Wind Indicator Feather

[BowhunterXC]

While I was cutting, trimming, etc. with my turkey flight feathers, I ran across some of the tail feathers that I'd saved. I thought they sure are pretty, but not strong as flight feathers for use on arrows. Then I remembered seeing "wind indicator" feathers tied to a traditional bow, for simple wind direction.

I cut near the tip end of the tail feather, but left a piece of the stem to tie on a piece of sinew to attach to my bow. I made one for my recurve and one for my longbow. Simple creation, looks good and they'll serve me well, while hunting.

 

[Jammintree]

Some feathers will just spin, making it hard to quickly read the wind.

 

[kbetts]

I prefer milkweed or a puff bottle for the reason above.

 

[arrow30]

i think a downy feather would be better on a lightweight thread,,
but a full feather does look cool drifting around in a breeze.
they always got twisted up on my string, so i quit putting them on my bows.

 

[Red Beard]

Love it.

Best thing I've found for an on-bow windicator is a bit of filament they use for tying the body of fly fishing flies. Can't remember the name of the suit but I bought a roll of it and it works great. Let me know if anybody needs some and I'll mail you some. I don't actually fly fish so the rest of the roll is available.

 

[Flyerzfan10]

Only problem is that feather is not telling you where the wind is actually going once it passes you. Drop some milk weed and it will show you the path that the wind is traveling.

 

[BowhunterXC]

I'm in agreement with you guys on the milk weed and I've been using it for about 3 years.
As cool as the feather looks, appearances aren't everything.
The functionality of a frayed piece of yarn would work better, last longer and tend to give a better reading on actual wind direction.

 

[GeoFish]

Unwaxed dental floss. Fray the end, works good unless it gets wet.

 

[Weldabeast]

Us southern hunters just have to look at the thermacell smoke......hahahaha

 

[TradBowGuy]

Best thing I've found for an on-bow windicator is a bit of filament they use for tying the body of fly fishing flies. Can't remember the name of the suit but I bought a roll of it and it works great. Let me know if anybody needs some and I'll mail you some. I don't actually fly fish so the rest of the roll is available.

I use Antron Yarn. Comes in any color you want, available at your local fly shop or on line. I put it on my bows like this:

 

[Red Beard]

I use Antron Yarn. Comes in any color you want, available at your local fly shop or on line. I put it on my bows like this:

Yep. That's the stuff!

 

[tailgunner]

Us southern hunters just have to look at the thermacell smoke......hahahaha

West coast hunters just look at the smoke too......whats à thermacell

 

[tailgunner]

Us southern hunters just have to look at the thermacell smoke......hahahaha

West coast hunters just look at the smoke too......whats à thermacell

Some feathers will just spin, making it hard to quickly read the wind.

Yes. i had humming birds react to it like a bug.typicaly just look at the spider webs on my bow from walking through the brush.

 

[Shapeshifter]

I vote Milkweed, let's you know the wind direction as well what the thermals are doing.

 

[Jammintree]

I vote Milkweed, let's you know the wind direction as well what the thermals are doing.

Though milkweed serves a different purpose than having something on your bow…. Milkweed is is good for understanding where your scent is going and how air currents move through a region. A wind detector on the bow is a quick reference used to understand how the wind is going to impact your arrow. It’s nice to be able to account for windage in a split second in the full draw position.

 

[kbetts]

Though milkweed serves a different purpose than having something on your bow…. Milkweed is is good for understanding where your scent is going and how air currents move through a region. A wind detector on the bow is a quick reference used to understand how the wind is going to impact your arrow. It’s nice to be able to account for windage in a split second in the full draw position.

At that point, I'm not thinking about anything but the shot. At stickbow ranges, windage is typically a non factor.

 

[BTaylor]

At that point, I'm not thinking about anything but the shot. At stickbow ranges, windage is typically a non factor.

If it is, I have already gone to the truck lol.

 

[Flyerzfan10]

At that point, I'm not thinking about anything but the shot. At stickbow ranges, windage is typically a non factor.

My thoughts exactly

 

[Fitzy]

Milkweed for sure, one or two pods last me at least a season. works great and very easy.

 

[BowhunterXC]

I decided to go with a section of yarn and for a quick reference it works great.