Duck feather fletching

[Stephengiles]

My uncle works with some big time duck and goose hunters and I'm trying to work out a deal for geese feathers when he asked me "what about duck feathers", I didn't have an answer for him. So should I mess with the ducks or stay with the geese? Your thoughts. I've never made fletching before but I'm ready to learn especially since I have more time than money. Have a great day.

[edge2009]

I've never tried it personally, nor know anyone who has. I do duckhunt however...

I can't tell you much about geese because they don't wonder this far down to me.

The ducks, for the most part won't have the "bulky-ness" for a lack of a better word, to use as fletching in my opinion. The speculum will be thin.

Maybe your larger divers like reds, cans, even big mallards, spoonies, etc.

Its no doubt worth a try, but I foresee the feathers being to thin and too flexible.

Granted I know little when it comes to arrow building, so take this with a grain of salt. Maybe someone more knowledge on the matter will add/take away from what I've said

Good luck!

[americanhunter7]

Goose feathers make excellent fletching. I'm sure Magnus or other more experienced Tradgangers will be along to answer the duck feathers question. Good luck.

[Duncan]

I'm sitting here looking at a mallard drake I have on my wall and I'm thinking the quills will be too small to split. Even if you did get some fletching out of them they would likely be short. The goose fletching would be more like what we are used to.

[Surewood Steve]

I'm from Eugene and root for the U of O so don't mess with the Ducks!!!!

[meathead]

The goose feathers are great.  I keep most of them off of the geese we shoot.  You won't get much of a feather off of the ducks.  I suppose if you shoot 3" feathers they would work but that would be about it.

[Stephengiles]

That's what I figured, we get a lot of Canada geese through here and if what I heard is correct these guys are pretty hardcore so I should get enough of those to keep me busy. I'm all thumbs sometimes any way so probably just make a mess out of something that small . Appreciate it fellas.

[Jerry Jeffer]

Goose feathers work great, and they stay dry in the rain. Duck would probably be more work than it is worth.

[magnus]

For tying on primative arrows the duck would work but if you wanting to split and grind them they are too small IMO. 3" is about all you'll get. They just don't have the quill needed for modern style fletching. Goose feathers work great.

[Tree Killer]

Goose primaries work fine, but I agree, duck quills are just too small for most applications.

I'm trying to find a reliable source for some peacock primaries.  Used them for fly tying and should make some cool fletch for some arrows.

[sweeney3]

Since everyone is in unanimous agreement that duck feathers won't work, please send them to me.    

[kbetts]

Large ducks like blacks might work.  For me, goose is the ticket.  I cut every wing I can.  I stock up pretty heavily during the conservation seasons.