Feathers verses Vanes for hunting

Daniel Boone · 03-26-2009, 10:32 PM

I just dont get it. Why some perfer feathers over vanes.

Tournament archers have proven that vanes fly accurate. Blazers stabilize broadheads well as four and five inch vanes.

Vanes hold better practicing.

Dont fold if wet.

Its one thing I will never understand

scottnorthwest · 03-26-2009, 10:35 PM

Really, people use feathers? Why? I could see if you were a traditional bow guy who wanted to go all the way but otherwise?

Daniel Boone · 03-26-2009, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottnorthwest

Really, people use feathers? Why? I could see if you were a traditional bow guy who wanted to go all the way but otherwise?

They do look pretty cool!
DB

scottnorthwest · 03-26-2009, 11:38 PM

True. Always wanted to make my own bow, arrows, points, etc. Made the whole mess flyfishing, minus the reel, pretty fun to catch a nice brown on a home made rig.

jim p. · 03-27-2009, 05:41 AM

I've shot both vanes and feathers with my traditional bow (home made selfbow). On one side, feather's are giving. On the other, they can be noisy should you brush against something. When wet, they don't fly as well as when dry. Basically for traditional hunting, they seem to fit in (look good).
hope this helps -

jim p.

red44 · 03-27-2009, 07:43 AM

They're light, they're more forgiving of contact, they have more drag because of the texture (that may be a positive or a negative depending on the application). But yes they don't like rain, and are louder.

48down · 03-27-2009, 02:43 PM

No big reason for using feathers other than personal preference and I just like the way they look when they get bloody

Daniel Boone · 03-27-2009, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 48down

No big reason for using feathers other than personal preference and I just like the way they look when they get bloody

Thats a fact no one can deny
DB

bowmender · 03-27-2009, 03:46 PM

How many seasons have you spent hunting with feathers DB ?

rpford53 · 03-27-2009, 05:56 PM

As for the noise of feathers you can go to the Gateway site and hear the difference between the Blazer and the Rayzr. The waterproofing that Gateway sells works, I shot in a two day tournment and it rained both days and I had no problem with my Rayzrs lying down. Oh here is a pick shown the success of the Rayzr at 312fps.

red44 · 03-27-2009, 08:58 PM

Nice bull.
I've been using a set of maximas with 2.5" feathers in 4 fletch pattern for a couple of years with my best, most accurate bow. Could be it's co-incidence, but that set-up has worked great for me with every broadhead I've screwed on the front. I don't typically hunt in the rain, but I do have vanes on a few if I think they could get wet. But if weather is not an issue I'll load the feathered ones into the quiver.
Are they better? I doubt it, but I like what I've experienced with them.

harleyryder · 03-28-2009, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bowmender

How many seasons have you spent hunting with feathers DB ?

Know ol Daniel, probably a lot , if you would've asked me I would've said ....................................52

Hawkeye · 03-31-2009, 12:32 PM

There are several reasons why I use feathers rather than plastic vanes. Go to Trueflight Feather's web site and find out a wealth of info on feathers vs. vanes. You might just convert!

Daniel Boone · 03-31-2009, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hawkeye

There are several reasons why I use feathers rather than plastic vanes. Go to Trueflight Feather's web site and find out a wealth of info on feathers vs. vanes. You might just convert!

I assure you if feather flew better than vanes. You wouldnt see tournament shooters shooting them. I have shot them for indoors and there a pain in the butt! I have in my early days shot them and they were a pain in the butt in the field as well. I couldnt get my broadheds to group any better than they do with Blazers.
DB

Daniel Boone · 03-31-2009, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by harleyryder

Know ol Daniel, probably a lot , if you would've asked me I would've said ....................................52

Gotta use what works for you. You might not even have the newest bow on the market!

DB

Daniel Boone · 03-31-2009, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 48down

No big reason for using feathers other than personal preference and I just like the way they look when they get bloody

Heck blood looks just as good on my vanes. Then I can wipe it off easier.

hutchies · 03-31-2009, 04:06 PM

I use feathers on my indoor arrows..................Habit I guess.

eldermike · 03-31-2009, 04:31 PM

I am converting on two fronts. I just purchased a dozen carbon arrows with blazers, first carbon and first vane. I am not yet a target archer, but a long time bow shooter and hunter and I have used only wood or aluminum and feathers all my life. But.......I like these new arrows

jdawg240 · 03-31-2009, 07:34 PM

Feathers were a pain in the butt for me back in the day. I love plastic

Ronhop · 03-31-2009, 09:42 PM

I use feathers for indoor but plastic for outdoor. I tried Rayzrs last year for the R-100 and they were fine but when I switched to Blazers my groups improved.

I'm still working on that bow setup and such for the 82nd though but I'm pretty much going to stick with Blazers for everything but indoor spots.

I think....

Ron

hstubblefield · 04-01-2009, 06:02 PM

My blazers fly great I wouldent trade them for feathers

grizz49 · 04-02-2009, 01:34 AM

DB,

You raise a good point, when I worked for Cabela's I shoot hundreds of test arrows for them. We tried to find faults in using something else over the new Blazers when they first came out. Hands down, blazers were faster, smoother off the bow, stablized a hunt set up faster than any other vane or feather choice. But still to this day a bunch of arrows are sold annually with feathers
instead of vanes. And lots of helical clamps and feathers are always avaible for the do it yourselfer.

I think some of the old school guys who have adapted to the modern compound have elected to keep something from the past as part of the hunting setup. After all the feathers came from a living thing in the woods, just like the wood in bows of not so long ago! Our own Ted Nuggent still likes all white feathers on his nuge arrows. It is also what makes our sport so
great the difference, and the dedication we have have to achive the perfect arrow flight! :

good hunting! I have used both with great success!

harleyryder · 04-02-2009, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daniel Boone

Gotta use what works for you. You might not even have the newest bow on the market!

DB

Sure don't lol it's a 07 discontinued model ..............

wyoming4x4 · 04-03-2009, 12:07 AM

I've been shootin feathers with my target bow and have certain arrows I shoot because they shoot great. In our group I shoot with I'm one of the one to beat and I'm the only feather shooter now. They do look cool. Mine are getting warn and see some strange flight in them and gonna refletch soon with more feathers. Gonna get some eclipse arrows soon and gonna experiment with vanes on them. my hunting arrows are quickspins. But no matter what arrow fletching I shoot you always seem to have acouple of arrows out of each group that shoot alike and consistant. I look at the other arrows and wonder why because they look like the rest. Maybe its a ripley's believe it or not situation, still learning this target thing.

harleyryder · 04-03-2009, 07:54 PM

[QUOTE=Daniel Boone;235282]I just dont get it. Why some perfer feathers over vanes.

Tournament archers have proven that vanes fly accurate. Blazers stabilize broadheads well as four and five inch vanes.

I guess if I was to follow that line of thought I would be shooting a Mathews cause that's what Tim G. shoots and wins with. No no no wait make that a hoyt cause that's what Dave C. shoots and wins with. Now you gone and did it Daniel.

I don't know what bow to shoot cause the Tournament archers have proven that these bows are accurate but I prefer another brand

lol
Playing with ya DB.
Anyways it's cause that I hunt with my set-up, Blazers did NOT stabilize my BH's as well as 4"feathers..Feathers will compensate for that sometimes little error while in the heat of the moment.And just cause they're wet and look terrible they'll still get the job done(try it !!!) And if the deer(or whatever)hears your feathers , he also heard your bow string ,your heavy breathing Etc..
.

BowhuntnHoosier · 04-04-2009, 12:08 PM

I prefer vanes but love the looks of feathers.

rut · 04-05-2009, 02:27 AM

I like feathers and Blazers both.Here is a picture of one of my homemade wild turkey feathered arrows.I make these fletchings from my spring turkey kills.They are in 3 inch shield cut.I cut,grind,and chop these right from the bird.

Hawkeye · 04-05-2009, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rut

I like feathers and Blazers both.Here is a picture of one of my homemade wild turkey feathered arrows.I make these fletchings from my spring turkey kills.They are in 3 inch shield cut.I cut,grind,and chop these right from the bird.

Rut, Those are some nice looking feathers. I've been keeping my turkey wing feathers for some time now. I also fletch all my own shafts with feathers, but I don't know how to make my own fletching from my wing feathers. Could you teach me? Thanks, Hawkeye

rut · 04-05-2009, 12:43 PM

Here you go Hawk:

Here is what I do and they come out perfect.Take the primary wing feathers from the appropriate wing you plan to use(left or right)and split them down the middle with a razor knife.Split them from the inside of the feather by following the crease in the quill.Once I have the splitting done,I trim the feather from each end so that I have the middle portion of the feather left.This is usually the highest point of the oil line of the feather also.You can see the oil line by holding the feather up to a light source.The oil line gives the feather its stiffness.Once I'm at this point I take a striaght fletching clamp and place the feather into it.Once the feather is in the clamp I get some 220 grit sand paper and begin sanding the quill down to the right thickness.The clamp makes holding the feather a heck of alot easier and keeps the quill striaght while sanding.The sanding takes no time at all and you can gauge the proper thickness of the quill you want by comparing it to a factory ground feather.Once the feather is ground down,I then take and cut the feather to the desired shape and length by using a tool made by "Little Chopper".Put the feather in the chopper,smack it and out pops a perfect feather .You can get the Little Choppers at Three Rivers Archery.

Hawkeye · 04-06-2009, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rut

Here you go Hawk:

Here is what I do and they come out perfect.Take the primary wing feathers from the appropriate wing you plan to use(left or right)and split them down the middle with a razor knife.Split them from the inside of the feather by following the crease in the quill.Once I have the splitting done,I trim the feather from each end so that I have the middle portion of the feather left.This is usually the highest point of the oil line of the feather also.You can see the oil line by holding the feather up to a light source.The oil line gives the feather its stiffness.Once I'm at this point I take a striaght fletching clamp and place the feather into it.Once the feather is in the clamp I get some 220 grit sand paper and begin sanding the quill down to the right thickness.The clamp makes holding the feather a heck of alot easier and keeps the quill striaght while sanding.The sanding takes no time at all and you can gauge the proper thickness of the quill you want by comparing it to a factory ground feather.Once the feather is ground down,I then take and cut the feather to the desired shape and length by using a tool made by "Little Chopper".Put the feather in the chopper,smack it and out pops a perfect feather .You can get the Little Choppers at Three Rivers Archery.

Thank you so much Rut. I'll give a try, but I'm sure that it'll take some time before I can produce fletching as nice as yours!!

J.A.G. · 04-06-2009, 03:42 PM

I'll always use feathers for hunting.. they stabilize the arrow better, any little flinch, grass, leaf, and the feather corrects and straightens the arrow right back up.. the draw back that i see is that the feathers cause drag after 30 yards.. but i dont shoot past that anyway.

for 3D, i just changed to Flex-Fletch 1.5 vanes and they help a lot in the wind, there is nothing to slow down the arrow.. but my lane has to be totally clear and my shot has to be on...

Breck · 08-10-2009, 05:34 PM

Here are my custon cut feathers I cut to fit my bow I used the 3 rivers feather burner to cut the shape I had to make my feathers shorter because of my brace height on the Hoytt Katera.

grizz49 · 08-11-2009, 02:02 AM

I guess a final point should be noted here. Many have given there opinions on feathers or vanes. The Bottom line is that we all what to acheive the best arrow flight possible. We owe it to the game we pursue, and it seems there are still a few good sportsman around. At least on this site!