Ouch! Finally happened....feather in my hand

joe vt · January 11, 2016, 01:27:00 PM

Went downstairs in the basement to throw a few arrows to start my Saturday off. First arrow upon release of the string flew real funny striking the target funny too. But it was the instant pain in my hand that got my second reaction. Dang those buggers hurt!! About 1/2" of feather came off and half of that was in my hand. Felt like an barbed object while pulling it out. I almost bled out :eek:

PEARL DRUMS · January 11, 2016, 01:56:00 PM

If you shoot off your knuckle very often that stuff happens quite a bit. Fore end wraps take care of it.

Pat B · January 11, 2016, 02:05:00 PM

I wrap the forward end of the fletching on all my arrows just to help prevent this. It takes only a few minutes for each arrow but it is totally worth it.

maineac · January 11, 2016, 02:55:00 PM

I have gotten cuts, but not had a feather stick. Hope it heals quick

January 11, 2016, 02:59:00 PM

I've had one stick me pretty good. The hurt is a lot worse than what the injury would suggest!

Bisch

KentuckyTJ · January 11, 2016, 03:02:00 PM

Dang, sorry to hear Joe. I've always covered the front ends of mine with a big dab of super glue. I think that helps to some extent.

bulldog18 · January 11, 2016, 03:07:00 PM

Makes you want to do the pee-pee dance. Pain is worse than the injury for sure.

BWallace10327 · January 11, 2016, 03:08:00 PM

I had that happen once and the feather broke off, leaving almost 3/4" in my hand. That will teach me to shoot my bow upright.

Kingstaken · January 11, 2016, 03:16:00 PM

It's happened a few times. Still have three small scares to remind me.
Like Tom said above you need to trim down the feather tips a bit and add alil glue.
Also being LH when I changed to RW it never happened again.

GreenJeans · January 11, 2016, 03:16:00 PM

Just once? Sissy. Ha! Been there and got a drawer full of T-shirts. Ol' timer watching me bleed out said, "hey pup, nock it the other way." I learned to listen to my elders then.

January 11, 2016, 03:55:00 PM

Ditto GreenJeans-- many, many times!

Sam McMichael · January 11, 2016, 04:01:00 PM

Never had a bad cut, but have had a few major scratches. I try to remember to put a dab of glue on the front of the quill to avoid a raised feather.

highlow · January 11, 2016, 04:10:00 PM

Ditto on the dab of glue on the leading point of the fletch. Hope getting a feather in my hand isn't the same as what they say about riding a motorbike. I've already found that to be true.

joe vt · January 11, 2016, 04:21:00 PM

Another detail I failed to mention. The entire feather came off. What wasn't in my hand was down range heading to the target. I am guessing it broke off after being thrown into my hand. The longbow I was shooting has a shelf and rest.

I have Green Mountain longbow with no shelf/rest and I always wondered when I am going to stabbed by a feather. But I am much more sensitive in looking at my arrows and feather surfaces before shooting that bow. I've gotten a few scratches but nothing more.

Lesson learned.....probably will happen again.

Greenjeans....I am a sissy hahaha

January 11, 2016, 05:04:00 PM

Makes you want to do the pee-pee dance. Now I know what to call that fancy dance when it happens to me. I have done the pee pee dance a few times.

Trumpkin the Dwarf · January 11, 2016, 05:56:00 PM

Ouch! Superglue the ends, and/or wrap some thread (just like fly tying) over the front end of the fletching

stonewall · January 11, 2016, 07:12:00 PM

Had it happen a few times with a self bow, a good drank and a dip of snuff and keep on shooting.

Cyclic-Rivers · January 12, 2016, 07:27:00 AM

Joe,

I hate it when that happens. :eek:

mike g · January 12, 2016, 09:25:00 AM

I did the same as a kid with a home made arrow out of a cat tail for a shaft and a barn yard feather tied on, It went under the skin for about 1", The quill stuck out in the front, So I pulled the feather all the way thru....
Surprised I didn't get a major infection, The feather was an unclean barn yard pick up....

alex321 · January 12, 2016, 09:33:00 AM

a blob of hotgun glue on the end of the feathers help prevent this... I learnt the hard way too...