Using a back quiver (Hill Style)

[Mr. fingers]

I agree with fling blade it's not the arrows so much rattling in the quiver its the noise of drawing one out that's noisy as per seen in the video and he's using field points BHs tend to hang up even more.  That and putting a BH tipped arrow back in the quiver without it smacking the backside of a another BH. Thus dulling it. Those are the two issues I have with a back quiver. Other than carrying my climber or a back pack.
The thing I love most about a back quiver  (Shulz method ) is I can nock an arrow faster and without looking. With any other quiver I have to take a quick look at the string and arrow.

[akbowbender]

Learner: Glad you found the video useful. My son did the filming and put it all together. It was a fun project. Only one re-take, which is good for me!

I have one of the lighter weight Hill quivers, and a heavier weight one that I made using the Hill quiver for a model.

The Hill quiver holds the arrows very firmly as the lighter leather forms more closely to my back. The one I made is pretty well broken in, but still holds the arrows more loosely, so it is easier to reload.

Greg: Great article in TBM!

[Learner]

Additional info:  when my quiver arrived from HHA, it was oval at the top as well as the bottom.  Evie even shipped it in a roll of soft corrugated cardboard, so the shape was evident even before I unwrapped it:

     

The large oval opening indeed caused the arrows to rattle around quite a bit.

Remembering things which I had read, and photos of Howard HIll and John Schulz, I realized that their quivers where quite flat from the middle to the top.  Then I read Greg's TBM article.  As he mentions in his article, this flatness allows the quiver to pinch the arrows in place when the quiver is worn on the back.

To achieve this I flattened the upper half of  my quiver by rolling the top of the quiver down (rolling towards the back side of the quiver, i.e., away from the string pouch), and then setting some weight on it overnight.    The top half of the quiver and the stiff upper cuff collapsed somewhat after this.

Now when I wear it, the arrows stay fairly quiet inside.  Since the fletchings are close to my right ear, I can hear some soft "rustling" coming from them when I walk.  But it's not very noticeable.  What helps with this, as Greg also mentions in his article, is that the quiver is designed to be worn at a angle.  He says that "the arrows should be lying in the quiver at an angle, not straight up and down".  

To achieve the proper position of the arrows, you need to adjust the quiver strap, again as Greg explains in the article.  He states "The quiver should be adjusted so the strap is fairly snug, but able to be rotated freely when needed.  The strap should go from your neck on the opening side to above the level of your nipple and under the arm of your bow hand.  This places the arrows around the level of the top of your shoulder or just below".

After making these adjustments I can now bend way over without the arrows falling out.

The oil treatment should also eventually aid in making the stiff leather more pliable, allowing it to better collapse on itself.

In retrospect I think that if I had ordered the "soft leather version" from HHA, I would have been better off.  But the one I have should hopefully improve with use.

Best wishes,
Frank

[Learner]

Originally posted by Mr. fingers:
I agree with fling blade it's not the arrows so much rattling in the quiver its the noise of drawing one out that's noisy as per seen in the video and he's using field points BHs tend to hang up even more.  That and putting a BH tipped arrow back in the quiver without it smacking the backside of a another BH. Thus dulling it. Those are the two issues I have with a back quiver. Other than carrying my climber or a back pack.
The thing I love most about a back quiver  (Shulz method ) is I can nock an arrow faster and without looking. With any other quiver I have to take a quick look at the string and arrow.

I agree about the noise and the backpack issues.  When I hopefully get to hunt someday (when my form and accuracy are ready), I'll have to figure out the backpack thing.

As for the noise on withdrawing, I don't know how many arrows I would be shooting in a hunting situation.  I would think that I could pull out one arrow slowly and quietly.  But that remains to be seen.

As far as the broadhead issue: I'd probably slip the quiver off and than stack the arrow inside, rather than trying to slip it in.

Again, in a hunting situation, I would imagine that the amount of actual number shots taken with a broadhead would be not that great, unlike target practice with field points, where dulling is not an issue.  So how often would I actually be sliding a broadhead back into the quiver?

   

Best wishes,
Frank

[Caughtandhobble]

Personally I hunt with a back quiver when I hunt. I use my back quiver as a backpack, everything I need is in or on my back quiver.

I almost always hunt from a stand, when I'm on the stand I take my back quiver off. If I am stalking I will have an arrow on my string.

I have made several quivers but my favorite came from our very own Bud. Bud has been kind enough to donate his homemade quivers to St Jude's Auction over the years. The Mojo is priceless that comes with his quivers. My quiver is no longer pretty and slick but she is wore and weathered the way that Bud would expect it to look after years of use. There is no doubt this quiver will out last me. Thanks Bud!!!

If the thread sparks an interest for some to want a new quiver, you may want to wait for the St Jude Auction and hopefully Bud will donate again this year. If he does don't be scared to bid high or buy a lot of tickets depending on which way they are offered.

[Learner]

Originally posted by Caughtandhobble:
Personally I hunt with a back quiver when I hunt. I use my back quiver as a backpack, everything I need is in or on my back quiver.

I almost always hunt from a stand, when I'm on the stand I take my back quiver off. If I am stalking I will have an arrow on my string.

I have made several quivers but my favorite came from our very own Bud. Bud has been kind enough to donate his homemade quivers to St Jude's Auction over the years. The Mojo is priceless that comes with his quivers. My quiver is no longer pretty and slick but she is wore and weathered the way that Bud would expect it to look after years of use. There is no doubt this quiver will out last me. Thanks Bud!!!

If the thread sparks an interest for some to want a new quiver, you may want to wait for the St Jude Auction and hopefully Bud will donate again this year. If he does don't be scared to bid high or buy a lot of tickets depending on which way they are offered.

[two4hooking]

To me the back quiver is a system and part of the bow package.   I feel like I am missing something if I am shooting and not wearing it.  I find a way to make the system work for me.

Here I am 8 miles in the CO backcountry packing out.  My quiver is strapped to my pack so I can still reach and pull out an arrow.


 

Once I get to camp I just fill my pockets and maybe a small fanny pack or haversack with a few essentials and go hunting.  Simplicity and economy are part of the allure....how much stuff do you really need for a days hunt away from camp anyway?  I carry the essentials and what I would need to survive.  Everything else stays in camp.

When I hunt with my climber I also strap the quiver with some leather lacing to my stand on my back so I can still reach the arrows.


You find a way.  The more you use it the more it works for you. It is a part of my system.

Here I am mucking it through the marsh on a sika hunt with my QP strapped to the LW climber:

 

[Learner]

Originally posted by two4hooking:
To me the back quiver is a system and part of the bow package.   I feel like I am missing something if I am shooting and not wearing it.  I find a way to make the system work for me.

Here I am 8 miles in the CO backcountry packing out.  My quiver is strapped to my pack so I can still reach and pull out an arrow.


   

Once I get to camp I just fill my pockets and maybe a small fanny pack or haversack with a few essentials and go hunting.  Simplicity and economy are part of the allure....how much stuff do you really need for a days hunt away from camp anyway?  I carry the essentials and what I would need to survive.  Everything else stays in camp.

When I hunt with my climber I also strap the quiver with some leather lacing to my stand on my back so I can still reach the arrows.


You find a way.  The more you use it the more it works for you. It is a part of my system.

Here I am mucking it through the marsh on a sika hunt with my QP strapped to the LW climber:

     

It's super helpful to hear about the system and see these photos, Greg.

Maybe you could do a "Part 2" article for TBM!      

Best wishes,
Frank

[redfish]

I have a Hill style quiver, but I put a longer strap on it and use it like a plains quiver. The main reason is that I carry a variety of arrows when I hunt to take advantage of whatever game I happen to see. Carrying it plains quiver style allows me to look down to select the appropriate arrow.

[two4hooking]

I separate my broadheads from small game heads a couple of ways depending on how many BH arrows I want to carry.

Usually I use a leather lace divider inside the top of the quiver and put my blunts in there while the broadheads ride in the bottom section.

If I want to really scare some squirrels and stumps and only carry a few BHs, I'll just use them all in the bottom section.

Because I use net length wood arrows and my broadhead arrows are a few inches longer with BHs. It is hard to grab the wrong one.

If you put BHs in the top section, sometimes they will get hung up on the leather divider so my BHs always ride in the lower section.

This is the one true drawback of the BQ.  Judo heads grab other arrows, so my small game heads are blunts, .38 shell casings (or mod ones) and other low profile heads (ace hex etc).  I've never had an issue with other larger 4 blade BHs when I used them, but those wires on the judo really grab stuff.  

Other than that Back Quivers ROCK!

[Flingblade]

I just read the article in TBM.  Very good article.  One mod I need to make is add some type of adjustable buckle on the strap.  Mine fits snug with a t-shirt and is too tight to wear with my heavy wool coat.  Howard always shot wood shafts.  Seems wood would be the quietest when drawing out of a BQ.  I remember reading somewhere that he liked to file his broadheads to a saw tooth edge rather than a razor edge.  I am speculating that a saw tooth or serrated edge would be less prone to dulling in a BQ.  I think I am going to re-visit using the BQ this coming season.  Now all I need is a safari shirt and khaki trousers and I'll be all Hill'd up!

[ChuckC]

Bring this back up... I asked this question elsewhere but got no real responses....

What begot the back quiver?

 Hill is mainly credited (his name) but I saw photos and old movie footage of Art Young morphing his belt quiver from "at the waist"  to "over his shoulder".  This would likely have been prior to Hill jumping into the fold, although I am guessing he refined the option.

Does anybody KNOW ?

[Deno]

Great article and pics Two4H. I'm used to my Hill quiver but it's always good to look for new tips. Andyou always have 'em.
Always a pleasure Greg

Deno

[Bud B.]

Thanks Ben.