Hey all,
I would like to hear some opinions on the Cat Quivers, especially the number 1.
Have you used or currently use one? Would you recommend it? How easy is it to get arrows out of it when needed?
If you have any other recommendations for side type quivers, I'd appreciate hearing them.
Thanks for your time.
Nalajr
tried a cat quiver a few years ago and did not like it at all...very inconvenient to draw from. Went to a hip quiver that was OK, now I use a 3 arrow bow quiver that I really like. Never really saw the need for carrying around a dozen shafts..unless of course you're going to be miles from your source.
In my opinion
The idea of a catquiver is great. I have a cat quiver III but in reality for the guy that is going to park his rig and walk a quarter mile to his stand they are a bit cumbersome because the first thing I do when I get in the stand is hang my quiver. Currently I use a GFA quiver and am very happy with it. Seems to be a good compromise for me.
On other minor problem. Catquivers require all your arrows to be roughly the same length. Can make it difficult to carry blunts or other small game heads.
Caleb
I have a Catquiver II and a Catquiver V. I used to use the II quite a bit because I never liked the way most bow quivers felt on My longbows.
The Catquiver V is a large daypack with a catquiver mini attached. I like it for all day hunts or Elk hunting. To big for whitetail hunting everyday around home.
I now hunt with a EFA 4 arrow bow quiver around home with a fanny pack.
It was always easier for Me to get a arrow out of the catquiver than a regular back quiver. I You want to use two different style heads like Judos and broadheads You have to rig a piece of foam or rubber to make up the arrow length.
I used a Catquiver for years. Nice quiver, but I prefer my Arrowmaster. Easier to retrieve and replace arrows and packs great. Comes off and can be hung in tree quickly too.
I also used it for many years and never really liked it. I got an arrowmaster a few years ago and love it.
Clunky. There's no perfect quiver, however, and it takes a while to find what's going to work for you. Most of us change things around on a regular basis, I think, when it comes to quivers. They all have drawbacks, IMHO.
I love my cat quiver. I have one and my 10 year old son has one. They work great. We can fit what we need in it and easy to get the arrows out. Just reach back around your hip and grab the arrow. Deer don't even see the movement. I am not one for bow quivers. Just my 2 cents.
Ive had the CQ1, an Arrowmaster and many others, even though I like bow quivers a little better the Arromaster was the best of any side or back quiver I have ever owned! Very user friendly, quiet and well built.
Have a I and a III.5. I use them every hunt. Very easy to get an arrow out of while on your back. I use the I in the early season when hot and use the III.5 later when packing in a jacket and extra gear for rut hunting.
If I had to pick one it would be the III.5 as you will need some other fanny pack to take extra gear.
Good luck
T.J.
i had one and i did not like it so i started makeing my own quivers stalker type much better.plus Indian lakota quivers good luck in finding the right quiver as it is a hard quest. :thumbsup:
I had one; and it had some value; like I would use it in a treestand hung on a branch. Kept the fletch and nocks from attracting attention.
But elk hunting and stalking; well your fine until you want to sit down- then you find out the disadvantage of them. Also if you fall and land while in steep country the thing is pretty dangerous.
I liked having one - more than I liked using it.
As has been said; you kind of have to figure out which way of carrying arrows is best for ~you~ ...
I have had 2 CQs, and my response is one word: Arrowmaster.
I own a II, a mini, and a IV I use the 2 more than any, I have tried other quivers but feel the cat is the best quiver out there.. it keeps the arrows very handy and protects them and when hung in a tree beside you keeps everything very handy..
Made my own based on the cat quiver design and I love it. Mine has a bigger pack and a built in stool, get on post, take the quiver off, unfold the seat legs and relax while glassing or siting in the blind.
Rick P...could you post pics? Sounds very interesting.
I like my CQ 1.5 a lot, but mainly for still-hunting when I'm doing it for a full day or so. Fletches are protected and 100% hidden. I beefed up the lower part of the bonnet with some aluminium arrow sections so it wouldn't springboard so much. Getting an arrow out is simply reaching in back, lifting up the shaft a tad, pulling it out and letting it slide down into my hand....all that movement can be completely hidden from a deer's view. I think this style of quiver serves a very unique purpose and it's well worth the money.
Did not like mine at all. Use it once and then sold it.
I use a Cat Quiver MINI in combination with a wool daypack. That combo is extremely quiet and entirely comfortable.
The arrows are at my side and, therefore, are easily removed from the quiver . . . easier than any OTHER Cat Quiver or (in my opinion) any other back quiver. More important, arrows are more easily placed back INTO the quiver than with any other Cat Quiver.
The Mini is also easily manipulated when I'm
in the thick stuff OR when I want to remove it and place it next to me on a stand.
Mark
I use a II in Fl, but when I go up north I use a III and pack an extra sweater and hat in the pack in case temps change on me, im kind of warm blooded..I tried a hip quiver but it did not suit me, I have to walk thru some thick stuff on occasions and found a back quiver centered in my back works for me. I have not used any other back quiver for hunting, there are other fine choices out there but since I have a few CQs i ll keep using them.
QuoteOriginally posted by yukon chuck:
Rick P...could you post pics? Sounds very interesting.
Not at all a computer guy but a friend who will be visiting over T-day is.....I'll try to get some posted while he's here.
I have had 3 Catquivers and prefer the Mini the best. You can use it by itself when going light or in combination with a pack of your choosing. It is the only thing I will use for hunting. :jumper:
I didn't care for the cat quiver,couldn't sit with it on and hard to put arrows back in the quiver while I had it on.
I have used a Cat Quiver I for many years and liked it. I now prefer the arrowmaster.
I have the cat 3 1/2. If you are a ground hunter, it is the best overall quiver I have ever used. I can pack my lunch, all other essentials and attach a small stoool to it too. It also keeps your fletching dry. Happy hunting!
Just my opinion,
Charlie,
I've always used bow quivers for many, many years but last summer I experimented with shooting my recurve bare and found that I really liked shooting this way. I typically use a back quiver for target shooting but did not want to hunt with one. So, I got a Cat Mini after a glowing recommendation from a friend. I hated it. It slides, swings or flops around on your back as you move about. It slides around to your front if you bend over to go under brush or pick something up. I use high profile 5.5" fletchings and the hood only holds 3 or 4 arrows without smashing he fletching together. Further, when you withdraw an arrow from the quiver, the fletchings scrape together making noise. The broadheads in the cup are semi exposed creating a potentially dangerous situation, especially in the event of a fall. Removing an arrow creates as much or more motion than removing an arrow from a bow quiver. You must slide the quiver around to your front side to replace an arrow. The fact that all of your arrows must be the same length is an issue that keeps coming up. A small variance in arrow length such as using different broadheads causes the arrows to fit either too tight or too loose. In theory, the Cat appeared to be a very cool quiver but it is not for me. The only advantages a Cat quiver has over a bow quiver is that you can shoot 'bare bow' and that the fletchings are protected in the hood. Personally, I would rather have my broadheads protected than the fletchings. The center-of-the-back Cat quivers would definitely be more stable and would eliminate the sliding issue but I think replacing arrows would create an annoyance. I really wanted to like the Cat but it just seemed like another piece of "gear" to manage while my bow quiver was always along for the ride.
How you are built will have something to do with whether you like it or not.
For me, I'm a big guy and I don't like them. I bought mine used from another big guy, and he didn't like it either.
IMO, the Arrowmaster is much better.
Chad
I bought the road trips spot and stalk backpack sling that holds your own plastic attach quiver down by your hip. It was really cool at first then while hunting, crawling was nearly out of the question they seemed to stick out and hit everything. Now Im looking to figure out what to use. I might just have to make my own...
I have the Cat III and love it for ground hunting.Big enough for all day hunting.I figured out how to strap a Torge's seat onto mine.I also have a Hunt Comfort seat.
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c201/ProblemChild333/Copperhead/DSC01226.jpg)
I had the base model with small pack and the next on up, used them for stand hunting only. They were not good for me still hunting which i did a lot. They creak when you flex as the tubing flexes inside each other where you adjust the length. It may have been improved the past several years, I don't know.
The concept is a good one but in practice it had problems for me.
I have had 2 CAT II's. I used them for years both hunting from a stand and roaming the mountains. I went to a bowquiver a few years ago and still use that. The catquiver worked well for a while, but I, like most of us, was always looking for a better way. I don't think there is a best way, just what we end up with that suits us. The Cat just requires a little bit of practice to learn to get an arrow back in.
I have a Cat II I would sell cheap if someone is looking to try one out.
I have the CQ 7 1/2 it's excellent but not perfect,excellent backsack,protection for your fletching,easy pick arrow etc. But does'nt protect BH,have lost bleeder blades,arrows harder to put back.Nothing perfect but more pros than cons.Good luck.
I have a catquiver 1 and they certainly have there place.Although I prefer a bowquiver thwe cat is greatwhen you are going to pack in somewhere and can lash well to a frame pack.Also,they allow youto grab an arrow with less motion than most quivers,especially aback quiver.In my opinion,the just refined and or spunn off of the lengendary St.Charles quiver.I have always thought that it too was designed to keep you arrows dry/protected in thick,extreamly wet country like the pacific northwest,B.C.,and Ak.My 2 cent worth.I like mine ,dont use it much,but when needed like having it there to grab.
Oh,I forgot,If you are going to use one ,dont forget to practice with it,too.
I have the cat quiver with the pack on top, It is hanging in my garage cause I got a Safari Tuff and love it. If you want the cat quiver drop me a line and its yours. Merry Christmas.
I used a Cat Quiver for over 30 years. I liked it. I still use it when I tree stand hunt, but still hunting and stalking I use a side quiver.
The side quiver slips through anything you can go through and is easier and more convienent to get an arrow out and back in. The side quiver is also silent with no metal in it.
I use the Cat Quiver when tree stand hunting so I can cross the straps and attach it to my tree stand when I carry it in. It also acts as a day pack so I just need to carry the Cat Quiver.
When still hunting or stalking I use the side quiver with a large fanny pack.
If you mainly tree stand hunt I would recommend the Cat Quiver, if you like to hunt from the ground I would recommend a side quiver.
I bought a used CAT III (fleece model) several years ago to try, but used it twice and went back to my bow/back quivers. I hunt alot in brush and 'scooch' or sit frequently (portable stool), and this type of quiver doesn't seem well-suited for that. I suspect it would be much better for long treks in more open country. The pack is handy and the quiver is comfy to carry when walking.
Would consider selling mine if anyone's interested. I'm just not going to use it.
I have a fleece Cat Quiver, I don't know which numbrer but it has three zippered pouches (big one and two side ones). I bought it new more than 5 years ago because I thought I had to have it. I'm sorry to say I haven't used it even once. Bow quivers are my go-to method of packing arrows. If I hunted a lot out west I would expect this quiver to be more useful to me.
Had one, could'nt get used to it, went to selway hip quiver long time ago and still use it, best quiver I have ever found!