My First DIY Turkey Feathered Arrows

My First DIY Turkey Feathered Arrows

I made my first arrows with real natural turkey feather. Since I never sorted the feathers when I got them so I started by sorting the feathers. I just wanted to make sure I had all left or all right wing feathers on each arrow. These are not primary. I thought I’d test this out on the lesser quality feathers.

First I split and ground the feathers. Clay Hayes has a good video showing the process https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jhrtxz3IXJk&t=343s

I used the scissors to trim them to about an inch. I just placed a 1″ ruler over them and cut along the side of it. 

To identify the cock feather I wanted something quick, so I grabbed a red sharpie and just gave it a few swipes with the side of the marker. I’ve done this before and it last forever.

I fletched them the same as any feather and actually used the AAE Fletch III Fletcher i reviewed here. Once I tuned this tool, it’s doing ok.

I cut the self nocks on the band saw and file and sand them to the proper configuration. 

The nocked on my My First DIY Turkey Feathered Arrows were dipped in red paint to help find them should I need to dig them out of the grass. I’ve got some cresting supplies coming and I may add some cresting to them later.

The arrow are poplar that I made with the 2×72 jig. They are tuned to the Hickory bow with 125 gr tips. The have a 60# spine according to my scale, and are 31 1/2″ long. I’m thinking I’ll add Woodsman Glue-On Broadhead when it get closer to hunting season, or make another identical set for the broadheads. Maybe this time I’ll use the primary feathers.

They are finished with “Dupli-Color – DA1692 General Purpose Acrylic Enamel Crystal Clear“. I don’t typically use it for arrows, but it worked well and I had it and the “Bohning Fletch-Tite Platinum Fletching Glue” works fine with it. I hope to get a dip tub and Bohning Fletch-Lac Sealer at some point.

To get the proper spine weight on each arrow I taper (by planing or sanding as I show here) untill i get it as close as my scale will allow.

So all-in-all I’m pretty happy with My First DIY Turkey Feathered Arrows