Archery is a sport that developed from primal hunting and survival equipment. It is a sport of kings and queens, but also a sport of the average person. Archery targets vary based upon their purpose; hunting targets are used to help train hunters, and three competition targets reflect the forms of competitive archery. And whether you are using a bow and arrow for fun or for food, targets are readily available for your purchase and practice needs.
Hunting Targets
Some people pursue archery for hunting purposes. If you are using archery to hunt, you can practice using 3D animal targets. Available in the forms of deer, bear, turkey, raccoon and more, these targets give a realistic edge to your practice. While the targets are not a replacement for the real thing, they will help you learn how to aim on an animal’s body as opposed to the center of a circle.
Competition Targets
There are several archery targets designed for competition. The most common is the FITA target, the standard bull's-eye target that is sanctioned by the Federation Internationale de Tir a l’Arc, which governs international archery rules and regulations. The FITA target is used in indoor and field competition and is the standard for the Olympics. The Vegas target, also known as the three-spot target, is comprised of three small circular bull's-eyes arranged in a straight line or as an equilateral triangle, while the five-spot target arranges its five bull's-eyes in the same way as the five side on a die.
Dimension and Distance
The dimensions of an archery target are based, in part, on the archer’s shooting distance; a longer shooting distance requires a larger target. FITA targets vary in size from 40 cm, which is usually used for 18-meter indoor shooting, to 122 cm, which is used for 70- and 90-meter events as well as the Olympics. Other FITA sizes include 60 cm, for use on 25-meter ranges, and 80 cm, which is used for 30- and 50-meter events. Vegas targets and five-spot targets have a standard 40-cm size, usually shot at 20 yards.
Scoring
The type of target you are using determines how your shooting is scored. A FITA target has 10 rings, two rings of white on the outside, followed by two rings of black, then blue, then red and finally two gold bull's-eye rings. The outermost white ring scores one point, while the innermost gold ring--the center of the bull's-eye--scores 10 points; each ring rises in value by one point. The five rings on each bull's-eye in the Vegas target range from six to 10 points, six for the outermost ring and 10 for the centermost ring. A five-spot target consists of four rings; the outer two are scored 4, and the inner two are scored 5. The innermost ring on a five-spot target also contains an X; the number of Xs an archer shoots will help break any ties.
Purchasing
Targets are available for purchase through larger sporting goods stores as well as through specialty archery suppliers. Competition targets are generally inexpensive and most often available as paper sheets that you can mount on a foam block or bale of hay. Hunting targets and other 3D items are pricier, with cost depending on the item in question.
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