When it comes to hunting in foul weather, what is the best product or secret sauce that you have used for keeping your feathers dry?
I have had the best luck using baby bottle liners under the fletch cover on my side quiver. I also will keep one on the arrow thats on the bow while stand hunting. When I get ready to shoot I just slip it off and stick it in my pocket.
I use my Simmons roto-quiver or baby bottle liners if I'm using a bow quiver.
(http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z287/rastaman1953/069_zpsd9a726c7.jpg)
Here's a picture of an arrow with a liner attached.
I put a sandwich bag over my fletch in a polypropylene hood that slips over the fletch. I use a Jack Bowyers Side-Stalker and the arrows come out & forward from the quiver.
You can sort of see in this image.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v169/Stumpkiller/Bowhunting/HPIM2649.jpg)
The deer I took this year was after sitting out in rain and then sleet. The doe above was two years ago and also in a light rain. Otherwise, I leave the cover off.
check this out. works awesome
http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=122409;p=1
I use some stuff called Penguin Stain and Water repellent. I get it at the only department store in town call Fred Meyers which is owned by Kroger. It has no odor after drying and I gave my feathers a modest coating and couldn't even tell anything was on them when I was done, by feel or smell. I went out in a steady rain and shot and didn't have any problems with the feathers taking on water, they shed it liked a freshly waxed rig. I even took them and put them in a bucket of water and shook them violently trying to get them to take on water. I was pleasantly surprised to only see a very small amount of beaded water on them and one shake it was gone and the feathers were completely dry again.
I always fletch a few hunting arrows with goose feathers and no worry with wet feathers
Dip your fletched end in some Wesley's tire magic . Shake off vigorously and let dry for a couple days. After a year, I've seen arrows dunked in water, a couple of quick whips of the arrow and they were back in shape with only a couple drops of water beaded up on the feather. Crazy stuff. Guessing it is probably the silicone in the Wesley's.
I keep one of those shower caps you get in motel in my pack. Never rains here so it stays there. It covers all my arrows in eithervthe side or back quiver. I also second goose feathers, altho I hate them black for visibility, but....
Actually it started raining yesterday and we are now in flood warning! Deserts are like that
I bought tire shine, black magic I think. Never used it but it was recommended by the gang here. I've been using goose feathers, or natural turkey I harvest and they work great. Goose for real soaking conditions. They fly great, but don't have quite the stiffness of turkey. Really good Camo.
100% food grade silicone spray. doesnt smell and works great.
No-Sno. Comes in a spray. Works great.
QuoteOriginally posted by lpcjon2:
100% food grade silicone spray. doesnt smell and works great.
Same here. I also keep my arrows in the Bow Mate Elite side quiver which is covered.
does it have to be food grade silicone spray to work? or do you guys use food grade just because it doesn't smell? would any 'ol silicone spray work just as well?
I recently tried the Kiwi brand "camp dry" aeresol spray. Working much better than anything I have bought so far.
What about rain-x spray?
QuoteOriginally posted by Stumpkiller:
I put a sandwich bag over my fletch in a polypropylene hood that slips over the fletch. I use a Jack Bowyers Side-Stalker and the arrows come out & forward from the quiver.
You can sort of see in this image.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v169/Stumpkiller/Bowhunting/HPIM2649.jpg)
The deer I took this year was after sitting out in rain and then sleet. The doe above was two years ago and also in a light rain. Otherwise, I leave the cover off.
Awesome photo!
Love the tractor to.
..........Philip
Id try or take wapitirods advice with the penguinspray.Wher he lives ,when it rains there it can drown a muscrat.
Be careful using a 'regular' silicone spray! I tried it before, and the spray comes out super thick, and super fast. It was too much and permanently matted down the feathers. I tried a few different methods of application, and holding the can really far back from the feathers helped, but the residual spray covers everything! Even with a few light applications, a heavy rain will still soak the feathers. I am not satisfied with the results, and will try something different in the future.
QuoteOriginally posted by high desert rambler:
does it have to be food grade silicone spray to work? or do you guys use food grade just because it doesn't smell? would any 'ol silicone spray work just as well?
Food grade doesnt have the heavy chemical smell and its a lighter spray.the other types dont work .
There is a unique powder out there- not sure the name as I have the same bag I started with 15 years ago. I think I saw it at Mike's at the nocking Pt. before. It is amazing stuff and if it gets on your hands it is even hard to wash off. I have shot animals, washed the arrow off in a creek, shook it out and the fletching is back to normal.
EDIT ADDED HERE: Product is called Fletch-Dry. Amazing stuff.
x2 on the goose feathers! They work incredably well!