Hey Gang.
I read that bright fletching and turkey hunting do not mix, especially on a bow quiver. I'm not a big fan of fletching my arrows with a dull color...
What are your thoughts/experiences with this?
What fletching color would your recommend? Would covering the feathers of my quiver be enough or will the arrow on my riser give me away anyway?
I don't hunt in a pop up. All natural cover and stalking.
Thanks!
First off, as you probably know Turkey's see colors. So to answer your question, if your not hunting from a blind, natural color fletching would be your best option. Complete camo and blending in is a must. The disadvantage of not having a high visability arrow, to me would be secondary in importance.You may very well be able to get away with shooting more visible arrows, but why take the chance on getting busted?
QuoteOriginally posted by Knawbone:
First off, as you probably know Turkey's see colors. So to answer your question, if your not hunting from a blind, natural color fletching would be your best option. Complete camo and blending in is a must. The disadvantage of not having a high visability arrow, to me would be secondary in importance.You may very well be able to get away with shooting more visible arrows, but why take the chance on getting busted?
That is what I thought, but I've seen plenty of trophy photos with guys who have super visible, high back yellow fletching. I'm assuming they are hunting out of blinds then.
This is my first season. I've done really well thus far. I stalked a sex-crazed Jake and missed at 15 yards through his tail feathers. I also stalked up within 30 yards of two Toms and a hen. I was busted that time though and I have a hunch they picked my yellow fletching off through the bushes.
One of the beautiful things about hunting is you never stop learning and honing your skills.Enjoy
I have a feeling I'm not ever going to stop learning about this particular species of bird. lol
I carried GT Nuge camo arrows this year and will not do it again. Even with the entire arrow in a black/white zebra pattern, they seemed way too bright. The day I called in six jakes just reaffirmed what I already new.......bright arrows are a no no in my book. I'm not even going to use a bright nock anymore. You can get away with it in a blind, but if you're tryin to sneek'em or go blindless it's not worth the risk.
If you aren't in a blind you can use a fletching cover and still use bright fletching.
I use natural blinds or cover, these are my turkey arrows and I cover them up with a Kathy Kelly Fletch cover.
(http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a281/sf1oak/002-1_zps18a318a9.jpg) (http://s13.photobucket.com/user/sf1oak/media/002-1_zps18a318a9.jpg.html)
(http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a281/sf1oak/PC280005_zps9baec2dd.jpg) (http://s13.photobucket.com/user/sf1oak/media/PC280005_zps9baec2dd.jpg.html)
I wouldn't worry about it. I shoot the same arrows for everything . Very brite. I like to be able to find them. I've never had a problem.
The answer is YES, any animal that can see will see a bright color as bright !, in whatever color they see.
I'm just going to roll with a fletch cover tonight and see. Last day of my first season guys. Wish me luck!
I wouldn't worry about it. I just use my wrist and forearm to cover the fletch on the arrow on the bow and a cover on the quiver.
Hap
I did that tonight. I put a nylon cover over the quiver and just covered the arrow on my string up with my hand. I got within 30 of a Tom tonight that way...though I crawled through the grass and brush most of the way. Missed him...arrow fell a few yards short. I misjudged how far away I was.
Oh well. I'll definitely get my Fall license and I learned a lot this year.
Not a turkey hunter but lots of my floesant orange arrows have blood on them. And I do not use a tree stand our blind. If its not moving they will not care. My arrows are not on the bow also.
Camo feathers and lighted nocks is one way to go if you are willing to use lighted nocks. Some get a little squishy with that but it's an option.
I didn't manage to get out turkey hunting this spring. But in the past, I have had good luck with, and like using yellow. It's highly visable, and naturaly found all over, in the spring!!! (goldenrod,buttercups,etc.)
My last dozen turkey arrows had 2 yellow hens, and a green cock feather, with a yellow nock. For my next dozen, I'm gonna try 2 yellow hens and a yellow barred cock feather, with a yellow nock.
GOOD LUCK!!!!! Shoot Straight!!!
I used natural feathers for my hens and dyed my cock feathers red. For deer I use brighter colors, since they see limited color and bright orange is grey to them. Turkeys I did not want to risk it. Their eyes are too sharp and they see color as well as we do.
Here is my experience this year...was able to get a shot at a turkey using a ghille suit and natural cover, I placed my arrows on the ground behind the brush I was up against but within reach. However the next hunt I went on I left the arrows in the quiver and it seemed every Turkey that headed my way busted me before ever getting to 30yds. I have the bright orange fletchings on my arrows. Not sure if it was the fletching or something I did, but something was amiss.
Been my experence fall turkeys dont care as much as spring turkeys. I suppose because in the spring the bird is intentionally coming to your setup. In the fall their usually passing through and I think a bright yellow like I use blend in better with the fall leaves. Spring time I hunt from a blind anyway.