Off the Shelf, Keeping the Arrow from Falling Off

[bowhunter15]

I decided to cut a shelf into my homemade longbow after taking off the Bear archery weather rest. I shoot slightly canted so the arrow falling off while shooting isn't an issue. I'm more worried about a light puff of wind blowing my arrow off the rest while it's hanging from a hook in my treestand. What do you guys do? Is it just not that big of an issue in reality? Should I elevate the outer edge of the calf hair rest so it slopes down into the sideplate just slightly enough to keep the arrow in place? I never really paid much attention to whether or not longbows normally have shelves cut sloping down to the sideplate or if they're cut 90 degrees perpendicular to it.

[Msbow]

I use a zip tie tucked into my shur grip. You can leave it out until you start to draw and slide the zip tie down in the grip with one finger. You can use a bicycle tube as a grip. If you look at my shelf you will see what I'm talking about.

I learned that by some guy on YouTube his name is something podcast I can't remember it.

[Msbow]

Oh yeah it was always an issue with me bumping my arrow then it hitting the ground or the wind doing it for me. I tried several things and ways, but this worked best for me.

[Steven E Milbocker]

I'd keep my bow laying on my lap. The bow on the hook has cost me shot opportunities on more than one occasion! I just gotta have coffee on stand in the morning:)

[Cyclic-Rivers]

I have seen people use a rubber band and a tooth pick.  when they start to draw, it will pop off and you are all set.

[Kevin Forrester]

Since I use a thumb ring but still shoot off the left side of the bow bow (due to a hand Injury from a table saw) the torque tends to push the arrow to the left and off the shelf, I glue on a short feather backwards on the shelf which helps hold the arrow in place.

[highlow]

Steven X2. Hanging my bow has cost me a couple of times also. Laying the bow in my lap not as comfortable as hanging on hook or limb, but does eliminate the arrow coming off the shelf issue. Can't sit in treestand as long as I used to so laying bow in lap not a big problem. Want to be ready when time comes. Also don't need any more distractions in my sight picture.

[bowhunter15]

Thanks for the ideas. I found that traditional wilderness bowhunting podcast video on Youtube. He also suggested being able to use a little round-head push pin with a leather grip. Some of my treestand setups, especially early season, are with just a platform and front tether harness (no seat) which I need to use the hook for. However, since you're facing the tree to begin with, it takes very little effort and movement to lift the bow off the hook and be ready to shoot.

[bowhunter15]

Originally posted by Kevin Forrester:
Since I use a thumb ring but still shoot off the left side of the bow bow (due to a hand Injury from a table saw) the torque tends to push the arrow to the left and off the shelf, I glue on a short feather backwards on the shelf which helps hold the arrow in place.

The more reading I do on the feather style rests, the more I like them. I have primary turkey feathers and leather all ready to go, and could make something like the TRAP rest fairly easily I believe. Though just putting calf hair on the shelf with a single feather on the outside edge sounds appealing too. Decisions, decisions!

[Muttly]

My wife has a '59 Kodiak, has the feather rest, kind of impressed with that. Lot less position sensitive, I can cant the bow, or hold it straight up without having to finesse the bow or watch how I hold the string..
Thought about putting a feather rest on my long bow, but not sure how they would do in the rain, and not sure if that stays in the boundaries of good taste??..
Don't wanna get branded a heretic...

[Stump73]

Kevin could you post apicture?

[Dorado]

What about using something like this?
  Kwik-Loc Arrow Holder
Seems like it'd do exactly what you're wanting and it'd flip out of the way as you draw.

[Jon Stewart]

I put a feather rest on my wife's bow and glued a single piece of a full length feather on the shelf and next to the rest.

[Zbone]

Curious about these feather rests - Does nock point placement square to the top of the feathers (where the shaft rests) or base of the feathers if shaft pressed down?

Thanks...

[frankwright]

[bowhunter15]

 

Giving this a try. I just used a little gorilla glue to stick a piece of wild turkey primary feather on the side of the rest. I would have stuck it right on the shelf, but my shelf is only just wide enough for the arrow. I can tilt my bow 90 degrees and the arrow doesn't budge. Seems like it would be fragile there, but I took a few test shots and it's as if it wasn't even there. No extra noise; no apparent damage. It'll be maybe a week until my calf hair shelf and side plate material comes in. So if it's still in good shape by then I'll just finish sanding, then overlap the leather grip right over the top and call it good.

[Msbow]

Now that I like! I just wonder how long it would last, I'm pretty rough on bows.

[bowhunter15]

Originally posted by Msbow:
Now that I like! I just wonder how long it would last, I'm pretty rough on bows.

Yea my biggest concern is taking it in/out of a case and carrying it through heavy cover.

[Jon Stewart]

I put them on my wife hunting bow and grandkids hunting bows.  They are factory bows so the feather is glued on the shelf.  They have stayed on for years.