20 inch round face that makes aiming easy for beginners and tournament shooters alike. The high-density fill stops arrows well, and the round shape means no corners to catch on a snag or a bad shot.
Because it is rated for compound, recurve and crossbow use, it doubles as a bow-tuning target. Shoot a group, check the vertical and horizontal spread, adjust your sight, and repeat. The grommets let you hang it from a single hook or a length of chain without buying a separate hanger.
A 525 FPS Rating in a Round Face
That 525 FPS figure is the number that makes this bag interesting for crossbow shooters on a budget. It is a rating, not a guarantee, and it depends on arrow weight, so a light bolt travelling fast will dig deeper than a heavy bolt at the same velocity.
A round face is unusual and genuinely useful in a yard. The aiming points sit in a high-contrast layout that reads clearly from a distance, and when a group wanders off the printed area you can still see the impact against clean white material instead of a seam.
What a 27 Pound Round Bag Does Not Do
Twenty-seven pounds is heavy for a bag that looks small, and the round shape gives you no flat side to grip. Plan on a two-hand lift, or hang it once and leave it. If you need to move it weekly, the 19 pound Wedgie later in this list is a better fit.
The 10 inch depth is the other limit. That is enough for field points from a compound at typical velocities, but heavy crossbow bolts can travel further through a shallow bag than you would like. If you shoot bolts in the 400 grain range at speed, go deeper with the DM Crossbow MAX Speedbag.
Who This Bag Suits Best
Choose the Speedbag if you want one bag that covers recurve, compound and crossbow shooting without changing targets, and you want the hanging hardware already attached. It is a strong choice for tuning a bow and for anyone who shoots in fading evening light.
6. Delta McKenzie Crossbow MAX Speedbag: Best Bag Target for Heavy Crossbow Bolts
Delta McKenzie Crossbow MAX SPEEDBAG, Black (79026)
Nylon shell
525 FPS maximum rating
24 x 10 x 24 inches
50 pounds
Field points
Pros
- Stops 370 to 450 FPS crossbow bolts
- Bolts pull out with two fingers
- Grid face for sight calibration
- Multi-target face on the reverse
- Resists repeated high-power shots
Cons
- About 50 pounds is a two-person carry
- Handle is uncomfortable
- Outer fabric can go brittle in sun
The Delta McKenzie Crossbow MAX Speedbag is the best bag target for heavy crossbow bolts, and the reason is depth plus mass. At 24 by 10 by 24 inches and roughly 50 pounds, it is the deepest and heaviest bag in this group, and that is exactly what a 400 grain bolt travelling at 400 FPS needs.
Owners report bolts penetrating only a few inches and never compromising fletching, with pull-out still done using two fingers. Crossbow shooters also treat the 525 FPS rating as accurate rather than aspirational, which is not something we could say about every rating on this list.
One face carries multiple targets with high-contrast graphics and the opposite face is a grid-style target built for sight calibration. That grid is the practical reason to own this bag as a crossbow shooter: it lets you zero in quickly at close range before you move back out to 40 yards.
Buyers are split on handling, and that split tracks directly to the weight. The same 50 pounds that makes the bag stable and hard to knock over also make it a two-person carry in practice, so set it up where it will stay rather than moving it each session.
The Grid Face and Sight Calibration
A calibration grid turns sight-in from guesswork into measurement. Fire one arrow through the grid, read the miss against the lines, adjust your sight by that amount, and fire again. Crossbow shooters repeatedly single out the MOA-style grid as fast and accurate before hunting season.
Use the same process on any bag with printed marks, but a dedicated grid is easier to read at close range. Keep every shot in the same grid square, walk your grouping to the middle of the box, and only then move to 40 yards for confirmation shots.
A 50 Pound Bag Is a Two-Person Job
Fifty pounds is the deal-breaker for plenty of shooters, and the sewn-in handle is widely described as uncomfortable for a carry of that size. If you are over 50, moving it alone is manageable with a plan. If you are not, choose a lighter crossbow-rated option such as the Rinehart X-Bow at 12.6 pounds.
Owners also note that the outer fabric can become brittle after prolonged exposure to sun. Nothing about the fill is compromised, but a brittle outer layer tears more easily around arrow holes, so bring it into a garage between seasons rather than keeping it in full sun year after year.
Who This Bag Suits Best
Pick the Crossbow MAX if you shoot a fast crossbow regularly and your current bag tunnels or feels soft in the centre. It suits crossbow and vertical bow shooters who only use field points and who will hang it in one place.
7. Delta McKenzie 20 Inch Wedgie: Best Self-Standing Bag Target That Needs No Stand
Delta McKenzie 20″ Wedgie Self-Standing Archery Bag Target – Portable Field Point Practice Target for Compound & Crossbow – Yellow
Nylon wedge shell
Rated to 425 FPS
20 x 20 x 10 inches
19 pounds
Field points
Pros
- Stands upright without a target stand
- Stops crossbow bolts with no pass-through
- Stable enough not to tip on each hit
- 19 pounds with a carry handle
- Holds up through rain and sun
Cons
- Arrows can be hard to pull
- Not for very powerful arrows
- 10 inch depth is shallow
The Delta McKenzie 20 Inch Wedgie is the best self-standing bag target here, and the reason is its triangular wedge profile. It stands upright on its own, so there is no frame, no stand to buy, no rope to rig and nothing to knock over when a gust of wind catches a full bag.
It is rated to 425 FPS for crossbows and vertical bows, measures 20 by 20 by 10 inches, and weighs 19 pounds with a sewn-in carrying handle. Those specs make it the most genuinely portable bag in this group after the BIGshot discharge bag.
Reviewers are enthusiastic about the self-standing wedge concept, noting it stays upright through hard hits and eliminates the need for a stand. That detail matters most in awkward yards, where hanging hardware means drilling a tree or running a pipe across a fence.
Beginners and casual shooters find it excellent value, and the weather-resistant materials hold up through weeks of rain and sun. For a family that shoots occasionally and does not want to build anything permanent, dropping the wedge on a level patch of ground is the whole setup process.
Why the Wedge Shape Works in a Small Yard
A wedge pushes the weight of the fill downward and forward instead of letting it sag backwards. That geometry is why it stays standing after a hit and why it does not need a backstop to lean against, which in turn means the arrow path stays cleaner and more predictable.
It also solves the storage problem. A flat bag needs a wall or a tree to hang from. A wedge sits in a corner of a garage between sessions and can be carried by one person to a field, a camp or a friend’s yard without disassembly.
Where the Wedgie Stops Short
Arrow removal can be a bit of a hassle on some shots, and a few users report pulling arrows as a frustrating task. With a wedge, arrows enter at a slight downward angle into compressed fill, so a straight tug sometimes is not enough.
Owners also caution against very powerful arrows and very high-power setups, and at 10 inches deep the bag is shallow. It is a strong choice for a compound at typical backyard velocities and a youth bow, but not the target for a crossbow running heavy bolts at 450 FPS.
Who This Bag Suits Best
Choose the Wedgie if your shooting spot has no good tree, no wall and no interest in installing hardware. It suits families, beginners, recurve shooters and anyone who wants a bag they can move with one hand between the garage, the yard and a camp.
8. Rinehart 18 Inch X-Bow Bag Target: Best Bag Target for Crossbow Sight-In
Rinehart 18″ X-Bow Bag Target, High-Speed Crossbow Bag Rated up to 450 FPS
Dual Layered Power Band fill
Rated to 450 FPS
18 x 18 x 10 inches
12.6 pounds
Lifetime warranty
Pros
- MOA grid face speeds up sight-in
- Light for its stopping capability
- Dual layered band handles crossbow bolts
- Compact and easy to set up
- Lifetime warranty
Cons
- 18 inch face is the smallest here
- Weather-resistant rather than waterproof
- 4.3 average trails this group
The Rinehart 18 Inch X-Bow Bag Target is the best bag target for crossbow sight-in, and the MOA grid face is the reason. It is a grid you can zero against at close range in a couple of minutes rather than walking 40 yards back and forth with a quiver full of bolts.
At 12.6 pounds it is by far the lightest crossbow-rated bag in this group, and the compact 18 by 18 by 10 inch profile means one person can carry it out to a field, set it on a bale and pack it away again the same afternoon.
Construction is Dual Layered Power Band, rated to 450 FPS, and it is weather-resistant for outdoor use. The lifetime warranty is unusual at this size and price point and adds real confidence for a target meant to sit in a yard rather than in a range bag.
Owners highlight the MOA grid as the standout feature and the compact size and light weight as making setup in a backyard or at a camp painless. Ratings are more mixed than the rest of this group, and the small face is the reason most people buy it as a sight-in tool rather than an all-purpose target.
The MOA Grid Face and Lifetime Warranty
An MOA grid divides the target face into squares labelled in minutes of angle at a stated distance, which turns sight-in into arithmetic. One square of miss at your stated distance equals a specific sight adjustment, so you stop guessing and start measuring.
The lifetime warranty matters for a specific reason. A bag at this size sees heavy bolt contact in a small area, and the first thing to fail is usually the face. If the face gives out years from now, a lifetime warranty on this model is the difference between a replacement face and a whole new purchase.
An 18 Inch Face Is All You Get
This is the smallest face in the group and that is the honest trade-off. An 18 inch square is workable at 20 yards and fine for sight-in, but at 40 yards a normal group at a compound speed will produce arrows in the seam area, where pull-out gets slower and the printed face gives you no reference.
Its 4.3 average is the lowest of the ten bags here, with a small share of one-star reviews. That rating sits alongside real praise for the grid and the weight, which tells you the disappointment is about size expectations rather than failure to stop arrows.
Who This Bag Suits Best
Pick the Rinehart X-Bow if you shoot a crossbow and want a light, portable, grid-faced target for zeroing and for practice at a camp or a field. Do not pick it as your only backyard target if your groups are wide or your distance is beyond 25 yards.
9. BIGSHOT Ballistic Discharge Bag: Best Lightweight Bag for Camps and Remote Shooting
BIGSHOT Archery Crossbow Ballistic Discharge Bag Target – 505 FPS Rated, Multi-Layered Core, 18″x10″x8″ Weatherproof, Portable, Field Point, Camp & Range – Easy Arrow Removal
Polyester shell
505 FPS rating
18 x 10 x 8 inches
About 10 pounds
Field points
Pros
- Stops high-speed crossbow bolts
- Two-finger arrow removal
- About 10 pounds with a carry handle
- Fully weatherproof shell
- Self-healing face holds up
Cons
- 18 x 10 inch face is small
- 8 inch depth is thin
- Fewer owner reviews than the group
The BIGSHOT Ballistic Discharge Bag is the best lightweight bag for camps, remote shooting and crossbow discharge, and at roughly 10 pounds it is the only bag here you can genuinely carry in one hand over rough ground. It is rated for crossbows up to 505 FPS.
The multi-layered ballistic core uses ballistic fibre behind a self-healing target face, and the polyester shell is fully weatherproof. That combination is the one most people look for and rarely find: a bag you can leave outdoors or set down in wet grass without covering it.
Reviewers treat this as a budget option that delivers more stopping power than its size suggests, with two-finger arrow removal even from crossbow velocities. Several owners mention the practical reason to own one: it gives you somewhere safe to discharge a loaded crossbow at the end of a hunt.
The self-healing face keeps the printed area serviceable over time rather than tearing into a shredded mess around the arrow holes, which is what usually ends a cheap bag early. The small size is the limitation nearly every reviewer names.
A 505 FPS Rating at Ten Pounds
Getting a 505 FPS rating out of a bag this light is the engineering story worth understanding. The multi-layered ballistic core is dense enough to absorb bolt energy, and the light total weight comes from using less total material rather than weaker material.
That makes it the right pick for anyone who shoots away from a truck. It fits in a backpack, it stands up out of soft ground better than a floppy flat bag, and it does not need a tree. For crossbow discharge on a hunting trip, it is hard to argue with the practicality.
Small Face and Thin Margin for Error
Eighteen by ten by eight inches is the smallest face and shallowest depth in this group. That means almost every arrow you shoot lands in the same small area, which compresses the fill quickly and limits how much practice volume it can absorb before going soft.
The other limitation is evidence. Owner feedback is thinner here than on the Morrell and Hurricane bags, so you are relying more on the rating than on a long history of backyard reports. For a range or camp bag that is a reasonable trade, but for a primary home target we would pick something with more face area.
Who This Bag Suits Best
Choose the BIGSHOT discharge bag for crossbow hunters who need a crossbow-rated target at a remote camp, for crossbow discharge, or as a lightweight spare you can keep in a vehicle. It also works as a travel practice target for field ends.
10. BIGshot Ballistic 450X: Best Large Face Bag Target for Kids and Groups
BIGshot Ballistic 450X Archery Target for Crossbow and Compound Bow – Self-Healing Bag Target – 450 FPS Rated – Dual Core Technology – UV Resistant – Easy Arrow Removal – 26″x28″x13″ – 55 lbs
Polyester shell with internal frame
Rated to 450 FPS
26 x 28 x 13 inches
About 35 pounds
Dual Core
Pros
- Large face for kids and family groups
- Internal frame kills wobble on uneven ground
- Bolts pull out one-handed
- UV resistant rain barrier cover
- Five front spots plus a back face
Cons
- About 35 pounds to reposition
- Cover fades in direct sun
- Tight groups wear one spot fast
The BIGshot Ballistic 450X is the best large face bag target for kids and family groups, because at 26 by 28 by 13 inches it has more usable face than anything else in this roundup. A wide face means a beginner’s mistakes still land on paper, which is the difference between a child who keeps shooting and one who quits.
It uses Dual Core Technology rated to 450 FPS, and an internal frame gives it 55 pounds of listed stability weight with real-world carry weight around 35 pounds. Crossbow shooters running 400 to 425 FPS report reliable stopping and one-handed bolt removal.
The internal frame is the part owners praise most after stopping power. It keeps the bag rock solid with no tipping on uneven backyard ground, which means the aiming point does not shift when a kid hits it hard and accidentally teaches themselves a different sight picture than the one you set.
The cover is self-healing, UV resistant with a rain barrier, and the front carries five target spots with a second aiming face on the back. That back face is useful in a family setting because it gives you a second station without a second target.
A Big Face and an Internal Frame
Face size is a decision about people, not about archery. When three people are shooting in rotation, a 26 by 28 inch face holds two shooters side by side and absorbs the wide early groups that beginners produce. That keeps the useful shooting area intact far longer than a compact bag.
The internal frame also changes how the bag behaves in wind and on rough ground. Instead of a soft rectangle that tips and swings, you have something that sits where you put it. For a family yard where kids run around the shooting area, predictable target position is worth more than a lighter carry weight.
Fading, Weight and Tight-Group Wear
About 35 pounds is the heaviest carry in this group once you account for the frame, and the listing weight is more than double the practical number, so plan on two hands or a cart. Buyers also note that the cover colour fades if it sits in direct sunlight through an entire summer.
Repeated hits in the same spot reduce stopping power, which is true of every bag here but more noticeable on a single-face bag. This one also lists broadhead compatibility in its feature set, but owners who tried broadhead tips report a torn face, so treat it as field-point only like the rest of this list.
Who This Bag Suits Best
Choose the 450X if a group shares one yard and you want the biggest face per pound available in a bag. It suits compound and crossbow shooters, and the lifetime warranty makes it a reasonable long-term purchase for a shared family setup.
How to Hang a Bag Target So It Stays Put
Most bag targets already have grommets in the top, so the standard hang in forum advice is a length of rope or a set of zip ties through the grommets and around a branch or a purpose-built post. Buy the chains and hooks if you want the target to survive wind and rain without retying it every week.
Add weight to the bottom. A bag that hangs free swings when it takes a hit, and a swinging bag changes your sight picture. A short length of chain, a sandbag loop, or a strap with a small block of wood at the base settles it and keeps the face square.
Never hang a bag directly over a fence without a backstop behind it. If you cannot install a post, a portable steel frame that comes with its own hanger is the alternative that Archery Talk regulars recommend, and it moves between the garage, the yard and a field in one piece.
Check the hang every few weeks, especially after a storm. Hardware loosens, ropes stretch, and a bag that has dropped a foot is no longer aimed where you left it.
How to Make a Bag Target Last Three Years or More
The single biggest mistake backyard shooters make is dumping every group into the same tight cluster at the same height. That is where bags fail, and it is a habit, not a product defect. Shooters on r/Archery describe it plainly: the fill under the bullseye compresses, stops absorbing energy, and arrows start tunnelling.
Spread your groups deliberately. Use the different printed faces, the nine-ball and dartboard layouts, and the off-center marks on two-sided bags. Change aiming points every few ends so the wear pattern across the face stays even, and you will get several times the arrow count out of the same bag.
Rotate and flip whenever the product allows it. The Morrell Double Duty cube has multiple faces by design, and the two-sided bags can simply be turned. A face that looks shot out from the front is fresh material on the back.
Track volume roughly. Entry bags with 38 to 54 layers handle on the order of a thousand to a few thousand field points before the fill goes soft, and a premium bag with a replaceable cover can go well beyond that. Shooting a few hundred arrows a week with groups spread out, expect a couple of seasons before the centre feels soft.
Bring it in when the weather turns, or cover it. UV exposure fades printed faces and eventually makes outer fabric brittle. Storage between seasons in a dry garage is the single cheapest life extension available to you.
If the fill goes soft before you expect, the bag is not finished. Replacement bags and replacement covers are the intended refresh point, and the shell is usually still in good shape. Owners who swap the cover instead of replacing the whole target get considerably more shooting out of each purchase.
Bag Target vs Foam vs 3D: When a Bag Is the Wrong Choice
If the answer to your next question is a deer, a bag is the wrong target. What type of target is best for deer hunting practice? A 3D foam target, because broadhead practice requires a surface that a cutting edge cannot shred, and because organ placement on an animal silhouette teaches the shot you will actually take in the field. A bag teaches grouping and form, not anatomy.
You cannot shoot broadheads into a bag target. Cutting edges slice the woven shell and the internal layers, and the bag loses stopping power where it has been cut. If you need broadhead practice, buy layered foam or a 3D foam target instead.
A bag is also the wrong choice for very high volume. Shooters putting a thousand arrows a week through one spot should be using a foam block, which tolerates tens of thousands of field points before you think about replacing a face. A bag is built for hundreds a week, not thousands.
Here is where each type earns its place:
Bag target: low running cost per arrow stopped, fastest arrow removal, fully portable, field points only, needs weather care.
Layered foam block: self-healing faces, broadhead-capable, handles tens of thousands of arrows, heavier and more expensive up front.
3D foam target: realistic organ practice, expensive, needs a broadhead-capable arrow, useless for pure group measurement.
So who should not buy a bag target? If you shoot broadheads, if you fire more than about 400 arrows a week, or if your only goal is deer practice, spend the money on foam. For everyone else, a bag is the correct tool and it is correct because it is cheap, forgiving and fast to pull arrows from.
How to Choose the Right Bag Target for Your Bow
Match the fps rating to your bow before anything else. A rating is the highest arrow speed the bag is designed to stop, so a 425 FPS bag is fine for a recurve or a hunting compound and wrong for a crossbow at 450 FPS. Heavier arrows are safer than lighter ones at the same speed because momentum matters more than velocity alone.
Size the face to your distance. Under 20 yards, an 18 inch face works. At 25 to 30 yards, look for 20 to 23 inches. At 40 yards with a fast compound, you want 26 by 28 inches or you will be reading impacts off a seam.
Count your arrows. Hundreds a week suits a 38 to 54 layer bag. A thousand a week or more suits foam, full stop. Buying a thin bag for heavy volume is the fastest way to buy the same bag twice.
Check the weather rating honestly. Weatherproof bags such as the Morrell Supreme 3 and the BIGshot can stay out through seasons. Bags described as weather-resistant need a porch, a tree canopy or a cover between sessions, and printed faces will fade faster either way.
Look for a replaceable cover if you plan to keep the bag for years. It changes the cost of ownership more than the sticker price, because it means you are replacing a shell instead of a whole target when the arrow holes finally go ragged.
Finally, think about arrow removal. Every bag pulls out by hand with no tools, but oversize outserts and deep shots can still be stubborn in cold weather. Lighter arrows from a youth bow are easier to extract than heavy crossbow bolts, so a bag that a parent can clear quickly is worth more to a family than a marginal increase in layer count.
When Building Your Own Bag Target Beats Buying One
Archery forum regulars build their own bags out of cheap materials, and for pure backyard practice it works. The most common recipe is a large coffee-bean sack or heavy woven sack filled with discarded stretch wrap, packed as heavy or as light as your bow requires. Users describe the result in strong terms and the advantage is that you can tune the fill per bow.
Synthetic woven contractor trash bags are the other favourite fill, praised for arrow stopping and for holding up in weather. Old clothing packed around a core of plastic bottles gives you a bag that swallows arrows and costs almost nothing.
Know what you are getting. A DIY bag has no fps rating, no warranty and no weather seal, and a loose fill goes soft faster than the layered foam in a manufactured bag. It also cannot be rotated between faces, which is exactly the habit that extends the life of a bought target.
Our take: build one as a second target so two people can shoot at once, or as a kids-only bag while the good one stays clean. Use the manufactured bag as your primary if you shoot a crossbow or if the bag lives outside in all four seasons.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best archery target for playing in the backyard?
The Morrell Yellow Jacket Stinger is the best archery target for backyard practice, because it shoots from two sides, carries ten printed bullseyes, weighs 18.3 pounds and lets arrows pull out by hand without tools. The Hurricane 2-Sided 28 Inch bag is the upgrade if you want a wider face and more room for beginner error. Both stop field points only, so no broadheads.
Can I target practice with my bow in my backyard?
Yes, provided you own the property end to end and put a real backstop behind the target. Shoot into open space you control, check local and HOA rules first, keep every person and pet behind the shooting line, and never shoot over a road, sidewalk or public right-of-way. A bag stops arrows that hit it; it does nothing about arrows that miss.
What is a good archery backstop for a backyard?
A purpose-built archery net, a stack of straw bales, or a rated ballistic backstop positioned directly behind the bag works well. The backstop must sit closer than the target so deflected and missed arrows are captured before they reach a fence, road or neighbour. Attach the bag to a post or tree with rope or chains, and add weight at the bottom so it does not swing.
What type of target is best for deer hunting practice?
A 3D foam target is the better choice for deer hunting practice, because it requires broadheads and teaches organ placement on an animal silhouette. Bag targets are field-point only, since cutting broadhead edges shred the woven shell and destroy stopping power. A bag is excellent for form, grouping and sight-in, but it cannot rehearse the shot you will take in the field.
How long does a bag archery target last?
An entry bag with 38 to 54 layers typically handles on the order of a thousand to a few thousand field points before the internal fill goes soft, and a bag with a replaceable cover can go well beyond that. Lifespan collapses fast if you shoot a tight group into the same spot. Spread your groups, rotate or flip the target between faces, and cover it or store it between seasons.
Final Verdict: The Best Bag Targets for Backyard Practice
After working through ten bags, the best bag targets for backyard practice come down to two names. The Morrell Double Duty 450 FPS Cube takes the top spot because it is the only bag in this group that combines a rotateable cube, a replaceable cover and easy two-finger arrow removal, which is the combination that survives a real season of backyard volume.
Buy the Hurricane 2-Sided 28 Inch bag if you shoot recurve or traditional and want the widest face per pound. Buy the Morrell Yellow Jacket Stinger for family and youth practice on two sides. Buy the Delta McKenzie Crossbow MAX Speedbag only if you shoot fast crossbow bolts, and buy foam instead the moment you want to shoot a broadhead.
Whichever you choose, hang it properly, put a backstop behind it, spread your groups and rotate the faces. Those four habits matter more to how long the bag lasts than any number on the box. Ratings change over time, so check the current listing before you buy.
