Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Bowhunting What kind of feathers?

I've installed vanes and 'store bought' feathers before,; but, now I would like to try using my game bird feathers. Do I just use the turkey tail feathers? Or do I have other options? Are
turkey wing feathers not good because their curved? Are grouse,
pheasant and chicken feathers too light?

Not the tail feathers--too soft. Use the wing feathers, but be sure you use only left wing or right wing on each arrow. Can't mix the two, as one goes spiral in one direction and the other one goes in the opposite.

+1. wing feathers only(primaries). and only one side. (when you buy the jig, you'll have to choose left or right.)

I've also heard of goose feathers being used.

A 'very' few guys use goose feathers because they think they're more waterproof. I say bunk. Goose feathers are too soft and I seriously question their waterproofness over turkey.

Get some left wing turkey feathers and a bitz with a left wing clamp and go at it. There's a reason they are used 99.999% of the time and it's because they are the best feathers to use on an arrow.

You'll also need a feather burner or a chopper like die.

http://www.3riversarchery.com/young+feather+burner_i4171_baseitem.html

http://www.3riversarchery.com/3rivers+little+chopper+feather+die+cutter_i4398X_baseitem.html

NOTHING smells as good as fresh burned feather smoke coming from the basement. A few times my wife threatened divorce over it.

Ghost, not questioning you as I haven't used real feathers in 30 years but when I clean turkeys and geese they seem to be both very stiff but I'll bow to your knowledge.

The Young feather burner brings back memories. I know the gentleman who built them back in the 80's and 90's, not sure if they are still made in his barn or if he sold the company. Lawdwaz is correct that nothing smells quite like burning feathers!