Feather Length for Hunting Arrows

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Originally posted by Sixby:
Three five in Shield cuts. Always have and always will. I believe something that is missed a lot and I don't see it discussed much is tuning and balancing broadheads. To me that is just as important or even more than the fletch. JMHO Years ago I made a little Jig to tune my broadheads. since I started using it I have always had my broadheads fly like they are on a rail.  It is really simple consisting of two vs to set the arrow in and a nail in a board for a pointer. Just turn the arrow and make sure that the point centers on the nail all the way around./ That centers the head./ God Bless, Steve

Great point Steve, I was just outside tuning some arrows... I'm using 4 fletch 90 Deg's and My BH's don't line up with the feathers so I'll heat the points and turn them just a little. I'll wait till the glue sets-up and then shoot and see how they hit..  Again Nice point about tuning BH's. Would like to see Your jig.

[jhg]

I use 3, four inch parabolic.

I have the same arrows with 5 inch fletching too and the only difference in flight is the fives are louder than the fours. I feel the difference is a lot if I can hear it.

And that convinced me to use the four inch hunting since I gain nothing in flight that I could tell by using the longer fletching.


Joshua

[Ken Taylor]

3 shield  5.5 inch for me.

I tried 5.5 inch parabolic last year because they have a little more surface but I'm not crazy about them. Besides not liking the look, I don't feel them on my nose which is one of my anchor points (I didn't think of that when I ordered them).

[gregk]

I like 5.5 inch shield cut, seems to stabilize my broadheads good.

[cch]

I use 3 4" feathers and have no problem with broadheads. I am going to set up some arrows with 4 2" razor feathers and see how they work.

[magnus]

I hunt with 4-4" banana 90 degree. Quiet flight.
Magnus

[JackP]

I use 3, 5 1/2" traditional cut feathers. I like having the feathers touch my nose for some reason.  Stabilizes broadhead arrows great.  

Jack

[pickaspot]

I shot three 5" parabolic (wood)for years. When I decided to give carbon a go 2 years ago (smaller diameter), I bought a 4" chopper and they shoot great.

Like Sixby, I use a jig to spin check my heads - it was made by Jerry Simmons. Those big old 190 gr Interceptors fly true. So I agree, if everything is tuned and technique is good, the difference between fletch techniques is negligable.

However, on a cold day with a dose of nerves some extra feather might not be a bad thing!

[Brian Krebs]

I think 5 inch fletch will get the job done well- the problem I have had with 5 1/2 inch fletch is crosswinds. The bigger the profile the more side wind it can catch.
I am not sure which shape best defeats crosswinds- but out west it would be a good thing to know...

[Benny Nganabbarru]

I go for 5.5" shield, mostly. I have used some 5" shield, too.

[Eugene Slagle]

I use 5" RH Parabolics on my hunting arrows with a slight straight offset & they fly gerat out of my set up, tried a helical on one of my practice arrows & really didn't see any advantage or disadvantage so I'm sticking to my straight offset.

[nutmeg]

3 5" RW parabolic but sometimes shield cut. Like 'em both but seem to gravitate toward the parabolic. Rich Potter    

[JamesV]

4" parabolic off set 3 fletch. Very quiet and if tuned will fly like darts............James

[lpcjon2]

Trial and error with your broadheads,I use 5 inch and won't change(160 gr 2 blade heads out of a 70# @ 31 Hill Tembo).

[jhg]

Originally posted by Sixby:
... tuning and balancing broadheads... Just turn the arrow and make sure that the point centers on the nail all the way around. That centers the head...
Steve

Thanks for the tip!

[swamp donkey]

I use either 4 4" shields or 3 5" shields n have for 45 years with no problems from either. That being said I don't think it matters much how long your fletch is if you tune your bow so your broadheads n field points hit the same.

[HB3]

I have been shooting the 2 inch Razer's in a 4 fletch with good success. I hunt in West Texas a lot where we have high winds and thought less is better in a cross wind. I fletch with a slight offset. I do shoot a extreme FOC arrow. I got the idea after Ashby's and Adcocks small fletch threads. I also agree a lot of the string jumping may come from arrow noise not bow noise. My arrows fly like a dart with a 200 grain Gizzly broadhead.

[Gen273]

5 inch for me.

[Brian Krebs]

I once used a feather burner to make my own shape of fletch; they were about 5 1/2 inches- I don't recall the exact shape.

But I do recall that I shot them and they worked well.

Until I shot one at a buck. It heard the fletch- as did I - because it was the first time I had shot the fletch in a 'silent situation'.
The buck took off and came back; very nervous and looking back behind it from where it came.
( that part I will re-run and wonder about for ever- as it was following does; and I have wondered if a huge buck was following it).

The buck presented a broadside shot at 20 yards; and I let one of my own designed fletches go.
That buck heard that arrow ! It ducked down and flipped over to avoid the arrow.
The arrow hit it on the belly; the arrow came out over its shoulder; and buried into the ground.
When the deer took off; it snapped the arrow shaft off at ground level; and ran till it dropped.

Point is- deer ~can~ hear arrows coming; and turn a good shot into a miss or a mediocre hit.

I also shot 5 arrows at a buck once in a 60 mph wind at less than 20 yards. I kept waiting for the wind to slow; and yet every arrow was blown off course. No deer was harmed that day.
 Now - I don't expect to be hunting in a 60 mph wind often; but it did help me make a decision to try 5 inch fletch with less of a profile....

[Thumper Dunker]

Your going to like this answer. I shoot three four inch or three five inch or two five inch. if they are tuned they will work.