Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Arrows => Topic started by: Bootthrower on June 25, 2019, 03:20:48 pm
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I think the title pretty much covers my question! I want to start making my own arrows for an English warbow all from scratch, but I'm having trouble with finding suitable goose feathers. I've read that the fletchings should be around 7" long, but I can't seem to find many places where I can buy goose feathers of that length. If anyone knows a site or something where one can get goose feathers suitable for such fletchings it would be greatly appreciated! I live in Europe (Sweden) if that matters.
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If you have parks in town with water you probably have geese. Now is about when they start molting so look around where geese hang out.
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Here:
https://fairbowshop.nl/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=1185
Regards,
Scyth
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Northwest suburbs of Chgo . . . there's so many of 'em that they stop oncoming traffic as waddle from one side of streets to other. Residents would likely cheer ya on if "accidently" ran over few.
;)
Royal nuisance!
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Thanks a lot for the suggestions! I'll look around my local pond (lots of geese) and if that doesn't yield much then I'll check out that site further.
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They’re molting here in Maryland now. Plenty of primary feathers on the ground. Due to migratory bird laws I can neither confirm nor deny if a few happened to find their way home with me.
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A warning if you please.....It is illegal to collect most feathers you may find, song birds, shore birds, etc. Fortunately most of the good fletching feathers are legal; turkeys and geese to name a few. So, be aware what you pick up. Could cost you $1000 a feather.
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As Pat B said, be sure you are legal in gathering! Not sure if the game/hunting laws in Sweden, but here in the US, in general, if you can hunt them, you can have the feathers.
Hawkdancer
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A warning if you please.....It is illegal to collect most feathers you may find, song birds, shore birds, etc. Fortunately most of the good fletching feathers are legal; turkeys and geese to name a few. So, be aware what you pick up. Could cost you $1000 a feather.
Actually Goose feathers are illegal here too. Along with Blackbird and crow which there's a season for (at least here in AL). I dare say though that there's almost no chance you'd get in trouble for having them, but still it's good to be aware.
Here's the complete US list: https://www.fws.gov/birds/management/managed-species/migratory-bird-treaty-act-protected-species.php
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In the UK the law is that if its farmed or hunted you can have it; if you can ABSOLUTELY prove with no possibility of any doubt that you found other species' feathers you can have them but you would need to pay a pretty smart lawyer if you were prosecuted...
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Just find where they are hanging spending time. They are molting right now and you can pick up the primaries with little effort. Parks, golf courses, etc are good places. Make sure you sort by right ans left wing.
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There's a good-size Jackdaw roost in the graveyard of our local church, literally dozens of perfect black wing feathers just lying there (well there were till I got there ;) )
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Looks like they are killing them in Sweden and probably throwing that part away. You just need to speak with some of the hunters.
https://www.getducks.com/hunts/sweden-goose-hunting/ (https://www.getducks.com/hunts/sweden-goose-hunting/)
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That is a great idea Archeryrob! Why didn't I think of contacting a proper hunter!