Fletching choice dilemma

[Hoosierarcher88]

Im getting ready to refletch some arrows and ive found myself in a bit of a dilemma of trying to figureout what fletch to use. While the choice is normally easy as i just grab some 4.5" ozark feathers out of my stock pile i dont have that luxury as my dog decided to eat the box which contained roughly 1000 feathers. Now ive got to buy feathers for the first time in a good while and i cant make up my mind. Im in a debate between 4 fletch 3" parabolic or 3 fletch banana cut. Which do you all prefer, 3 longer feathers or 4 shorter feathers.

[McDave]

If these are for target use, it really doesn't matter provided that your arrows are reasonably well tuned.  I would go with the smallest and lowest profile feathers that will correct any wobbles you might have.

For hunting, assuming you're using a fixed blade broadhead, you need a little more control.  I would say 4.5” is minimum, with 5” being better, with a reasonably high profile.  I've never noticed any difference between 3 and 4 fletch.

[Stunchy]

I don’t have experience with the exact options you mention but I have gone back and forth between 3 and 4 fletched arrows using only 4” shield cut feathers. 

I have found I like 3 feathers better.  I don’t notice any difference in flight (under 30 yards).  3 is quicker and cheaper to set up.  Arrows with 3 feathers will bunch up together much more compactly in a quiver.  Also, with 3 you don’t need to have conversations about why you have 4 feathers every time you shoot with someone new. 

The only positive I have found for 4 is that they are more visible, both in the air and on the ground.  Other things I’ve heard people say in favor of 4 is that you don’t have to worry about where the cock feather goes (not something that affects me) and it will straighten out an arrow quicker after a poor release  (I have not noticed this).

[Terry Green]

Fletching delimma?  Surely not!!!! Say it isn't so!!!

My hunting style doesn't allow me to have the perfect backyard shot every single time. I have to manufacture shots in the field. Therefore, I use 5 inch four fletch.

This format gives me more stability, more visibility, and an overall more forgiving Arrow. It takes the worry of feathers out of the equation.

 I never lost an animal tbecsuse my feather choice, which some will lead you to believe in their defense of feather choice. Just put enough feather on there and forget about it ...it's bow hunting.

And before you hear the words down range and the loss of 1.5 feet per second....

Downrange comments belong on a rifle forum.

If you need 1.5 more feet per second to kill an animal, you need to be on a rifle forum
 

[Jerry Jeffer]

I will agree McDave for the most part. I use 4 fletch just for the fact that I like to pull an arrow out of the quiver, knock and shoot with out a care about cock feather.

[Pine]

Fletching delimma?  Surely not!!!! Say it isn't so!!!

My hunting style doesn't allow me to have the perfect backyard shot every single time. I have to manufacture shots in the field. Therefore, I use 5 inch four fletch.

This format gives me more stability, more visibility, and an overall more forgiving Arrow. It takes the worry of feathers out of the equation.

 I never lost an animal tbecsuse my feather choice, which some will lead you to believe in their defense of feather choice. Just put enough feather on there and forget about it ...it's bow hunting.

And before you hear the words down range and the loss of 1.5 feet per second....

Downrange comments belong on a rifle forum.

If you need 1.5 more feet per second to kill an animal, you need to be on a rifle forum
 

2X on that.👍

[Orion]

I'm in the process of switching to four 4-inch fletch from three 5-inch fletch as I refletch or build new arrows. Reason for the change has nothing to do with arrow flight. Both those combinations work well.  However, I burn or chop my own fletches and and commercial turkey feathers are so short nowadays that I can't get two 5-inch fletches out of a feather.  Can usually get two 4-inch fletches. The shorter fletches also give me better feather clearance for the sta-jac arrow holders I have mounted on all my bows.   

[Rough Run]

Even on very good days, I'm never perfect with my release and, I expect I am less so in a hunting situation.  I want the little extra stability that 4-fletch provides, so I've switched from 3 feathers.  I use the Target Maxx feathers also, with some shield-cuts periodically.  The Ozark feathers are also very simple to cut down to 4" length if you don't want the full 4.5" length.

[David Mitchell]

Three 5" shield cuts here.  Real tough decision, huh? 

[Sam McMichael]

I prefer three 5" shield cut feathers also. They look nice and have performed well for me.

[Rob DiStefano]

for me and hunting, i want a LOT of steerage from the get-go, so 5-1/2" shield cut feathers and a full helical twist in 3 or 4 fletch.  i like pink feathers, too - goes good with blood red.     

fletch burning is what i prefer, so i can make fat profiled fletching ...

[Terry Green]

Nice Rob!!!

[Cyclic-Rivers]

Now, I will probably catch some flack but I use what I have on hand.  Different cuts on the same arrow, some are left wing and right wing on the same arrow. I have arrows with 3 different cuts and colors on them.  The 10 ring doesn't care what is sticking out of it.

On my hunting arrows I have more consistency because those usually are not arrows I've had to fix.

Those New York guys are tough on arrows at 3d shoots if you are the first to shoot and your arrows go where they should.  I became cheap in my repairs knowing they were temporary fixes anyway. My score never reflected how ugly my arrows were.

Speaking of which I have a dozen needing some attention.

[Alexander Traditional]

I like 3 five inch,4 four inch,and even have some 4 five inch.

I used to worry about fletch orientation. I had to glue some nocks on,and had to readjust them because they set crooked. I didn't get the fletch just right. I've nocked feathers off shooting through cans,some have just fallen off of aluminums. I still shoot all of them,even just the ones with two feathers. I can't tell the difference in flight on any of them.

That said when I go hunting I get them all fixed up and the same,but with a good tuned arrow it doesn't seem to affect the flight with a good release.

[stagetek]

Three 5" shield cuts work great for me.

[Rob DiStefano]

i prefer a "fat" shield that's not available commercially and so i get that by twisting up a custom burner wire.  the shape adds more feather to its front end, for added steerage.

[limbshaker]

Whatever works. 3ea 5" feathers are the gold standard for hunting.

If you want high profile feathers, look up Sagittarius Archery. Very good quality and affordable. Their shield is a little goofy looking IMO, but their parabolic are sweet. A little higher profile than most.

[Rob DiStefano]

that's the beauty of a fletch burner - yer in control of the fletch shape.

[bucknut]

I like 4 fletch on my woodies for the simple fact you can get twice as much wear out of feathers.  I generally shoot three fletch burnt high profile 4 or 5" shields on my arrows that have an adjustable nock.

[Oscar-eleven]

Use as much feather as you need. I like to tinker and will say that everyone that's posted so far uses more feather than me.