Having had some bow hunts ruined because of rain, I decided to fix that. I once read somewhere that the great Paul Schafer used an elevated rest with aluminum arrows with vanes so I began experimenting with that idea; and it works!
I put a Bear elevated rest on the riser and 4" vanes on aluminum arrows using my left wing fletching clamp. My arrows are flying true!
I'm now ready for the "rainy" hunts.
Does anyone else use vanes instead of feathers. Am I now stepping outside of the traditional world?
Imo there's nothing not Trad about your set up. Shoot what you want and who cares what others think. If it's working for you that's great. It's all about hitting the target this isn't a beauty contest.
this year I started using a RAIN bow!!! Ha HA get it.. No For real, I started using a recurve with an elevated rest and Plastic BLAZER vanes, for when it rains... Hence RAIN -BOW. :D
Matty, I like that; "Rain Bow"! Thanks!
That was kinda good Matty. Might have to consider that move myself.
Later
ChuckC
Not trying to hijack this post, as this is along the same lines, so I thought I'd ask - has anyone here tried Bi-Delta "Rain Vanes"? 3Rivers has them, and I've been tempted to buy them. Along the same line as what you are doing Trooper, but supposedly, you can shoot them off the shelf because they have "micro-groves" cut into them, so they are supposed to resemble feathers, and supposedly get softer with every shot. I've gone back and forth for months over whether I want to try some.... but haven't yet.
All the best,
Glenn
Try Bohning Blazers...4 Blazers and a 3.5" wrap weigh exactly the same as 4-4" feathers and a 7" wrap and they do a fine job steering my 160g Snuffers. I always keep one or two in the quiver during the fall.
Nope,I use feathers.
Goose feathers on the arrow on my rest if its really raining the others are under cover with a plastic bread bag over them.
As far as being tradtional you'll have to take them to a traditional shoot and see if they let you use them that day.That is what you are worried about being tradtional right?
rain-bow!!
thats very catchy!!
u better get that copyrighted!!
I read in Traditional Bowhunter Magazine some time ago 'bout a guy who uses vanes off the shelf. He has his nock point kinda high. This works for him.
Jay Kidwell, author of "Traditional Archery Insights" shoots vanes off a low mounted rest. Great Book By The Way.
As for being "traditional" ... I'd say yes! ... Plastic Vanes OR A Plastic Bag Over Your Feathers ... SAME! SAME! ... Just Have Fun!
... mike ...
I doubt any trad shooting advent would ban you from participation because you had a plastic bag covering your feathers during a rain storm. That may not be the case using a raised rest and plastic vanes. You'll have to ask the official or the trad event if they are trad or not.
I don't think he was asking about anyone picking what class he would fall into in a 3D shoot..."I'm now ready for the 'rainy' hunts."
Murray,
Traditional or not, the vanes and the raised rest work very well for hunting in and out of the rain. As Steve mentioned, the Blazers do an excellent job or controlling my arrows, which have 300 grains up front.
Now, I don't give a thought to what the weather holds for the day, week or season.
Joe
explain to me how useing an elevated rest with vanes, while hunting in rainy weather has anything to do with shooting at foam.
Trooper, came through your neck of the woods in the rain a week ago and it's still raining. Anybody that's hunted very much around there knows that it don't even have to rain to get wet. Glad the vanes are working for you. As they say "mind over matter". If you don't mind, it don't matter.
"Am I now stepping outside of the traditional world?"
Trooper was the one that raised the question What other significance does the word traditional have other than shooting at foam 3d organized events?
I'd have to say that shooting at foam 3D organized events rate WAY down on my personal list of what constitutes the word traditional. I've spoken with Murray a few times over the years and I believe hunting to be his primary interest.
I've posted these pics before, but if it will help, here is a look...
(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b351/osminski/DSC00727.jpg)
(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b351/osminski/DSC00728.jpg)
(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b351/osminski/DSC00729.jpg)
Those little vanes will steer that 160g Snuffer with a 100g steel insert right into the target out to 45 yards. I don't care if somebody says it is traditonal or not. It works when you can't control the weather. So, when you are going to be here:
(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b351/osminski/Kodiak2004009.jpg)
for a week or two and not going to be going home to dry out after sitting in your treestand, you need to use what is practical. Like someone said earlier; Paul Schafer used vanes and I don't imagine anybody would be preaching to him about "traditional".
They look a little silly, but they DO have their place.
I used to have a set up just for rain and the rest for dry days. It makes sense, since now i stay home when it rains.
Steve,
Exactly!
Joe
`Nor do I think Schafer would be preaching that it was.
Murray,
They'll work and the deer will never know the difference...other than better arrow flight as opposed to rain-flattened feathers. Shoot what you like.
Joe
I used to shoot vanes off my Schafer, and when I got my Titan for some reason I fletched with feathers. That was until I shot with njstykbow at Denton Hill. His blazer vane fletched arrows flew great, so I went home and stripped the feathers and put blazers on, and have been more than pleased! Broadheads fly great with them.
As far as trad or not, who cares! Performance is important to me, and they perform! Shoot what ya like, and don't worry about the little things.
Lee
FWIW, I tried the Rain Vains from 3 Rivers. I wouldn't give them away! I could not get them to shoot. I tried for a week. Right helical, left helical, offset, cock vain in, out and all in between. I shot with my nock set from 1/4" to 3/4". They kept cutting my left hand and flew like crap. Out of fustration I fletched up some blazer vains.
Wow, they flew better, and did cut me. I then found some of these shield cut vains. http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s255/poncex2/DSC01937.jpg
They fly right with feathered arrows. They work great on my broadheads too.
I turn the cock vain down like this.
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s255/poncex2/DSC01938.jpg
No more soggy feathers for me.
I think I will give it a try .
I have used AAE vanes for years. use a 4 fletch in an X pattern. For me they are as good as feathers and great on wet days.
If vanes are not traditional, what about carbon arrows, carbon limbs, fast flight strings, mechanical broadheads, etc...
Shoot what you want. If you like a sight, by all means use one.
As your razor sharp broadhead zips through a bucks lungs, do you really think he is wondering if that felt like vanes or feathers?
hey steve o can i get a pic of what your arrows look like when they are set on the string?
Guys...feathers are vanes. The term vane dates back long time, long before plastics.
It's "a general term for the steering device on the rear end of an arrow, irrespective of the material from which it is formed."
Deadpool,
Is this what you are looking for?
(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b351/osminski/DSC07494.jpg)
Since this photo was taken, I have done a lot more work with the vanes. My rest is now set high enough so the vanes clear the shelf no matter what and I run them straight up and down, not cocked as shown here. Also, the Blazer fletching jig works great and puts a lot more helical on the little vanes than a Bitz or JoJan.
What don't you like about them Steve O doesn't sound like your shooting them unless you have too and that you prefer feathers??
Just the looks really...they work good, just look out of place :archer:
Well, I could care less about if the vanes are traditional or not when it comes to 3D shoots; don't shoot them much or care about them. I was just curious.
I'm a bow hunter and discovered something that prevents me from having to stay home when it rains. I wanted to share my discovery and see if anyone else is shooting vanes with trad equipment and maybe give me some pointers. Thanks Steve O for your post and pictures; I picked up something I will try.
Thanks guys for your replys! BTW, my "Rain Bow" is a 70lb Bear t/d with the magnesuim handle; 2018 aluminum arrows; 3 4" vanes mounted with a left wing clamp; Bear green broad heads with the 100 grain steel inserts instead of the aluminum ones. That gives me about a 235 grain broadhead! The arrows fly like darts!!
Ok, dumb question for ya. How do you fletch your vanes for rest clearence?
Well, I could care less about if the vanes are traditional or not when it comes to 3D shoots; don't shoot them much or care about them. I was just curious.
Ohh!! I get it better known as trolling. My BAD I thought you were interested in shooting tradtional shoots with plastic vanes and raised rest other wise I couldn't understand why it mattered. Good Catch
Understood Steve O thanks
Roger Rothhaar has forgotten more in one hour about shooting and hunting with the bow and arrow than I will garner in a lifetime...he says 60x120 is the way to go and that is what I do... ;)
thanks Steve O
I've gotten to where I don't care who does or does not think I'm trad. I have established in my mind what is and nothing is going to change that.
I am shooting 405gr arrows steered by 3 Blazer vanes now, off an elevated rest and plunger button. They work absolutely great! Tried those Rain Vanes too, and I much prefer the Blazers.
confuses?? I want to try this...what size quick spins work best??? does it mater how they are fletched...2 inch quick spins will work???? thanks
I might give some vanes a try for Beaver Hunting....
Mark,
I'd try the Blazers or the 4" QuickSpins. The Blazers have a much higher profile, which is why they work so well for b/heads. You'll probably have to go with the longer QuickSpins to achieve the same surface area.
Joe
Mike, that would probably work great, but I wouldn't pass that little trick onto curlis :biglaugh:
4" vanes work extremely well for me out of my Titan with elevated rest and plunger. I hunt as often as I can and when time allows, not the weather - vanes take rain, etc. out of the equation.
Good one Larry!! :biglaugh:
I hope you guys don't run out and join the rainbow coalition! LOL. Seriously, I shoot woodies and aluminium arrows of the shelf of my Ben Person Cougar.
thanks!! Merry Christmas yall!! :)
thanks steve-o!!
FWIW, I've gotten perfectly acceptable broadhead flight with wet feathers.
I Haven't read every post, just those on page one. Yeah, I started shooting aluminum arrows with vanes from my recurve using an elevated rest. I broke all my woodies and only had two on the others. They fly straight. What surprised me the most was how quiet they flew! I Am thinking about this set up for hunting.