How do you keep feathers dry while hunting? Do you use a water proofing powder or are there covers? Thanks
My side stalker quiver has a polar fleece hood that slips over the fletching. I put a plastic bag inside when I know it will be a rainy day.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v169/Stumpkiller/Bowhunting/HPIM2649.jpg)
I have tried several things, nothing works better that silicon spray, try to get the food grade stuff, spray in on let dry your ready to go....
Thanks guys!
Don't spray the silicone spray on too heavily though! It will matte the feathers. Try a few very light coats, with ample time to dry. And don't wait till it's too close to deer season, cause the smell will last a while.
Safari Tuff Arrowmaster quiver.
Try real turkey feathers, they have a high oil line that has not been processed. Also a well tuned arrow will still fly resonably true with wet feathers and the proper broadhead. Getting a clean release with a wet tab/glove and wet cold fingers can be a issue though.
Like wild turkey feathers, grey goose feathers have high oil content. I keep a few arrows fletched with goose for those wet days.
And for those who just might be going into situations where your arrows will get wet, stay wet and be wet many days: Nothing works better than plastic baby bottle liners slipped over each fletched arrow and secured with a small diameter rubber band. Just tug the liner off the arrow (faster than I can type it), nock and shoot.
For less wet settings, I like a combination of silicone spray and a waterproof fletch cover (Asbell) which usually stays in my pack until needed.
Use No-Snow. An aerosol, dries quick, no mess. And, it works great.
QuoteOriginally posted by Pheonixarcher:
Don't spray the silicone spray on too heavily though! It will matte the feathers. Try a few very light coats, with ample time to dry. And don't wait till it's too close to deer season, cause the smell will last a while.
I can attest to the smell part. I was spraying it on a Neet glove of mine because it made it super slick,but everything around could smell it. I couldn't smell it,but the hogs and deer sure could.
Safari Tuff Arrowmaster quiver with the storm hood is the best for keeping feathers dry. I hunted in Newfoundland last October and one day it rained pretty much all day. My feathers were as dry at the end of the day as when I started.
Over the years I have also used Feather-Dry powder - it's kind of like rosen powder at least that's what it feels like. Works good and lasts quite a while.
Great idea Kevin Dill, I will try that this year.
I use a fletch dry powder from 3rivers it's never let me down. I bought the big jar of it and have been using it for years. I just freshen it up if I know it's gonna rain or be really wet out. But on occasion I have used the fleece hood w/a plastic bag in it.
I had a pretty wet season last yr.
I bought a fletch cover for my bow quiver from safari tuff. It worked good for light rain. But I found I would have to have the bow across my lap,hanging on a hook the rain would go right down onto my feathers it was deffinatly better than not having a cover. But there were certain thing I did not like about a using a fletch cover.
I have used silicone sprays in the past but the smell alone always made me uneasy about getting busted by sharp nosed whitetails.
So this year with a new big Jim buffalo longbow I decides to go with a non bow option Im going with a safari tuff arrowmaster. I have used a cat quiver in the past but I did not like certain things about it. The arrow master seems like it offers the solutions that I did not like about my catquiver.
And I have to give a plug for Rod Jenkins for how busy he is he answered every e-mail I sent him. He deffinatly wants his customers to be happy with the arrowmaster.
And so far I am. :jumper: :jumper:
The guys were just talking about this yesterday 3-d shooting and the highly recommended product is dry fly waterproffing from a fly fishing shop. Arrowmasters are good but you still need to keep an arror on the bow when on stand.
the stuff called "watershed" works pretty well.
It's a liquid for keeping fishing flies dry.
Doesn't completely waterproof them...but holds up reasonably well.
QuoteOriginally posted by reddogge:
The guys were just talking about this yesterday 3-d shooting and the highly recommended product is dry fly waterproffing from a fly fishing shop. Arrowmasters are good but you still need to keep an arror on the bow when on stand.
same silicon product, but more expensive.
Thompson Waterseal Spray, for outdoor clothing. Two light coats.
I spray all my feathers will Silicone to protect them. If I'm planning on bowhunting in the rain, I use my Catquiver 3.5. When I'm bowhunting with my back quiver, which is 90% of the time, I always carry in my fanny pack a Kelly Fletch Cover...just in case.
1) Not convinced animals spoke to chem odors- doesn't smell like a human unless they somehow learned it. Even aftershave/cologne does not really spook game. 2) I love Kevin Dill's idea as well- HOWEVER, I could not find the bottle liners last fall! I asked some young moms and they tell me that is old tech. They don't use such things anymore. ???
KSdan...The big auction site has 300+ listings for baby bottle liners...
I seem to recall reading where you could shoot (the arrow) with the liner still on the fletch. Poke the nock thru the liner, and be sure the rubber band is off the open end. At release, the liner 'catches' air and the arrow simply flies out of it with no effect on flight. I never tried it, but think it sounds plausible.
Thanks Kevin. . . Could never find them in local wallymart etc. . . Going to get them while I still can