[Found an Arrowhead]

If an expandable broadhead opened up 99 times out of 100, for whatever reason, that would be enough of a reason for me not to use it. For me, the less moving parts means the less there is to go wrong. Bow hunting is hard enough.  

[LIVE from the woods 2016 Edition! - 7th Year, lets make this happen...]

There is state land here, but you need to put in for it to be drawn by a lottery. I think it is possible to go out on standby if people don't show up. The state land gets hit pretty hard. We are 3 months into it with 1 more to go. IMO, not worth it. There is also county and town lands, but you must be a resident. 

[LIVE from the woods 2016 Edition! - 7th Year, lets make this happen...]

I hunted my backyard yesterday morning here on the island. I saw 5 does early. They got a pass. 

This morning I saw a bunch, but they were all on the other side of the creek. I actually saw one doe hopping up and down for a few minutes. It was hysterical. 

Im looking forward to New Years Day as I got picked to hunt some town property with the gun for the opener. 

She's not singing here yet...

[Who still shoots feathers?]

Once I'm able to fletch up a couple, I'm going to leave them outside in the elements for a few months to see if they hold up. 

[Who still shoots feathers?]

46 minutes ago, The_Real_TCIII said:

If it's staying on the feather you just need to clean the shafts a little better, you can scuff them up a little too I use a plastic scrubber. As mentioned use isopropyl alcohol instead of rubbing alcohol


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Isopropyl alcohol was used. I need to come up with a solution that will work 100% of the time. I will not be satisfied with even 99%. Would anyone buy a broadhead that was advertised to work properly 99% of the the time? This pic is of an arrow that was done this year. I shot this arrow at the target at least 30 times with no issues at all. I put it in my quiver for my #1 arrow a few weeks ago. All of a sudden out of the blue, it starts to fall apart. Any inconsistencies in my equipment is cause for concern and will not be tolerated. Both of the deer that I shot this year lost a feather in flight. 

[Who still shoots feathers?]

So I ordered a Bitz jig, new feathers, and wraps. Hopefully by using the wraps, I will get better adhesion. i really don't want to get away from the feathers. 

[Who still shoots feathers?]

It's staying on the feather.

I did put a drop of glue on the leading edge of the feather to help with the WB. But with the latest one to separate from the rear, changes are going to be made. 

[Who still shoots feathers?]

I went to arrowrap.com and see that they are adhesive wraps. I also see that the lightweight 7" wrap is only 4.5 grains and the next one is 7 grains. The heaviest reflective vinyl comes in at 30.25 grains. I may have to try these. And some loctite gel. 

Moog, what kind of feathers do you shoot? Truflight or Gateway?

[Who still shoots feathers?]

11 minutes ago, moog5050 said:

Get a bitz jig.  I use feathers on FMJs and never have lost feathers.  I use loctite gel but also put a wrap on the shaft before fletching. 

What kind of wrap do you use? Is it a shrink tube type?

[Who still shoots feathers?]

16 minutes ago, maytom said:

Other than being sure after scraping off the old feathers and glue, use some sort of cleaner for the shafts to make a solid surface for the glue to adhere too. I use to use feathers many years ago when I shot fingers, and I fletched my own. Now, with the vanes on the market, I never looked back. Feathers are lighter for sure, but they are much noisier, prone to problems in wet weather, and mostly not as durable as vanes. I commend you for still using them.

Tip: Since your using a WB rest, stay away from any of the so called "Quick Spin" vanes and stick with Blazers. Also, I see that with a WB set up, you must seat your arrow on your bow with the one vane in the "Top or up" position for them to work properly. The "bottom portion" of a WB rest's bristles are very hard compared to the other sections, so avoid sending any vanes through the bottom section on this style of rest. Hope this helps ...P

I have always found that feathers were more forgiving than vanes. And with the WB they always flew better. As far as problems in wet weather, I've never had a problem. In fact I have even tested them by soaking them in water and shooting them. Never had a problem with accuracy with wet feathers. 

I have tried the Blazers, but they just don't fly well with my broadheads. And I do set my nock feather in the 12 o clock position. 

I plan on buying my own jig and experimenting with different glues for feathers before next year. If I have to I will go back to vanes as a last resort. 

[Who still shoots feathers?]

39 minutes ago, Lawdwaz said:

Sounds like its time to invest in a fletching jig and start doing it yourself. 

That's the plan. 

[Who still shoots feathers?]

I've been having issues for the last few years once in a while with feathers staying glued on my aluminum shafts. It has been very random up until this year. The last 4 times I have had different people fletch my arrows with pretty much the same result. Usually after some time the fletching will start to separate from the shaft, and it won't always start from the leading edge. I just noticed yesterday one my arrows in my quiver started to separate from the rear of the shaft. I had tested this arrow 3-4 weeks ago with multiple target shots and it held up fine. 

I do shoot a whisker biscuit, but I do not think that is my issue and I really do not want to change it. I also shoot fixed blades and have no interest in getting away from them.

i've been shooting this combination for as long as I can remember with very consistent results. I have tried the smaller shrink tube vanes, but they don't fly well with my setup. I still have a bunch of old target arrows that I shoot with feathers from years ago and they will not come off at all. The last batch that I had fletched, the shafts were dipped and prepped prior to fletching. We even used a different type of fletch tite. Still no good. 

Has there been a change made with fletch tite? Does anyone use a superglue like crazy glue or gorilla glue?

I guess I'm old school and I'm set in my ways, but I like what I shoot as far as WB, aluminums, feathers, and fixed blades. If there was one thing that I had to change, I would probably go back to vanes if I had to if it meant keeping them on the shaft. But I would really like to find a solution to keeping the feathers attached. 

Has anyone else come across this issue?

[A message from Trey Gowdy]

I've always liked him. He needs to run in 2024...

[2nd rut]

Def seeing some pre rut activity here in 1C. This weekend should be good down here. 

[Is the rut over in hudsonvalley?]

The second rut is getting underway here on Long Island. We are in the pre rut phase now. 

[LIVE from the woods 2016 Edition! - 7th Year, lets make this happen...]

10 hours ago, shawnhu said:

I'm all baited up from last night.


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And a crippled herring as well...

[A kick in the nuts...]

7 hours ago, ATbuckhunter said:

That an LI deer? 

Yes

[A kick in the nuts...]

15 minutes ago, Merlot said:

Frame that picture...really nice.

Thanks. When I first saw the pic, I almost thought it was fake. Between the antlers glistening in the sunlight and him posing just right, I thought for a second that somehow my gf was somehow playing a trick on me. 

[Long Island giant taken this weekend!]

He said it green scored 220" gross. 

[Is the rut over in hudsonvalley?]

I had 2 bucks fighting on my cam last Thursday. Also had a buck on cam this morning come thru my backyard at 8:15, which doesn't happen too often. Of course I was out goose hunting. I've been seeing the does herded up. Scrapes are getting re-opened as well. I'd say def in post rut now. This is on Long Island. 

[No Respect!!]

A successful hunter must know when to change his or her strategy and adapt accordingly. It is state land and we all have a right to be there. Hunt it one way during bow season, and next year for the gun opener, use other hunters to your advantage. Get a topo map of the area and hunt an escape route. It may be deep in the woods, or it may even be close to the road where the drivers enter on a main trail. Mature deer have seen this before and many times will double back instead of doing what we want them to do. It may be disrespectful to deliberately ruin someone else's hunt, but I don't think that is the case. Those other hunters are just using a different technique, which can be very rewarding for some especially when the weather is not cooperating. 

[A kick in the nuts...]

So I made the trip upstate for opening weekend. I passed on some small bucks and a few does. Then I got home last night and decided to check my camera in the backyard. Rarely will I get daytime pics, and if I doe it's always does. Then I get a pic of this buck, who I've never seen before, at 7:24 Saturday morning. I'd say he's definitely out of his core area. Maybe we are now in the post-rut phase. I think he's only 3.5. Hopefully he makes it another year. 

[Will you be hunting opening day on public land or private and what gun will you be using]

  13.000 acres of public land in 7R with my 1187.

[Are you going in TOO deep..?]

I took my biggest gun buck within eyesight of my truck on state land. 

[11/10 card pull]

I checked one of my cams after work today. I only have 2 other pics of this buck in the last few weeks. These were from the last 2 nights. I haven't changed the time yet, so Tuesday night he came in at 5:15 pm. Hopefully I get a chance for him on Saturday.