feathers on shaft
Fletching an arrow -- or the process of attaching feathers or vanes to the back of the shaft to guide the arrow during flight -- can offer a bow hunter many advantages over simply buying complete arrows. Assembling an arrow yourself is often cheaper, you can achieve a greater level of customization and you might just get a feeling of satisfaction knowing you built part (or all) of your equipment yourself. With the right choice as to whether to fletch with vanes or feathers, the right orientation and a proper technique, you'll be putting trophy game up in no time.
Vanes Vs. Feathers
The first decision you will have to make is whether to fletch with vanes or feathers. Vanes are made of soft flexible plastic and are the more popular choice as they are less expensive and easier to apply than feathers, are quiet during flight, waterproof and more durable than feathers. Some hunters prefer feathers, however, as they are around one-third the weight of vanes, and feathers will stabilize an arrow better than the smoother vanes. This means an arrow fletched with feathers will fly faster and more accurately than an arrow fletched with vanes. Ultimately, if you are careful with your gear, you may want to try feathers. Conversely, if you tend to be a bit clumsy or simply want more shots over the life of your arrow, go with vanes.
Fletch orientation
There are three orientations by which you can fletch your arrow: straight, offset or helical. Like a football, the more an arrow rotates during flight, the more accurate and forgiving the flight of that arrow will be. A helical orientation, where the base of the fletch wraps around the shaft of the arrow dramatically, will provide the best rotation for your arrows. However, some bows do not have the necessary clearance on the arrow rest to accommodate a helical fletch. An offset orientation is between the helical and straight orientations -- the base of the fletch wraps around the base of the arrow, but only abut 4 degrees. This orientation will provide some rotation while being able to clear nearly all arrow mounts. The straight orientation provides no rotation in flight, and is therefore the least forgiving fletch. However, very experienced shooters may prefer this setup as this orientation will provide less wind resistance and a faster-flying arrow than any other configuration.
Fletching
The actual process of fletching should be done with a mechanical device called a fletching jig, which will help with alignment or orientation and clamping. Straight orientation fletching can be done with a very steady hand, but the possibility for error is simply too great with either offset or helical orientations. Simply place the arrow in the nock receiver and the vane or feather in the vane clamp (different clamps are used for different orientations). Apply a bead of glue, making sure to achieve an even spread to avoid pockets of air. Gently push the clamp onto the jig (some have magnets to assist) and wait ten to fifteen seconds. Wipe excess glue with a paper towel.
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