Trad Gang

Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: CalebNH00 on March 30, 2013, 03:50:00 PM

Title: finding natural feathers
Post by: CalebNH00 on March 30, 2013, 03:50:00 PM
Where do you find natural feathers for arrows?
Title: Re: finding natural feathers
Post by: stringstretcher on March 30, 2013, 03:52:00 PM
If you are looking to purchase feathers, contact Magnus on here.  He is a sponsor and can hook you up with what you need.
Title: Re: finding natural feathers
Post by: CalebNH00 on March 30, 2013, 03:55:00 PM
No, I wanted to find real ones.
Title: Re: finding natural feathers
Post by: Roy from Pa on March 30, 2013, 04:00:00 PM
Look for road killed Turkeys and clip their wings off.
Title: Re: finding natural feathers
Post by: Crooked Stic on March 30, 2013, 04:07:00 PM
Or get you turkey hunting buddies to give you the wings of thier birds. Or maybe find a turkey processing plant.
Title: Re: finding natural feathers
Post by: Hill Hunter on March 30, 2013, 05:11:00 PM
talk to goose hunters also, goose feathers are naturally waterproof, not as pretty as Turkey, but better fetching IMO
Title: Re: finding natural feathers
Post by: jsweka on March 30, 2013, 05:49:00 PM
Just a warning to you....If you're harvesting road kills like Roy said, never pick up and keep any feathers from any non-game bird (hawks, eagles, owls, even tweaty birds).  They're covered under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and will get you in hot water if caught with them.  I give this warning because a while ago on another form, a guy posted some pics of an arrow he was really proud of that had fletching from a road killed owl.  He didn't know any better.
Title: Re: finding natural feathers
Post by: macbow on March 30, 2013, 05:55:00 PM
Since I never kill a turkey I've mostly put the word out to my turkey killing friends. They just cut them off and bag and put in the freezer.
Title: Re: finding natural feathers
Post by: Pat B on March 31, 2013, 10:45:00 AM
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Migratory_Bird_Treaty_Act_of_1918

Even found feathers are covered by this 108 year old federal treaty act.
Title: Re: finding natural feathers
Post by: LittleBen on April 02, 2013, 11:57:00 AM
I've heard a good way to get feathers is to scavenge the local soccer fields (farms, baseball diamond, parks etc.) for goose feathers during the molt
Title: Re: finding natural feathers
Post by: TimBoA on April 02, 2013, 12:02:00 PM
Magnus (the TradGang sponsor, not the broadhead company) does sell natural feathers from wild turkeys - you can send in feathers and trade in the wing (LH or RH) you don't need if you want, so he has some in stock - if that helps.  He doesn't just have domestic feathers - actually I think he has mostly wild ones.

If you have any turkey farmers in your area who raise heritage breed turkeys, they may save feathers for you on processing day.
Title: Re: finding natural feathers
Post by: CalebNH00 on April 02, 2013, 02:47:00 PM
thanks guys, I hopefully will be getting some soon.
Title: Re: finding natural feathers
Post by: Razorbak on April 02, 2013, 03:22:00 PM
I have a whole mess load of feathers white and barred from the last 10 turkeys I butchered, a turkey farm is always good and I have found a mess of feathers just walking into the woods..now I need to send off the feathers to Magnus and let him do his magic
Title: Re: finding natural feathers
Post by: John Scifres on April 02, 2013, 03:44:00 PM
I get a bunch of Canada goose feathers in the summer around a local pond during the molt.  This happens around June and lasts a few weeks.
Title: Re: finding natural feathers
Post by: john fletch on April 03, 2013, 01:01:00 AM
Your best feathers will come fresh from the 'hunt'

Dropped or road kill will get damaged quickly and are prone to mites, moths and other pests.

Quills should be plucked from the wings ASAP or at least freeze the whole wing right away in a spread fashion.

Even be careful in getting wild goose feathers.  It is OK if they are a 'gift' meaning absolutely free. I am sure it is illegal to buy or sell them - check the Federal regulations.  Turkey is also illegal to buy/sell ion some states but not others.