Best Method For Waterproofing Feathers

[Steve D]

Ozark feathers brush  on stuff. Tried an experiment with it on a day when we hand over 3inches rain for the day.Applied on a 5inch shield feather and set it out all the time and it never ever lost its shape.I'm sold on it or else its Trad vanes.gave it a flick and it was  good to go.
Give it a try.

[Orion]

Smokin Joe.  Dry fly spray works, but is rather expensive.  Way back when I used to waterproof my feathers, I used Boning dry-tite liquid.  Don't know if that's still made.  Scotch guard spray, used to make clothing water repellant, also works.  I haven't bothered with waterproofing my feathers in at least 30 years. 

I found that with a well tuned arrow, I get good arrow flight even when the feathers are wet.

[GCook]

I use Scotchgard fabric protection spray.  But I'm of the mind if it's raining, I'm not hunting.  But misty weather has given me many productive hunts so sometimes you gotta go.

[non-typical]

Dried blood.

[Terry Green]

I'm going to get some stuff to try today as it has been years since I done the tire wet. My fletch cover does the job for me pretty good. Most times in the rain I don't need any protection.

Rain has never stopped me from hunting, but bad weather has. Like mega storms and tornado fronts.

In the thread 'Hail Storm Bacon and the Bay of Pigs' I shot a pig and within seconds I ducked into some thick pine and road out the storm that I had no idea was coming. I'd made a good shot and after the hail stopped banging on my back I found the porker 16 yards away.

I'm going to see that I can find as its suppose to rain here for the next 7 days.

[George Tsoukalas]

I used to use dry fly spray or a clear bag over my fletching. Then when I got older (smarter?) I decided my feathers would stay drier, and more importantly I would too,  and blood trails would be better, if I stayed home in the rain. Jawge

[Terry Green]

I think George just said he's scared he's scared of getting wet. 

[cuboodle]

The guy that used laquer was Tarl from G   unshy Quivers he lightly misted the feathers then after dry ran them through a lightly closed fist to break them free. 

[George Tsoukalas]

Yes sir, Terry. I never did like getting wet. I like it a lot less at 74 than I did at 44. Jawge

[BRONZ]

I've used the powder and it's worked okay, but is kind of messy. I have also given feathers a light spray of CampDry...admit...the stuff does have a strong odor, so I put it on day/s before.

I won't hunt if rain would be expected to wash away blood trails and I will limit shot distance if I think arrow flight could be affected by collapsed feathers... even with a well-tuned arrow.

Turkey season is almost here!!

[Wose]

I live in SW Washington so after a certain point in October, "not hunting in the rain" means "not hunting." The early archery seasons in September are usually pretty dry, but I sometimes pull a multi-season tag and instead of fooling with my muzzleloader (which I really don't like) I'll just keep hunting with a bow, and have even been known to hunt with a bow during modern season. By the time late archery season rolls around, rain is a guarantee.

I've had good luck with Bohning Feather-Dri. I go outside, pour some in a plastic bag, stick the ends of the shafts in, and shake it around. But once it really starts to pour, I use a Palmer Bow Mate to carry my arrows.

[Terry Green]

Blood is not the only way to track. I've found a bunch of animals when its wet or dry with no Blood.

Smokin Joe can attest to a few.

[durp]

What Terry said  ...

[1Longbow]

Ive used hair spray with pretty good results

[Steelhead]

If all else fails they used to make fletch covers.Not sure if they still make them.They were made of polar fleece.Some guys use sandwich bags or something similar to cover thier fletchings affixed with rubber bands or something siimilar.

[Pine]

I probably shouldn't share my secret but here goes.
I use a tent blind. There, I've said it.
 
Actually I have used silicone shoe spray with good results.

[Squirrel Hunter]

Silicon powder works best but leaves the feathers stiff and much less durable. I use two light coats of Camp Dry (similar to Scotch Guard) and it leaves my fletch water resistant but not completely waterproof. I also use a fleece fletch cover sprayed with Camp Dry and, when it’s really raining hard, a plastic bread bag under the fleece cover.  Cat quivers work great also.

[blacktailbob]

As I stated earlier I really don't think it matters much. Attached are a couple shots of a test I did a while back.
Feathers were quite wet on the one arrow. Didn't shoot it through chrony but it was 18 or 20 yds where I practice 98% of the time. It stayed with his buddies. Surprised and pleased to clear that issue out of my head about WET feathers.

If I know it's a rainout day I won't go hunting because of washed away blood trails. But if a day of hit and miss showers I'll stick it out and get wet knowing it'll pass.

[blacktailbob]

Close up of wet feathers

AND...no I don't usually shoot three arrow groups that tight on a regular basis but I now know a wet feather certainly isn't a factor in a good shot. For me anyway.

[Dave Pagel]

I use a Meltonian shoe and boot spray on mine.  It does not harm my crown dips or cresting and it is fast.  I am sure it is just a silicone spray of some sort.

D.P.