Author Topic: Sorting Turkey feathers (Read 6153 times)

osage outlaw · « **on:** September 10, 2009, 03:15:32 am »

This spring, I had some friends save me the wings from their turkeys. I don't know anything about fletching arrows, so I just took all of the wing feathers off and put them in a box. Now I am trying to learn how to use them, and realized I should have kept the right and left wings separate. Is there a way to sort them? Do I even need to sort them, or could I use them and not know what side they are from? I just bought a Bohning jig and I am ready to learn a new skill. Thanks for any help.

Cromm · « **Reply #1 on:** September 10, 2009, 05:02:21 am »

Hi osage outlaw,
You can use both left and right wing feathers, BUT not on the same arrow.
Only use lefts together and rights.

Pappy · « **Reply #2 on:** September 10, 2009, 05:11:42 am »

You can hold the feather up by the back end look down the Quill and it the wide part of the Quill is on the left it is right wing,if it is right it is left wing.You can use either,just like said before not
together. This is with Primary ,with the secondaries it don't make much difference. You will usually
get 8 or 9 primary's from each wing.

Pappy

osage outlaw · « **Reply #3 on:** September 10, 2009, 06:57:48 am »

Thanks for the help. I think I'll be sorting some feathers today.

woodstick · « **Reply #4 on:** September 11, 2009, 08:39:28 pm »

when i take mine off the bird i allways put them in seprate bags marked left or right. i dont make arrows i just save the feathers to send to peps who uses them.

Pat B · « **Reply #5 on:** September 11, 2009, 08:47:54 pm »

Both primaries and secondaries are good for fletching but like others said keep the rights and lefts separate. You can also use some of the other smaller feathers for Native style fletchings.

osage outlaw · « **Reply #6 on:** September 12, 2009, 09:52:11 pm »

I sorted some feathers today and put some on a couple of cheap carbons. The first one didn't turn out so well, but the second one looked good. I will try to get some pictures of it and post.

sailordad · « **Reply #7 on:** September 13, 2009, 09:42:58 am »

whats carbon

lol

El Destructo · « **Reply #8 on:** September 13, 2009, 01:45:37 pm »

Quote from: sailordad on September 13, 2009, 09:42:58 am

whats carbon lol

It's that............Man-Made Cane....Bamboo...ya know...like..."Pork.... the Other White Meat".........

osage outlaw · « **Reply #9 on:** September 13, 2009, 08:58:52 pm »

Hey, give me a break. I just took off my training wheels this summer. I am taking baby steps. This year was learning bow making. Next year will be arrow making.

sailordad · « **Reply #10 on:** September 13, 2009, 11:39:23 pm »

ya dont sweat it,we just like to have some fun every now and again
some times its just mentioning a certain thing and we just gotta be smart on it

mike: excellent descripntion on what it was too

osage outlaw · « **Reply #11 on:** September 14, 2009, 01:04:07 am »

Can anyone give me some advice on what arrows I should get. I am not close to any shops that have any trad gear, so I am stuck with walmart. I was looking at some carbon express thunderstorm arrows today. Some are rated for 30-50 lbs and flex pretty good and the others were rated for 45-60 lbs. and were pretty stiff. I am shooting a 50 lb osage selfbow. It might actually be just a little under 50 lbs., but really close.

I promise I will try woodies next season!

Pappy · « **Reply #12 on:** September 14, 2009, 07:19:49 am »

Go with the lighter ones.

Baby steps,that's how most of us done it,admit it or not.You will get there and there is no hurry.

Pappy

El Destructo · « **Reply #13 on:** September 14, 2009, 07:39:41 am »

What Pappy said....go for the Lighter Carbon (eww that word sticks in my Craw!!) Arrows....they will still probably be stiff though....and make sure that you don't use Vanes....Use Feathers....Vanes will not only cut You....Selfbows just don't seem to like them too much....in my Opinion.......

Hillbilly · « **Reply #14 on:** September 14, 2009, 09:55:10 am »

You can also order some good wooden shafts from advertisers here, like 3Rivers Archery or Kustom King-or strike up a trade for some cane or wood shafts on the Trading Post forum here.

Primitive Archer