Dumb questions???

[NANUK]

I'll be huntin deer and turkeys this year at very close quarters. Which fletching type is the quietest for huntin?(traditional, parabolic, etc...) Does it even matter? Also, I'm shootin a 30" POC arra with 125 grain field points @ 52lbs. Should I start looking at broadheads @ 125 grains or go heavier?

[vermonster13]

Take a look at the extreme FOC fletching thread. There is noise testing going on in there.

[frassettor]

I don't think it matters what kind of feathers that you use.Its more of a personal choice on what you like to look at. As far as your broadheads go,I would shoot the closest weight to your field tips

[Fletcher]

Parabolic or a low cut "banana" are generally the quietest.  Tall fletch and pointed ends flutter more with the airflow which causes the noise.  That said, I've not noticed fletch noise to bother animals; Mussatto calls it the "Hiss of death".  Bow and string noise are a different matter.  

Try the different point weights and see which one shoots the best for you and your bow/arrow setup.  That is the head weight to shoot.  If you are shooting close, I would strongly recommend tapered shafts.  They recover quicker and that helps greatly with close range penetration performance.

[John3]

Feather shape should not matter for noise. More important match broadhead weight to field tip weight. Retune your POCs with broadheads attached. I ONLY tune for arrow flight with broadheads attached (fletched arrow). Once you get perfect flight with a broadhead, any field point will be right down the middle.

JDS III

[Dave Worden]

Like Vermonster said, check out the extreme FOC thread.  Seems that as you add weight to the front, you can make your fletching smaller (and therefore quieter).  As for animals hearing the arrow coming.....I took an 80 yard shot at a rabbit in my yard once.  He took off like a bat (you know the rest) while the arrow was still a good forty yards from him.  Gotta believe he heard that one coming.

[LEOPARD]

If I was you, I would look at heavier broadheads and go for a feather setup of 4 x 4" bananas or something along those lines. This setup would give you a very quiet arrow and your arrow would still be just as stable as if it had longer feathers, and with the added weight up front your penetration is increased.    
Also, as mentioned above, check out the FOC thread and maybe even PM Dr. Ashbey (He's a great guy and would be happy to help!). Good luck!