I just looked at True flight feathers at Three Rivers and they are $98 a hundred. I remember when you could get them for less than $50 bucks.
Yes,I'm amazed at how much they cost to. I love the way barred feathers look,but they are twice as much. I may start just shooting all solid colors,just for the sake of the cost.
3Rivers web site says $57.25 per 100 for solid colors.
Bear Paw feathers from Kustom King are $33.90 per 100. I've been using Bear paw and they are decent. Not quite as thick as True flight, but they seem to hold up just fine.
Check out sagarchery.com
Get all mine from them, never once a problem and very consistent lengths. I buy full lengths and chop myself. Shipping to me is half the cost o everyone else.
I pick up my feathers in the spring from wild birds near where they get feed. Have been shooting this wild bird feathers for the past ten years and they hold up great. They are also naturally waterproof. Great Northern Feather grinder does a great job.
In 1980, not really all that long ago, a loaf of bread costs about $.50, gas was $1.19 a gallon (remember people saying they'd quit driving if gas went over $1.00 a gallon?). Average wages was $19,500.
Are you seriously surprised that feathers cost more now than they used to?
Guy
And do not forget, this is a (adult ) hobbie/sport. That adds 10%at least. Personaly I am trying vanes again. I shoot my recurves of a raised rest anyway so why not. I shot vanes back in 70's from my SK.
X2 on the Bearpaw feathers from Kustom King. They have artificially barred as well. They don't look quite as good as True Flights, but don't look bad and are considerably less.
X3 on the Bearpaw.
Or, you could kill a nice, hefty gobbler each spring and use the primary feather to cut your own feathers for your arrows. Also, ask as many turkey hunters to save the feathers from their spring gobblers and you'll find that you will have as many feathers that you will ever need. Works for me.
I know a lot of folks don't like Gateway feathers but I've been using their new TreBark line for a couple of years now and they seem fine. They are also quite a bit cheaper than True Flight.
I get all my feathers from BullsEye Feathers. They have a store on that auction site that cannot be named. Their prices are good and shipping is fast. They also sell their feathers in unique packages specifically for fletching a dozen arrows.
Darren
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Tag alone is $15 for this bird, that's roughly $1 per feather without paying for processing. Add in trip and clothes and bow/arrows, yikes!!!! Well, I've got them set aside to process. :thumbsup:
Time to try vanes
lots of viable options for making great fletchings for cheap ...
=> buy full length feathers and chop or burn yer own.
=> gather canada goose feathers, strip, then chop or burn - these feathers are also much more water resistant than turk feathers since canadas are water birds.
info on the processes for the above are found in our how to resources forum!
I bought a 3" sheild cut chopper last year and have experimented with them this fall, fletched up four fletch for my Northern Mist and have had good luck. I'm going to try three fletch this spring, I can get two feathers out of a full length feather with this.
How do you find Sage archey?
I googled and nothing came up.
Did you mean Sagarchery? (http://sagarchery.com/)
I added a link it's Sagittarius Archery. Feathers seem to be about $26-30 per 100.
I've learned over the many years that a product is usually worth what it is priced at....cheap price=cheap quality...higher price=higher quality. But then some people's poor quality is another's ok quality....
Snag is right about quality. But at the same time I know some arrows are not forever, like woods. I have used all the brands mentioned above and some take a little work to be acceptable. Usually it requires sanding the quills even.
I recently bought those Flu-flu feathers that 3R has had on sale. I used my chopper to get the shape I wanted. What I noticed was all the quills were very even from feather to feather. So I feel I scored a deal on a quality product.
I'm with Ray. I try and kill turkeys and get wing donations every spring so I can get reasonably priced feathers. Plus they are my favorite animal to hunt. The feathers are a bonus.
Funny part is thousands of them are left to rot with a turkey carcus every year. Ask all you're buddies that turkey hunt to just cut the wings off and save them for you. I have a lifetime supply of them now.
I've seen lots of expensive products that aren't worth the time to flush them down the toilet.
I've also seen lots of items that are a great value for their money.
In the end you have to try something for yourself. It's not fair to bash an item you've never seen or tried.
Guy