a question about cock feathers?

[graybarkhunter]

i am about to fletch some arrows and thought about using three of the same color feathers. all my other homeade fletch jobs include two same color and one cock feather color. my question is, for those of you who use three of the same color feathers, how do you determine which is your cock feather under low light conditions or when you are trying to get off a quick second shot. i know on my GT nocks there is a "catch" on one side of it and i have put a black sharpie mark on it but was wondering if anybody has any better ideas.. thanks graybark

[Grey Taylor]

On my wood arrows I use a Bohning Classic nock that has an index. Using that index in my fingers I don't even have to look at the arrow to get it oriented correctly and on the string.

Guy

[Mike Most]

What Grey said, use index nocks, you can feel em in your fingers, nothing more needed.

Mike

[Spinealigner]

I am with the others.  I use all one color fletch and an index knock.  never look at the arrow when I'm loading it.

[dragonheart]

All of the feathers come from turkeys, there are no real cock feathers on arrows.

[Buckwheaties]

I am shooting GT Trads with an aluminum nock adapter (3R) and using Bonning Classic Nocks (indexed). work great.. all fletch same color, no problem finding the cock feather.

[xtrema312]

I use all the same color on all three and standard nocks.  I like them bright colors and want as much of that as I can get.  I just got used to quickly seeing the proper orientations and don't think I take any longer getting one on the string than if it had a second color.  It only takes a split second glace while your fingers are setting the arrow.  Your brain and hand eye coordination is a lot better and faster than you realize.  I can feel the index on standard nocks, but not as fast as I can see the proper orientation.  If it is so dark I have to feel the arrow it is too dark to shoot.  I have never had to have a second shot so fast that I feel I needed a second color or big index nock to save one or two seconds.  I always have time to move deliberate to ready for the second shot.  If I really had to speed shoot I doubt that the shot would be so accurate that it would matter much which way the arrow was on.  If I was to do anything more I would just put a couple stripes on one feather with a permanent marker.

[Fletcher]

In most cases you can shoot with the cock feather in and it won't matter.  I like a single color arrow as I find it easier to see.  Four fletch gives me a more solid circle of color and negates the index issue.  With 3 fletch, I use index nocks.

[Encino Man]

Originally posted by Grey Taylor:
On my wood arrows I use a Bohning Classic nock that has an index. Using that index in my fingers I don't even have to look at the arrow to get it oriented correctly and on the string.

Guy

Same here.  

[Grey Taylor]

Originally posted by Fletcher:
In most cases you can shoot with the cock feather in and it won't matter.

This is in line with my experience.
I once switched bows and arrows with a friend so we could see how one another's equipment performed (get your mind out of the gutter!). I wasn't looking at the arrow for the first dozen or so shots and only realized later that he sets his nocks with the index opposite to the way I set mine. I shot all his arrows cock feather in and never noticed any diference in flight.

Guy

[CG]

Mercury nocks for me (have an indexing rib). But, I really think that I recognize the feather orientation without really relying on the index. Furthermore, as already mentioned, I don't worry about shooting with the cock feather in.

[bigbadjon]

You could use 4 fletch and remove all doubt.

[SEMO_HUNTER]

I always use white arrow wraps, or at the very least white nocks. After I get them fletched....I take a black sharpie and put a small black line on the white arrow wrap just above the cock feather, or on the nock just above the cock feather. I don't use indexing nocks, never cared for them.

[Roy Steele]

I've always used the same color and felt the nub on the nock in the low light.The rest of the time I just look.

[lpcjon2]

I use my fingers,touch the nock and if a feather is parallel to it's the cock feather.

[Orion]

I agree with Fletcher and Grey.  Been shooting all one color for years.  I do use Bohning classic index nocks, but in the heat of the moment, I pay no attention to whether the cock feather is turned in or out.  I get good arrow flight either way.

[Cyclic-Rivers]

Originally posted by dragonheart:
All of the feathers come from turkeys, there are no real cock feathers on arrows.

Not True, sometimes they come from geese or Guinee Hens (sp.?)

Still maybe not Cocks in their realm but not necessarily only Turkey feathers.

Personally I look down.  You dont have to move your head much to do it. I'd rather be sure instead of hungry. I would make a stupid mistake if I tried something without looking.