Feather Length for Hunting Arrows

[MAT]

It's not the length that's important, it's the height as Ashby (I think) said. I started making my own high back 4" shield and they work better than the standard 5" shield cut.

[chopx2]

3 - 4" low profile shields to cut down on noise and wind profile. Prefer shields as I think they old up better in rain. I also shoot ultra high FOC (>30%) which helps reduce the amount of feathers needed and spin test my BHs to make sure they are perfectly straight.

I've even shot 3" feathers with no noticeable difference out to 20+yds, but I'm not brave enough to try them in the field yet.

[ridge runner]

3-4" LW helical for both field points and broadheads, I keep the backheight to 5/8"s and it gives me good stability with low noise, I get excellent flight without the extra feather length

[Ragnarok Forge]

4 - 4 inch shield cuts.  I put my time into tuning so I could shoot 3 - 3 inch and the arrows would fly the same with broadheads at the range.  The 4 - 4 inch fletch are insurance for bad form due to cold weather, excitement, etc......

[Ragnarok Forge]

4 - 4 inch shield cuts.  I put my time into tuning so I could shoot 3 - 3 inch and the arrows would fly the same with broadheads at the range.  The 4 - 4 inch fletch are insurance for bad form due to cold weather, excitement, etc......

[BobCo 1965]

I use 3-4" Parabolic Left Wing.

[hitman]

I use 5" on wood and 4" on carbon but use wood mostly.

[ArrowCrester]

I use 5"
 

     

[Johnny UMAA]

I use 3 x 5" left wing parabolics...

[ishoot4thrills]

I use three, 4" feathers(shield and parabolic cut) on all of my skinny carbon arrows. Small diameter shafts can use shorter feathers than larger dia. shafts, if the arrow matches your bow well.

[3arrows]

When i started bare shafting i went from 3-5 inch to 3-4inch no problems and can cut 2 from OLD full lenght feathers.

[bolong]

All I've used for the past 40 years is 5 inch. I figure if it works I ain't gonna change it.

[TRAD101]

(3) 5 inch shield cut is all I ever use.

[Mack_S]

I use 5".  Tried 5.5" and didn't really notice that much difference.

Edited to add:  Shield Cut for me.

-Mack

[Squint]

Im with TRAD101 3-5inch shield,left wing,left helical

[chad graham]

4-4" mostly sometimes 5" shape doesnt really matter but shields do look traditional.

[KEG]

I use 3 x 5" parabolic. I have considered going to 3 x 4" after reading some earlier posts. Does anyone using large high profile feathers see any problems with crosswinds or is the advantage of the arrow stabilizing while coming off the bow of greater importance?

[ArrowCrester]

5"
       

[S.C. Hunter]

5" here as well

[Frank Warnke]

With some tuning I was able to clean up my arrow flight and work down to three 4" feathers from three 5.5" feathers.  Still prefer the looks of 5" feathers on an arrow.