I am thinking about building a set of arrows with orange wraps and white feathers. Has anyone ever had any negative experiences using plain white feathers (ie spooking game, feathers getting dingy looking etc...)?
Never had any bad experiances when I shot all white feathers That was one of my nicknames somewhere else Tom Whitefeathers AND they turn a great shade of RED!
My hunting friend calls those white feathers the kiss of death! When the deer see them white feathers their white flags go up and they bust out of the area.
I like white feathers but I keep them covered when hunting during Gun season. I don't care to be shot at
Ive not had any problems with them personaly,you maybe just have to be sure to draw on the critter when he aint looking. White makes them a bit easier to find as well, mine are all 3 white
Marty...I like that new avatar ya have there buddy
I had a quiver of all white feathers once and felt that I was spooking game due to it. I then made a cover for the fletching. Now I try to use other colors.
Never had a bit of problems with white crown and white feathers. I'm inclined to think the blob of human moving those white feathers around will spook game long before the color does.
Like Buff says, I keep them covered when hunting during gun season for obvious reasons!!
I'm fortunate to live where I hunt, so I typically get out 5-7 times a week during the season. During the early season it is common to see at least several deer each hunt, albeit mostly does and yearlings. By the time the pre-rut rolls around, in a typical year, I'll have enjoyed the company of dozens of (mostly antlerless) deer. My point is, I see lots of deer and they in turn have ample opportunity to see me.
I have mostly used red, red barred, orange, and natural barred feathers as my fletching of choice over the years with no issues or negative consequences as far as being picked off goes. Last year, after posing a similar question on this forum I experimented with white crest wraps and white feathers for the first time. It may be relevant to note that I use three, 5.5" banana maxis.
Hunting the same properties (and really the same deer) that I have in years past, it became apparent to me that deer do appear to notice white fletching moreso than red, orange, and natural barred fletching. Even while sitting completely motionless as just an observer, with no intent of attempting a shot - with my bow hanging on a limb or laying across my lap- more deer seemed to notice the white fletching.
This was my firsthand experience using white fletching.
I don't see a reason to carry/possibly wave around inadvertently, a color that deer see and associate with danger. I like yellow. I think they are more visible than white and just dang sexy. I use all yellow three fletch.
i use all white feathers, white arrow wraps, and white knocks.
I used all white feathers for a while and never saw anything wrong with that combo. Don't use 'em any more simply because I prefer all flourescent yellow for even greater visability/findability...
Labs makes a good point, however, I don't believe it's the color white as much as it is the amount of light reflected by it. That is the reason white is so visible in low light.
Compare a new white feather to one you've been stumping with for awhile and you'll see how much more light (glare) is reflected by the new one. Same goes with using gloss white instead of satin white for the crown. You can get about the same shooting benefit from roughed up white feathers without the reflective drawbacks.
No offense, but deer do not associate white with danger. Deer use their tails for a whole lot more communicating than running away. White is all over the woods naturally, just without the glare.
I've used white feathers for about a year now as I moved to them due to seeing this colour the best when the arrow is in flight.
Some good points made above but from my accounts so far I've had no troubles hunting deer with white feathers.
I only hunt spot and stalk as well as ambush and I find if you've got you hunting techniques down right, with some luck this happens...
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v504/Longbow_lad/IMG_0966.jpg)
12 yard shot from a kneeling position and this young fella was dinner. I had him and some does around me for 15 odd minutes. I was waiting out on Mr Big hanging just out of bow range... as they always do!
Hope this helps.
A.K
I've used white fletch,cresting,and nocks for about 90% of my hunting arrows over the last 8-10 years and manage to take 3-5 deer a season.I've never noticed the deer being alerted to them specifically.I do however remove my quiver and hang it beside me while in the tree stand.
I use white feathers all the time. I have never had a problem with deer seeing them. I took 5 deer last season all with white feathers.
I've use them off and on. Don't anymore. Had too many hogs see them and shy away. I hunt shadows mostly and I guess the white feathers on the arrow just show up too well.
I always have a cover over my fletch in the stalker quiver but the arrow on the bow is visible.
I use "stealth" colors now and can't find the darn things if I miss.
LOL
Mike
I used to use white wraps and white and chartreuse fletchings but it seemed to me that I was getting noticed more than usual. I switched to pink (thanks to Mr. Eichler) and I actually see my arrows better in flight and can find them easier. May be coincidence but I didn't seem to get noticed as much this year with the pink.
I use white feathers, crown dip and nocks on my practice arrows, but use barred feathers on my hunting arrows. Don't think it makes much difference if you hunt from a tree, but white at ground level is pretty easy to pick up. My brother uses flourescent yellow feathers with white crowns and nocks. Hasn't been a problem for him from trees, but doesn't hunt on the ground much.
I love the look of white feathers going toward the target, but I use mostly yellow or chartreuse. I rarely cap dip my arrows....I'm lazy about that, but I think I'll try some wraps this year....below the fletching, just to be different.
I have always used a white cock feather since it helps with nocking an early morning hunting arrow in the dark. I usually use red camo or barred hen feathers. My $0.02...
I shoot solid white feathers on nearly all my arrows, never had any problems with deer. Had a flock of turkeys pick them up while I was in the tree but even they didn't take off running. Seemed to be more of curiousity for them.
I like the way all white shows up in flight and on the target. It showed up very well on the deer I shot (the one on my avitar) and I knew shot placement was good! I take my quiver off my bow however. I am experementing with brown barred fletching and a white tracer with a bright nock so maybe I won't have to take my quiver off.
A late January hunt this year found me on the ground in my ghille suit and my friend in a tree. Around noon I decided to take a short walk down the edge of the woods where my friend was able to occasionally see me through breaks in the trees. His comment afterwards......."You've got to get rid of those white feathers. There were times when you were completely invisible with the ghille, but those white fletches on your arrows always showed up like a neon sign!!!!" I decided then and there to use those turkey feathers in the freezer. No more white for me. dj
this doe didn't seem to mind the white wraps and naners...
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v504/hickstick/07doe.jpg)
I also use chartreuse and like both...one morning while gathering my gear in the dark, I accidentally hit my chartreuse fletch with a black light. man DO THOSE THINGS GLOW....also the flo. yellow nocks glow too....so much for non-UV camo :)
I never had a problem using white fletch. They help kill deer just as well as any other color I have used. :bigsmyl:
I dont care if your wearing a gillie suit, if your moving around, a deer is gonna see you, no matter what color your feathers are. I've taken a lot of game with white feathers, and only got busted when I was not paying attention and moving around.
I can't see that Fred Bear had any problems using white feathers. Things that move are what critters hone in on.
QuoteOriginally posted by Rufus:
I can't see that Fred Bear had any problems using white feathers. Things that move are what critters hone in on.
I'll second that - it ain't so much the color, it's definitely the movement.
I've never had a problem with white feathers.
Pretty white fletching makes for pretty red fletching :bigsmyl:
(http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j87/SOS_321/Arrow.jpg)
This arrow was four fletch all white on a doe, similar arrow killed a nice buck a month later. The white capped with white and barred feather took two more deer. I do use a fletch cover, to cut down on the flash especially still hunting. Maybe not such a problem in a tree. Cheers
Been using all white or mostly white feathers (2 of 3) for over a decade, and have killed everything with them, from the ground and from the tree. I think the ability to see my arrows in flight, and at the point of impact, is much greater IMO than occasionally being "busted" by them. And I can't really say that I get busted any more than I usually would anyway. So there! :p
I started using them one year when I failed to see my arrow mortally hit a nice buck one evening in failing light, and hence, waited on bloodtrailing due to insufficient spoor. Next morning I found the deer in short order, but so had the coyotes. I had used a dark green stained shaft with grey barred feathers, and the dark colors got "lost" in the action. I've shot white ever since. Also, using white fletchings has made me a better shooter, as I can see my shots in my peripheral vision more clearly.
FWIW, I occassionally shoot white fletching but have some concerns about them flagging more than other colors AND I do NOT find them to be the most visible in flight. I love pink 4 fletch. Under all conditions I have encountered they are tops for visibility in flight and the most findable color in all environments I hunt in.
Hot pink if you are man enough!
I have been using all white feathers and all white SHAFTS for over 20 years with no problems.
I have had at least one white fletching for as long as I can remember. Sometimes I have had two, it just depended on what I had on hand. The other fletching have always been something bright and I cannot ever remember an instance where I thought I was busted because of fletching color. I hunt from the ground or trees depending on the situation.
I have never really had a problem with keeping them clean either except of course after they have done their job ;) . Even then I have cleaned them up to a reasonable level.
As you will see in one of these recent pics I have even gone to a reflective band on them. I do not use wraps anymore as I had a problem with my severe helical peeling them off.
Yes, we shoot a lot of does around here :D
(http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e270/fflynn1/011208_1726.jpg)
(http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e270/fflynn1/100_1489.jpg)
(http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e270/fflynn1/100_2541.jpg)
QuoteOriginally posted by rastaman:
i use all white feathers, white arrow wraps, and white knocks.
Me too.Never had a problem with getting deer in close(as in 10yds or under)
There have been times when I swear they gave me away. For what it is worth, I think they can be a negative in low light conditions, that is when UV light is most visible.
I placed my quiver under a blacklight and the white feather did glow. Game also sees in that specturm.
I still use them from time to time, because they are so easy to track. I have no problem in a ground blind, but have switched to yellow as the next best choice for visibility.
However to be honest, most of my white feather use are on practice when getting use to a new bow, or the 3D range.
I have wanted to try the white goose feathers, I might go back to white if the UV is eliminated. I would like to hear from others on the subject.
I agree w/BUFF dang near got shot once during gun season due to all white feathers. Lucky he can't aim.
Second, I like all yellow or yellow barred, cant see good as the white but then I dont catch a stray round either. As far as spooking deer?? I never had a problem using white.
Later
J
I agree it's probably movement more than the white that flag the deer. But put them together which, is needed for drawing the bow, and it doubles the problem. I have quiver issues. Don't like the covers. Don't like having to take them off my bow. Don't like a back quiver for hunting deer because I use a backpack. I like to hunt with some wind so I can get away with some movement. Shot an arrow with dark fletching and a bright nock and white tracer. Excellant visabiltiy on the target. Not sure if it is so visable in flight. Definitely worth shooting some more.
I should also mention that this past fall I saw info on homemade lighted nocks and tried them and love them!...thats far and above white fletch for inflight visibility.
I don't just hunt deer, I hunt big deer. These deer are 4 to 6 years in age and I don't have any problem with white feathers. Heck I have white wraps on as well. i DON'T BELIEVE THE DEER SEE THE WHITE MORE THAN THEY SEE MAYBE, MOVEMENT.My .02
I think Mark Baker had the best answer.MY 2 cents.
if you are getting busted, maybe you could have changed your aproach to the shot or maybe you couldnt and have been busted anyway, some one is going to have to test the colors on all game, i dont know how you would go about it but i would find it interesting,
Personaly i love all white and wraps on black bears in low light, nothing like seeing white disapear in black. I dont know about deer but i hut blacktails in the snow and you can see your hit but not your miss and finding it sucks if you miss, I think pink would be great for snow hunting, dark probably the worst. Im shure moving white does stand out in a dark background. just have to decide on what is aceptable and find a happy medium.
White is a natural color in the woods. rabbits, squirrels, deer, birds, mushrooms and trees all have white so why would white spook deer.
White and chartruese feathers glow like a beacon under a blacklight. I understand that this is due to the UV and that animals are sensitive to it or see it readily. I have used both for the last few years. I checked mine with a black light after reading a post by Ron Laclair about "glowing feathers" a few months ago and they do indeed look like a neon sign. I'm going to use a fletch cover next year just in case.