Fletching other than Turkey?

[Just_Hangin_N_GA]

Don't laugh to much as I am very green and full of questions right now about everything traditional.
At some point, I want to make some arrows from cane, cedar or what ever. I was wondering why we use turkey feathers and not goose or other large bird feathers. I understand that unless we are Native American, there are serious consequences for using eagle, owl and hawk feathers so that is obvious. Anyone use natural feathers other than turkey?
Why I have your attention please recommend any good sources you may have used getting started in the arrow building process.
Thanks!!!

 

[GCTerpfan]

I think @kbetts uses goose feathers.

 

[Jagger0502]

Anything big enough will work. We usually use turkey because they are abundant and durable, especially after we domesticated them.

I do have buddies with hawk and owl feathers. Yes… you shouldn’t tell your Freind that will post that on saddlehunter. We have also used crow, peafowl, vulture, osprey and swan. If you are doing goose, get your hands on some swan feathers, they look great as the cock feather on an arrow. I wish that buddy was still around, I would send over some pics but him and his stuff are long gone.

 

[kbetts]

Yup. Goose feathers work well. Softer than turkey.

 

[Just_Hangin_N_GA]

Wow, did you cut those yourself or purchase them?

 

[Just_Hangin_N_GA]

Anything big enough will work. We usually use turkey because they are abundant and durable, especially after we domesticated them.

I do have buddies with hawk and owl feathers. Yes… you shouldn’t tell your Freind that will post that on saddlehunter. We have also used crow, peafowl, vulture, osprey and swan. If you are doing goose, get your hands on some swan feathers, they look great as the cock feather on an arrow. I wish that buddy was still around, I would send over some pics but him and his stuff are long gone.

I actually thought about vulture but wondered how long for the smell to go away,lol.
Plus, I don't think we can kill those in Georgia but very interesting. Now crow, there is an idea because those suckers are always in my yard.

 

[BTaylor]

If I had access to some canada goose feathers, I would try them but most of what we get around here are specks and sky carp so I havent really bothered with them. They might work just fine but I havent tried them.

 

[Jagger0502]

I actually thought about vulture but wondered how long for the smell to go away,lol.
Plus, I don't think we can kill those in Georgia but very interesting. Now crow, there is an idea because those suckers are always in my yard.

They are some of the softest feathers I have felt. They don’t smell unless they were just in something rotten and even at that, the feathers you want don’t usual have that smell on them anyway.

 

[kbetts]

Wow, did you cut those yourself or purchase them?

I cut them myself. At one time I collected a bunch from snow geese and I'll still grab them off a Canada from time to time. You can use either. Snow goose is best for a 3 or 4" feather.