Feather tracers

[BowHuntingFool]

I am trying out some feather tracers for my kids arrows as well as mine. I got the tracers but have no idea how to attach them, any help would be much appreciated! Thanks!

[Broken Arrow 1]

I get the fur tracers from 3 rivers and they are just like stickers you peel the backing and stick them on. The paper backing is hard to get off though, I use an exacto knife to start peeling.

[BowHuntingFool]

I wish I would of known that, I picked up the gateway tracers! I hope someone chines in with an easy way!

[Orion]

Probably a good idea to cut the tracer to length first (so it will make one wrap around the shaft).  If it's not on a self-adhesive backing, use a little fletch lac on the back of the "skin."  Wrap it on the arrow directly behind the feathers and hold or pin it in place until the glue dries, about 5 minutes.

[Pat B]

Fletch tape.   I buy rabbit zonkers, from a fly tying shop, and make my own. Zonkers are strips of rabbit fur.  I use fletch tape, Duco cement or Tite-Bond glue to attach them.    Pat

[sdpeb1]

What are tracers? I've only been on these sites for a year now and this is the first I've heard of "tracers" thanks

[VTer]

There small strips of fur or fuzz that lay down while the arrow is in flight but pop up at impact. Supposed to help you see where you hit.

[trapperDave]

here's a link, sdpeb1   http://3riversarchery.resultspage.com/search?w=tracers

[Pat B]

Here are a few arrows I made with rabbit zonker tracers...
 
 

[Dave Worden]

Ok, no need to get up tight about installing (or even making your own) tracers.  I haven't tried fletch tape for these 'cause it's wider than feather tracers.  Propbably just about the right width for rabbit fur.  To glue them on, I just put a dab of fletch tite on the end of the tracer and stick that to an arrow with a bit of masking tape.  When that's dry, I run a bead the rest of the way around the shaft.  Clip a clothespin to the end of the FULL LENGTH tracer.  Wrap the tracer around the shaft in the glue line letting  the clothespin hang off the edge of the bench to anchor the tracer till the glue dries.  Then just trim off the excess.  If you'd like to make your own tracers (and have a much greater choice of colors) just go to Jo-Ann Fabrics, Michaels, Hobby Lobby, some sort of craft shop and buy a bag of feathers for about a buck and a half.  Strip the feather from the quill just like you'd do it for a feather you're making for fletching.  You'll loose some this way 'cause they're pretty fragile, but you can make hundreds for that $1.50.  You can get bags of feathers all one color or mixed colors.

[BobW]

yep, two rings of fletch tape (though I prefer the feather ones over the fur)

[V I Archer]

I get the rabbit strips from the flytying section of th elocal sporting goods store.  Krazy glue, or a little fletch tite is all I have ever used.

[overbo]

Love um

[Smallwood]

could someone post more pics of these , i'd like to try making some.

[BobW]

these are on black and red fletch on brown (CX Heritage) shafts - stand out amazing....as I have said before, just don't be the first guy to shoot at the target of you are in a group.  It is just the marabou feather.  I like feather more than fur, but it is just my preference.

 
 

[Gaff]

wow!!! those look awesome... ive never actually seen what the tracers look like. you saw they "pop" back when they hit???? i gotta try those!!!

[BowHuntingFool]

I tell ya Bob, those arras stand out rather nicely! Thanks for the info guys!

[NorthernCaliforniaHunter]

Here's a link to a YouTube video on How-to apply the feather tracer. It's in German, which I don't speak a lick of, but I got the gist nonetheless.

 

and another of them in action:

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcbuyJKAfi8&feature=related

[sbschindler]

I've used them in the past and for me they get "bald" after a while, I also use them for wind indicaters, I got some micro ballons now so maybe they will last longer LOL

[Chimaster]

Nice pictures guys!! I might give them a try. Thanks for the info