Archery Talk

Yeah Faquier butts up against us im right by the county line.

 

I got a 4 pointer in velvet, 4 does,and a fawn by my spot.
Hope some others come calling.
I put up some burlap just hanging on a tree to get them use to something different.
Getting close.

 

Where I’m at in Fauquier the biggest I have seen on cam is a little bitty 6 pointer. But... I know the caliber of bucks around and the rut can bring crazy times. There are at least 5-6 spikes etc. the next 3-4 years is gonna be interesting that’s for sure.

 

I'm in Carroll/ Grayson. Hoping for a good season but well see

 

Good call

 

Ive seen one real solid bodied 8 point, and a couple 4/6 pointers.

 

Nice!

 

Who's using feathers?

My Step Dad and brother refuse to try vanes. Just wondering what are the benefits of feathers vs modern vanes. I've given up trying to explain to them that materials have changed a lot since the 80s. Not saying feathers are bad, just wondering why pretty much everyone beside traditional shooters are using vanes.

 

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Because when I buy my arrows at Walmart that's what's on them.. Lol (vanes)

 

Ha! But that is one answer. Vanes are probably the cheapest solution for building arrows in quantity.

I've been doing some research on feathers today. They interest me. Lots of options. Left wing, right wing, etc..

I love the simplicity of my vanes though. So I think I answered my own question. Vanes are cheaper and simpler and do the job.

 

Looks like you either got a good season in the works, or lots of sleepless nights strategizing!!! Happy for ya bro! Hopefully you get that one.

 

Years ago feathers sucked when they got wet. Don't know if that still applies.
Btw, that's not a knock on feathers at all. Just sayin.

 

Im sure they fly well, but I would imagine unlike the vanes we typically use that they may be able to be damaged during long treks to stands etc. since they can split up the filaments of the feather vanes themselves.

Hey, they gotta work though those Native Americans could shoot the nut out of a squirrel's mouth from a 100 yards away with a primitive longbow!!!

 

Up until a few years ago I used 4" left helical feathers exclusively. The main reason I switched to Blazers was availability of feathers. Local archery shops stopped carrying them or forced you to but in quantities of a 100 or so. I was typically buying a dozen or two that would last a few years. Had no need for that type of quantities.

With that said, IMO, nothing stabilizes arrow flight as well as feathers. 4" feather with a hard helical, fly like a laser beam. Feathers provide rigidity where it's needed as well as forgiveness where needed. A vane provides the exact opposite. A feather is rigid when pushed from the side. A vane is not. It bends. That rigidity is crucial to stabilizing the arrow. Run your finger lengthwise along the fibers of a feather. It will collapse and spring right back up. Just like if there is slight rest contact. A vane is rigid, it will not give if there is minor contact and will influence arrow flight.

Drop aways have pretty much negated any issues with rest contact, but there is the side to side rigidity that I think feathers are better by a slight margin.

And besides, feathers look waaaay cooler. My favorite set up was Easton Axis St arrows, with a camo finish, a gray barred feather and either two yellows or two orange feathers. Damn, theyy looked sharp.

 

What brand feather were you using? I want to build some for myself and need to rebuild a bunch for a couple people that use them.

 

True Flight. They seemed to have a touch lower profile than Gateway. Don't forget, your fletching clamp needs to match the feathers. LH feathers require a LH Clamp. You can fletch with a straight clamp and and off set the clamp. Works OK on small diameter shafts like the Easton Axis ST's or ACC's.

 

Thanks, yeah I got both left and right helical clamps. I'll look for those True Flights.

 

Here's my favorite feather color combination.

 

The Blood Arrow!

 

https://youtu.be/snrlMWLXfDw


Letting em live


I woulda had a hard time passing in 2016 haha