on the east coast, june 'tis the bird moulting season, so gather up them goose feathers ...
(http://rfd.cc/pb/archery/goose.jpg)
strip 'em ...
(http://rfd.cc/pb/archery/f4-1.jpg)
(http://rfd.cc/pb/archery/f12.jpg)
grind 'em ...
(http://rfd.cc/pb/archery/f8.jpg)
chop or burn 'em ...
(http://rfd.cc/pb/archery/f13.jpg)
fletch 'em up ...
(http://rfd.cc/pb/archery/goose1.jpg)
canada goose feathers make for great fletchings, and they're extremely water resistant.
yep, dark gray feathers are pretty good natural camo - so natural, even the archer/hunter mostly can't see 'em in flight, or find 'em when then go astray.
i've not tried to dye goose feathers, dunno if it can be done and if it'd remove all the natural oils that make it so good in the first place. don't intend to bother, either. i like the idea of all natural fletching, particularly on woodies.
what can help heaps is a large, bright crown wrap and florescent nocks.
i'll still use be using canada goose feathers, none-the-less! ;D
UPDATE - ah! the answer for me is fur tracers!
(http://rfd.cc/pb/archery/tracers.jpg)
goose feathers are very water resistant. here's the results of a 5 minute running water feather test ... guess which fletchings are turkey? ;D
(http://rfd.cc/pb/archery/wetarras.jpg)
dntn Man rfd that is cool. Where' my old Shakespere bow? Have'nt strung it in years but your posts got me to thinking about it.
go for it, sir - guns 'n' bows, boolits 'n' arrows, all GOOD STUFF!
Goose fletch is also noisy and Do Not Sell Anything you make with goose feathers! They are a regulated migratory waterfowl and it can get you in big trouble with the feds.
There is no legal problem with using the feathers this way and they do work well except for the flight noise, just don't try to sell them.
having been an archer, bowyer and bowhunter since the early 1950's, and having made ALL my own tackle from bows to arrows to strings to points/broadheads, and tabs and quivers ...
goose fletching is NOT NOISY.
i dunno where that kinda thinking comes from, but it is hugely FALSE.
it's not about the feather's origin (goose, turkey, etc), feather noise has everything to do with the cut of the fletch - its SHAPE. "shield" cut feathers, or any feather cut with long/high trailing edge will flutter and emit noise. more rounded back ("swine back" as named in medieval times) fletchings are quieter.
wtch very interesting. Thanks
Geese all flew off when the ice and snow melted and took their feathers with them....wish we had moulters here.
Doug