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Animal Targets

Bullseyes don't move through paddocks at dusk. Feral pigs don't stand still at 150 metres waiting for you to find your zero. If your range work is going to translate to the field, your targets need to reflect what you're shooting at.

Animal targets close that gap. A realistic silhouette with marked vital zones trains your eye for shot placement, not just group size. At H. Rehfisch & Co., we stock animal shooting targets in a range of formats and species to suit pest control, hunting practice, and general field shooting. Order online for fast delivery across Australia, or visit our Ballarat gun shop and talk through your setup.

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Why Animal Targets Make Better Hunters

Shot placement is everything in hunting. A clean, ethical kill on a fox or pig requires knowing where to aim on a moving animal at field distances, not just how to put five shots into a 10-cent piece off a bench. Animal shooters' targets build the right habits from the ground up.

Training with animal targets for shooting means your brain learns to read a target the way it reads a real quarry animal. Shoulder, chest, and neck are the vital zones on an animal silhouette that match what you'll be looking for through your scope in the field. That visual pattern recognition develops with repetition, not on a bullseye.

Experienced hunters use animal shooting targets to test new rifles, dial in loads, and maintain proficiency between seasons. A few sessions on realistic silhouettes before a pig hunting trip is time well spent.
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Steel Silhouette Animal Targets

These targets combine the durability and instant feedback of steel with the realistic shape of an animal target. A steel animal shooting target rings on a solid hit and keeps going, session after session. For dedicated pest control practice, a set of steel animal targets for shooting set at varied distances is one of the most efficient training setups going. See our full steel targets range for compatible options.

For rabbit-specific silhouettes, our Bunnies of Balyang range is purpose-built for all rifles, including rim, centrefire, and pest control practice. Shooters running thermal optics for night work should also consider our thermal targets, designed to show up clearly on a thermal display for after-dark zeroing and drills.

Matching Animal Targets to Your Hunting

Different quarry, different practice requirements. Here's how to match your animal target to the work ahead.

Fox shooting

Foxes are small-bodied, and the vital zone on a fox target is tight. Running paper animal shooting targets at 100–200 metres with your fox load confirms both your zero and your ability to place shots accurately on a small mark under field conditions.

Pig hunting

This involves shooting at closer range in thick country, but also sometimes at distance in open paddocks. A pig-silhouette animal target with marked shoulder and heart/lung zones helps build the muscle memory for correct shot placement, especially for hunters who take steep quartering shots.

Deer and game hunting

This usually suits larger animal targets for shooting with full body profiles. Extended-range practice on a deer silhouette at 200–300 metres is good preparation for alpine or open-country hunting, where longer shots are common.

Match your ammunition choice to the target session, too. Testing new loads or bullet weights on animal shooters targets at hunting distances tells you exactly where your point of impact sits on the vital zone – the only number that matters when a shot counts.

Complete Your Hunting Practice Setup

Animal targets are one part of a well-rounded shooting kit. At H. Rehfisch & Co., everything else is stocked alongside them:

  • Firearms – centrefire and rimfire rifles for pest control and game hunting
  • Scopes – matched to your hunting distances and conditions
  • Thermal optics – for low-light and night hunting setups
  • Ammunition – across calibres for pest control through to big game
  • Gun safes – secure, compliant storage for your firearms

Shop Animal Targets at H. Rehfisch & Co.

Rehfisch & Co. has been equipping Australian hunters and shooters for over 160 years. We stock animal shooting targets because range work should prepare you for the real thing, and a bullseye won't cut it when you're glassing a fox at last light.

Order online with fast Australia-wide delivery, or drop into our Ballarat store and talk through your hunting practice setup with staff who know the field.

Frequently Asked Questions

What species of animal targets for shooting are commonly available?

Most animal shooting target ranges cover key Australian pest and game species, including rabbits, foxes, feral pigs, deer, and goats. Some ranges also include boar heads and predator profiles. Choose silhouettes that match your quarry so your practice translates directly to the field.

Are animal shooting targets suitable for both rimfire and centrefire rifles?

Paper animal targets work with any calibre. Steel animal shooters targets need to be matched to your calibre – rimfire-rated steel for .22 and .17 HMR, Bisalloy hardened steel for centrefire rifle rounds. Always check the steel rating before shooting centrefire rounds at any steel animal target.

How do I use vital zone markings on animal targets effectively?

Aim for the marked vital zone on every shot rather than the centre of the silhouette. This builds correct shot placement habits. Track where your hits land relative to the vital zone, not just whether you hit the target. Consistent vital zone hits at hunting distances are the benchmark worth working toward.

What distance should I practise on animal shooting targets?

Use distances that reflect your real hunting conditions. For fox and rabbit work, 100–200 metres is practical. Pig hunting in open country might push to 250. Deer hunters preparing for alpine trips should run sessions at 200–300 metres. Close-range practice at 50–80 metres also builds confidence for shots in tighter country.

Can animal targets improve shooting for newer hunters?

Animal shooters targets are valuable at any experience level, but they're especially useful for hunters with basic marksmanship already established. Once you can hold a consistent group on paper, moving to animal silhouettes with vital zone markings is the logical next step before heading into the field.

How do steel animal targets compare to paper for hunting practice?

Paper animal shooting targets give you a detailed record of every hit and suit precision zeroing work. Steel animal targets for shooting provide instant audible feedback and last thousands of rounds without replacement. For volume practice and building speed, steel wins.
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