Looks like there's a lot of folks that aren't sure about fletch covers, so....he's how and why I use them.
1...they keep my feathers from dragging on anything and making noise. Being they are in a bow quiver, I can pass my bow AND arrows through the brush and clear them all at once, I do not have to get the bow through and then worry about the arrows in another carrier. With another carrier sometimes you have to look back to clear that carrier, and that is more head movement and loss of forward focus ....especially if there's game ahead you are stalking.
2....they protect my feathers from wear and tear.
3....they keep my feathers dry.
4....they hid my bright fletchings and wraps. ( I know some animals can't see color, but they can distinguish between what is bright and mute, and I don't want to wave anything bright. I wouldn't walk around with a white terry cloth hand towel hanging off my elbow for the same reason....would you?) Bright movement at close distances will give you away quicker than mute colors.
5....they add to my 'natural blind'(another reason I use a bow quiver at times)
If used properly, there is no 'flopping of cloth' till you get down to one arrow. (leave front and rear arrows in till last resort.)
I have shot, after loaning a friend a couple of arrows after a fire fight on hogs, with no arrows and the fletch cover hanging and drilled the animal.
If when you return to camp or vehicle, you will turn your bow upside down you can slide the fletch cover down the arrow shafts and you wont mat down the feathers. Yes, if you leave the fletch cover in place for a week, feathers that are making contact can mat a bit.(if I make this mistake, I just pull them in reverse with my forefinger and thumb and they come right back) You do not need to take the fletch cover on and off.
You can also 'hide' your next arrow in the rear(see pic) and its still hid but easily accessible. If your fletch cover has no bottom, its easier to remove arrows....and quieter.
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/bern2.jpg)
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/quiver14.jpg)
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/quiver14a.JPG)
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/quiver3.jpg)
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/quiver3a.JPG)
There's probably more I didn't think of....and will post if I do...
BTW...I also own 3 Arrow Masters :D
Oh...and I like Bright Wraps and Feathers. This gives me the advantage of knowing a LOT more about where I actually hit the animal....and with 9 inch arrow wrap and the nock, I have a 10 inch measurement if for some reason I don't pass through and this gives me and idea of penetration. AND makes your arrows MUCH easier to find after break off or pass through even if bloodied....finding the arrow has advantages too.
I shot muted feathers before....long time ago, been there done-that......aint going back.
Thank you Terry...I was wondering about these and now knowing pro's and cons about the cover..Im definitly gonna get one..very helpful post
I've seen a lot of folks who have been turned off from using fletch covers because they were using either some sort of string or wire as a closure device. Both have draw backs. I use Weed eater line in the top and bottom of mine. It keeps the openings flared open enough to stay semi-rigid but will easily flex when you brush it against something while stalking.
Terry,
The fletch cover that Rod is offering now. Is that the one in the pic of you with the grouse ?
Thanks,
Mike
Can you give me any ideas on what kind of cover I should be looking at ?
Good reasons for using a fletch cover.
What materials work best?
I had not thought of the idea of pulling the arrow out of the gripper and "up and out" of the cover...that does in fact seem far more reasonable than taking the cover on and off. Also I have been moving through brush and had the feathers be somewhat loud when they rubbed against the brush.
Good Post Terry. Certianly some compelling reasons to try one out.
The one that Rod (Safari Tuff) just posted look to be pretty nice!
Whoever capped and fletched those arrows in the last pic must have been on edge,they dont look like they fly straight...LOL
I have one that I use on my back quiver, I made it from an old fleece scarf.
I prefer one with an open bottom and either a wire or plastic 'hoop' to hold the openings open.
I've been using Rod's ever since he started making them.
I'll try and take a few more pics....
T
Here's all you do and the end of the hunt....
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/fletchcoverrod1a.jpg)
Waiting for more pics to transfer from phone....
I didn't see them listed on Rod's website, how much do they cost?
Rod made a post today that he has a bunch available...look for his post...
Simply tie on what ever bow quiver base you have and make sure the nocks are just covered.....
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/fletchcoverrod2a.jpg)
The 'hoop' makes for easier and quieter removal, and with good thick material the cover will stay put during arrow removal and not 'ride up'.
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/fletchcoverrod3a.jpg)
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/fletchcoverrod4a.jpg)
I have a Kathy Kelly fletch cover made of woodland fleece. Photo is from Kathy Kelly Designs website, under accessories.
Http://www.kathykellydesign.com
(http://www.kathykellydesign.com/images/fc.jpg)
Works fine. Same basic idea as Terry's. There is a bit of noise getting arrows out, but it's quieter than having a sprig of bitterbrush rake the exposed fleathers in the quiver.
I tried individual fletch wrappers, but they were hard cotton and way too loud with feathers. Fine with vanes. Still have some. Basically a narrow tube with elastic on either end. They fit over individual arrows. You just pull them off. I am thinking of trying to make some out of fleece.
I need 9 inch arrow wraps now. Where do I get them Terry????
QuoteOriginally posted by 2Blade:
I need 9 inch arrow wraps now. Where do I get them Terry????
Onestringer, a sponsor here, carries 9" wraps. I've been using his wraps in Hot Pink for years & they're spectacular value for money, very well made & stick like poo to an army blanket.
Yeah...I buy all mine from OneStringer.
Every part of our equipment is a tool, and some tools can be improved, enhanced, made more valuable, ....such as the reason I use wraps and bright fletch on my arrows.
And I'm moving more toward bright AND reflective for all my arrow wraps.
I use bright colors too. I have started putting a 2" wide stripe of reflective tape just past the end of the feathers. makes finding a shot arrow super easy from the stand!
I need to invest in 3 of those fletch covers.
God Bless,
Nathan
Yeah....that's why I came up with 'Add Ons' in the TG Store.....so folks could add some reflective to their arrow. These were designed to go in front of the fletching.
(http://www.tradgang.com/tgstore/images/wrapaddon.jpg)
(http://www.tradgang.com/tgstore/images/wrapaddonf.jpg)
Reading some replies on the other thread makes me want to state this....
If all you are doing is climbing a tree and deer hunting, a fletch cover might not be that important depending one the deer in your area.
I hunt a lot more than just deer, and we can hunt year round here for hogs...so I do a lot of walking and stalking....and I even stalk my tree stands for deer....and we don't have to wear orange during the deer bow season....ONLY during deer gun season.
"If all you are doing is climbing a tree and deer hunting, I wouldn't worry about a fletch cover."
Unless you hunt deer like we have here on Long Island that look up into trees. I got busted with a quiver full of chartreuse feathers one evening while i was hidden behind a big oak. That doe saw the arrow flecth (it must have stood out like a big light blob) and backed right up and headed out of dodge. A week later i had the fletch cover on and they came the same way and i was able to nail that doe.
Yeah Mint.......in some areas it might be more important than others. That statement I made shouldn't be taken as a broad brush....just that reply on another thread.....I edited my post while you were posting BTW.
I wish the deer around here and in TX were more like those MO deer I've hunted for the last 2 years....they never look up...and you don't have to get that high either.
I use a GFA style side quiver and keep a fleece fletch cover attached to it all the time but out of the way(secured around the body of the quiver). Most of my fletching is wild turkey so I don't need it to cover loud feathers but I do use it in rain or damp conditions or if stalking in heavy cover.
Good tip! I was thinking of one during my whole elk hunt this year but just riped up the fletchings instead. :thumbsup:
Great thread going here, love the very educational photos. Thanks a lot terry!
Anyone have photos of home made covers?
I'm getting ready for my first ever turkey season and I should probably conceal my fletchings from them gobblers...
Either gonna make one or buy one, not sure yet.
After hunting with Terry at Ray's place and seeing his I made a phone call to Rod and got a couple. Works great for all the reasons stated above.
This is very helpful Terry. Thank you.
QuoteOriginally posted by MJB:
Terry,
The fletch cover that Rod is offering now. Is that the one in the pic of you with the grouse ?
Thanks,
Mike
Sorry.....no, but I sent Rod one just like it to copy when the maker of that one quit making them....told him that one was the best one I'd ever used....and Rod went to work.
T THANKS
Thank you Terry for your Always Helpful Info!! You Rock!!
Looks like they work a lot better than what I used !
Here are some pics.
without fletch cover
(http://i929.photobucket.com/albums/ad132/yononindo/Bowhunting%20Texas/Fletchcover5.jpg)
(http://i929.photobucket.com/albums/ad132/yononindo/Bowhunting%20Texas/Fletchcover6.jpg)
with fletch cover
(http://i929.photobucket.com/albums/ad132/yononindo/Bowhunting%20Texas/Fletchcover4.jpg)
(http://i929.photobucket.com/albums/ad132/yononindo/Bowhunting%20Texas/Fletchcover3.jpg)
(http://i929.photobucket.com/albums/ad132/yononindo/Bowhunting%20Texas/Fletchcover1.jpg)
(http://i929.photobucket.com/albums/ad132/yononindo/Bowhunting%20Texas/Fletchcover2.jpg)
(http://i929.photobucket.com/albums/ad132/yononindo/Bowhunting%20Texas/Amistad4.jpg)
(http://i929.photobucket.com/albums/ad132/yononindo/Bowhunting%20Texas/Fletchcover.jpg)
it`s just an ordinary bag - so nothing special here.
If you use it like I did - make sure you have a second arrow out !!!!
I still remember that hunt where I needed a second arrow ....
Fiddling around to get that second arrow out was %7§0=ß# .... !!!!!
Well I guess I learned my lesson.
Happy hunting
I just started using a fletch cover this year. It's a cheapie model but it works okay. Worst thing about it is that it fits kinda tight around the feathers and that makes it a little difficult taking an arrow out and also putting it back. I think I'm gonna try adding a hoop of some sort like Terry mentioned.
Any ideas on how to fasten the hoop to the inside of the cover? And also, what is the best thing to use for the hoop thingy?
Like I stated earlier yononindo ....if you have an open bottom, not a closed one like yours....getting an arrow out is not a problem....and again, it helps to have a thicker material and a hoop.
In the closed end ones you have a learning curve. You have to use the nock end of the arrow to pull the whole bag down without strumming the feathers. A mistake means a sccccccccrrrrrriiiiiitch! Even with fleece.
I like the open end idea.
I did some research and both the bag type and individual "arrow socks" are patented. The "arrow socks" though seem to be repatented from an expired patent. I couldn't find a patent on the open design.
Terry...Very informative thread of which I easily myself relating to.
Thank you!
Terry,
The B&W photo is very convincing. Good thread.
Joe
Yup I figured it out the hard way a few years ago. I was hiding behind a giant white oak; when I noticed a big ol doe heading my way. I thought for sure she was gonna pass 12 yards from me. That until she saw my flecthings dancing around from behind the tree :knothead:
She decided to not come past that tree (insert sarcasm)lol