Vanes

[Petrichor]

In the interest of both saving money and because Louisiana is such a wet climate especially recently has anyone used vanes instead of feathers on their arrows?  I know nothing beats a feather in flight but if I can cut costs, improve durability, and not sacrifice too much in the way of accuracy I may try it. Thoughts?

[Rock 'N Bow]

I fletched a few of my arrows with vanes. They are a 2 fletch arrangement with one in the 4 o'clock position and the other in the 10o'clock position  (I'm left handed) in order to clear the strike plate and rest. It is imperative to have your arrows perfectly tuned and to have proper clearance. Indexable nocks are a must to find the right clearance. Also, very little or no helical. There is an article in a past issue of Traditional Bowhunter about this subject.

[Zradix]

1st off there are treatments available for feathers and some of them help a LOT in the wet.
 If you have your stuff tuned well, soaked and slightly deformed feathers will still help you deliver an arrow where you want it.

If you do go with vanes, you'll want an elevated flipper rest of some sort.
Vanes just don't compress worth a darn when contacting the shelf or strike plate.

[buckeyebowhunter]

Paul Shafer did. You might have to consider a plastic flipper type rest but i believe you'll actually get improved arrow flight with vanes.

[buckeyebowhunter]

Paul Shafer did. You might have to consider a plastic flipper type rest but i believe you'll actually get improved arrow flight with vanes.

[Draven]

Use an elevated arrow rest and you are good to go.

[buckeyebowhunter]

Not sure why the double post

[J. Cook]

The key is the elevated rest - a flipper style like a "Weather Rest" or a spring arm style will work great.  I have 1 bow specifically set up for rainy day hunts.  I have too limited hunting time as it is to stay home when it's raining, so I needed to adapt once I got rid of the compound.  

That bow is set up with a T-1000 rest (I think that's what it's called), and I shoot 4" 4-fletch vanes.  I shoot AAE Plastifletch vanes because they are softer than most vanes on the market.  However, just for kicks I shot an arrow with blazer vanes out of the set up and it shot perfectly.  I don't like the look of those though - but my point is that it will work fine.  

I still crested the arrows and kept the traditional look that appeals to me, but they have vanes.  I also use a Selway Softkote quiver on that one and the small Simms silencers so that everything is waterproof on this particular bow.

[M60gunner]

I just finished a doz with vanes. They are for my recurve that I have an elvatated rest on. I fletch them straight with a little offset. They donot like to wrap around a small diameter shaft. I also made a doz with feathers. When shooting both I found the vanes a tad more consistent. Do not know why but am happy with results.
I have a friend that shoots vanes off his LB, no elvatated rest, he has somehow figured his nock point height to make them not bounce off shelf.

[Possum Head]

I recall as a youngun shooting vanes with a Weather rest.

[WVbowhunter]

You can either use an elevated rest or if your arrows are bareshafting perfect you can run index vane in and shoot very well. That is a trick I picked up from Fred Eichler on Masters of the Barebow Vol. II.

[FAV 52]

I am shooting Quick Spin vanes off a Bear weather rest this year ; good flight with broad heads .

[motorhead7963]

I have a recurve and a long bow that both shoot great with vanes and I shoot off the shelf. I shoot GTs and 4" vanes with a helical twist and they fly like bullets and are absolutely silent. Long bow is a Savannah and recurve is a Bear Grizzly both 60 lbs.

[Petrichor]

Local shop was blowing out vanes for 3 bucks per 100 so I picked up 400. We shall see I'll try some different things and see how it goes. I'll be sure to report back.

[damascusdave]

So how much do you spend a month for a cell phone?

DDave

[Petrichor]

Originally posted by damascusdave:
So how much do you spend a month for a cell phone?

DDave

Wife does most of the budgeting. Cell phone is required for work, feathers are not.. I spend 35 a month though.

[tracker12]

I am currently shooting 4 3" Vanetec vanes out of my ILF setup.  Not sure how it would work of the shelf.  But with an elevated rest I see no difference.

[elkken]

Vanes and a Bear Weather rest work just great in the wet side of Washington state ....