Feather question.......

[kennym]

This may be silly, but has anyone noticed any diff in noise between chopped and burned feathers?

Trying to get the most silent setup possible....

[donw]

shape of cut makes more of a difference than method of shaping...

[FarmerMarley]

Burning is quieter but smells a lot more than choppers.

[Matty]

Originally posted by FarmerMarley:
Burning is quieter but smells a lot more than choppers.

That's some funny stuff right there

I've noticed. The less feather the less noise.  The higher the profile. The more noise.

[macbow]

I can agree on the burning being a little quieter.
Biggest difference is lower profile and rounded back corners.

[karrow]

Originally posted by macbow:
I can agree on the burning being a little quieter.
Biggest difference is lower profile and rounded back corners.

i agree with macbow. i have burned some banna cut flecthings that were loud. other then that most have been very quite. i think the problem was they were to high in the mid. nice thing about burning is you can keep trimming. also the more flecthing the more stable the arrow is in flight. so you may have to settle for a happy medium. good luck

[Charlie Lamb]

I'm partial to burning buddy, but that's just personal preference and no hard evidence to prove one way or the other.

You may find that backing off on helical some will do more good.

[kennym]

Thanks fellers, I went to 4 and 4.5" para and T-hawk with a lot less helical. They still fly broadheads very well.  

I need to have no wind to check em, in the shop the arra is at target before the bow thump is over...

I was just wonderin if burning em would give any more advantage!  

[magnus]

Kenny I've burned feathers but it all in the shape a helical IMO.

[Rick Richard]

Not to take away from this thread, but what profiles are the quietest?  I have been kicking around the idea of trying banana cut. Any opinions?

[Orion]

Banana cut are supposedly the quietest, followed by parabolic and then shield, but there's not a lot of difference among them.  Cut height and amount of helical/offset also affects noise, probabloy as much as feather shape, but again, the amount is very slight. A scruffy/worn feather or feather with a piece missing can create a lot of noise.  

I've shot shield for more than 40 years and can't say I've ever had a critter spook because of feather noise.  Well maybe a squirrel or two as a flu-flu zoomed past its head.

At hunting distances, the critter is going to hear the bow go off long before it hears feather noise.  By the time it hears feather noise, it's too late for it to react.

[Nativestranger]

Not sure which is the quietest but Pope and Young cut is definitely the noisiest. But it looks cool and I like the noise. I guess by the time you hear it coming, it's too late.

[Zradix]

hi Kenny,

I shoot 4x4.5" t-hawk.

I was just a couple weeks ago making a burner just to try one out.

I "skimmed off" a touch of feather with the burner from a few arrows with pretty good feathers on it.

I didn't notice the arrows to be any different.
These fletches were slightly worn..not bad at all.
But just bad enough I could hear them a bit.
I thought the burner might "melt" the edges together a bit and quiet them up.

They completely seperate when you run your hand down em anyway.


I've always wanted the quietest setup too.
..went for T-hawk for that reason..

My arrows are always just about dead silent when new.
But after shooting a while the fletch always gets a little messed up and the arrows get loud again...maybe not LOUD..but audible.

In all honesty, I plan on going with a precut shield for the next batch of arrows.

When I could get 2 fletches off a feather it was worth it.
...now that just doesn't happen.

If the shields are too loud for me,  plan on trimming a touch off thee back at an angle to quiet them up.
Save myself a lot of time and effort.

Actually a little money too..but won't have the 3-4" pieces of feather left over...always saved them for ...something...never found that something yet...lol

[Tim Finley]

I had 2 deer duck the string  this year,  I had my son shoot from my ground blind while I stood outside so I could hear how noisy my bow was .I couldnt hear the bow at all but my arrows were really buzzing. I cut my feathers alittle different and killed the next 2 bucks I shot at.I had trouble with this before on antelope and should have known better, keep the feathers low without a point on the back and you will have less string jump. Im convinced its more feathers than bow string in most cases.

[Zradix]

me too Tim.
I totally agree with your feather shape thoughts too.

Deer aren't JUST jumping or ducking on reflex.
They are actively trying to get out of the way of the arrow.

...which means they are seeing the arrow..
..anything that makes that arrow easier for them to detect is a bad deal...whether with sight or sound.

[Bill Carlsen]

Goose feathers are the quietest, IMO. They are softer than turkey, may not hold up as well under a lot of shooting but if you use them on your hunting arrows they will be fine....and waterproof.

[FarmerMarley]

 Burning is quieter but smells a lot more than choppers.  

OOps, I think I misunderstood the question!

[kbetts]

Love my goose feathers.  I used to chop them, but they were a little noisy....a guy at league called them "an angry goose" lol.  I've since modified my ribbon on my burner to a banana/swift shape and I like them very much.  I'm getting away from high contrast colors also.  Going more towards some sort of color in the wrap or crest and less on the feather.  More stealthy and I still can find my arrows.

[FerretWYO]

Originally posted by FarmerMarley:
Burning is quieter but smells a lot more than choppers.

I like it.

[kennym]

Just about as I figured, I think I have done all I can..  Thanks TG