How many good fletchs can you get out of a full feather? Just got a chopper.
If your talking 5 1/2 inch mostly one. I shoot shorter And taller fletch to maximize.
Depends on the length of the feather. But what I find more telling is the proper quill strength. Sometimes you can get two chops, BUT you don't get a nice even base on either fletch. It's my opinion that I'd rather get one quality fletch from a good feather than two so so fletches. It doesn't seem like a big deal until you start having problems getting the so so fletchings adhiering to the shafts.
Glenn
Full-length commercial feathers have gotten shorter over the years as commercial turkey raisers figure out ways to get the birds to market quicker. 10-12-inch feathers used to be quite common. 8-10 inches is the norm now. That means one 5-5 1/2-inch fletch per feather. Could potentially get two 4-inchers, but as Coonbait points out, the quality may suffer a bit. Most wild turkey primaries are 10 to 12 inches and even longer, if you can get your hands on those.
When you chop a feather you look for the best oil line in the feather so what your left with maynot be enough depending on your size. If this don't matter and shorter feathers are used then 2 or even 3 depending on length but then the quality of the oil will deminish usally also.
Years ago it was common to get two 5" feathers, then it became a 5" and a 4". Nowadays it seems that one 5" and sometimes a 4". I think the hormones used to make turkeys get big for Thanksgivings must shrink feathers. :D Shorter feathers make turkey look bigger right??? :) )
So anymore I just pick the best part of the feather and go for it.
Ralph.