Who makes thier own feathers from scratch?
 

Well, my goose huntin buddies are getting me some geese this year, and Im going to make my own feathers. But...what tools do I need and how do I do it? Got any websites?

RE: Who makes thier own feathers from scratch?
 

http://groups.msn.com/ferretsarcherywebpage

RE: Who makes thier own feathers from scratch?
 

You can strip them, but I prefer to leave a quill--lots easier to chop. Stripping seams to work just fine for scissor trimming.

Splitting and grinding the quill is work. You can get a kit from Great Northern, which consists of a jig, drum sander, and instructions, but it's not cheap and you need a drill press for the drum sander.

I send wild turkey feathers to Raven Archery to have them ground--20 cents each, if I remember correctly, and return shipping. Jan does a great job, but she stays backed up a while. It's worth the cost and expense to me--I don't have the time to devote to it.

Chad

RE: Who makes thier own feathers from scratch?
 

i picked up some nice owl feathers out in the woods.
and would like to make fletch out of them...i might take your advice LBR

RE: Who makes thier own feathers from scratch?
 

AC, although most people couldn't identify them as fletching, it's VERY illegal to use owl, eagle, hawk, or any other raptor feather--even buzzard. To even have them in your possession requires a special permit, even if you just found them on the ground.

I forgot to mention you can split and grind them by hand, but it's a lot of work. When I did it, I used a utility knife or an x-acto knife to split the quill (careful or you will ruin the whole feather). then I cut them to length (plus a little extra for the chopper) and put them in a straight fletching jig to sand the quill down by hand. If you have time and like to tinker, it's no big deal, but it's time consuming and aggravating to me.

Chad

RE: Who makes thier own feathers from scratch?
 

I'm not worried about no stinking feather police[:'(];)....thats a very old school law...but its still on the books... so i guess i'm a potential felon now.
oh well... i'll take my chances... if i see i nice feather im taking, it it aint doin no good on the ground[8D]
thanks for the info Chad

RE: Who makes thier own feathers from scratch?
 

it's an old school law but very enforceable.My buddy found a dead red-tailed hawk and took the talons off and made a band for his quiver.A game officer saw it and not only confiscated his quiver(and all his arrows)but gave him a pretty stiff fine-i forget how much it was--so be careful

RE: Who makes thier own feathers from scratch?
 

just goes to show you....game wardens have quotas too.
i'll bet he didnt destroy that quiver...he probably kept it for himself!lol

RE: Who makes thier own feathers from scratch?
 

AC that is pretty narrow thinking and an offensive attitude. The game laws are there for a reason and with all the poaching and the black market sale of Raptors there is big money to be made. Personally your attitude is all the worse because you now know the law and choose to ignore it!

It is attitudes like this that give hunters a bad name!

What other laws do you ignore......?[:'(]

RE: Who makes thier own feathers from scratch?
 

Remember, possession of illegal raptor feathers is enforcable up 1 year in prison and a $5,000.00 fine. Remember the lady that made a dream catcher for Hillary Clinton? She used Eagle feathers she found on the ground and was fined $5,000.00 for her troubles.

RE: Who makes thier own feathers from scratch?
 

I bet Hillary didn't have to give it up though. [:'(]

I have to add my two cents about the CPO's. They can't tell if you picked the feathers or talons off the ground or a bird you killed. They have a tough job. Support them.

RE: Who makes thier own feathers from scratch?
 

Gelarson,

Who gave you possesion over Judgment Day?

I'm just as bad as poachers, because i pick up owl feathers off the ground???Im simply using the tools that God has given me...in a completly natural manner (as opposed to killing the bird).

If my family and I were starving and i came acoss a dead Owl(Eagle, Falcon, Manatee, Elephant,Cheetah....ect,ect)that was fresh...Guess what we're eatin' fo dinna(i'd much rather catch some fish...but if its not an option....).Am i a bad person for providing for my family and myself?

As faras my comments on Game-Wardens....I was joking about him probably taking the Quiver for himself....hes doing his job and needs to survive in this world as well....if he doesn't do his job, the state will find someone else that will.... therefor he writes the ticket wether he wants too or not.

As far as Laws I've broken....

minor TrafficRegulations(speeding, seatbelt)
and one Consumptionby minor (drinking a Beer on my own porch when i was 19)

RE: Who makes thier own feathers from scratch?
 

I haven't tried it yet , but there's a grey phase turkey hen roaming my woods who sorely tempts me . Next Fall she may just be dressing some of my shafts .

RE: Who makes thier own feathers from scratch?
 

Should you find a dead animal you are able to obtain permits from most wildlife agencies to keep said animal and this would be no different should your family be starving. In fact I know of needy families that have recieved illegally obtained animals from the local Conservation Officers. How is that feather going to feed your family? In British Columbia last year a crime ring was busted that killed hundreds of Raptors (including bald eagles) and sold them to others for medicinal purposes and for decorations. This crime ring made a lot of money and ended up having people arrested in Alberta, BC, and into the States.

As a Peace Officer and an avid bowhunter I see everyday what happens when people don't think the laws apply to them. In the foot hills of Alberta, where I live, I am continually having land owners turn down my request for access and hearing that all hunters are law breakers. In many parts of Alberta and Saskatchewan deer over run the area but still "HUNTERS ARE BAD". It is up to us to turn that attitude around around.

And Yes I would charge any individual that picked up that feather after knowing it was wrong!

RE: Who makes thier own feathers from scratch?
 

it's gonna go on the arrow that kills a Rabbit, Deer...ect.
everything is linked together you see....

Poaching is not good.... we all know that...especially if they are doing it for personal profit...and especially wrong when killing a bird that serves no purpose to you besides personal profit.....please dont judge me the same as you would one of them....am i breaking the law by picking up the feather in the first place....apparently yes....but i feel there is nothing wrong with using something picked up off the ground.(on land that ispent 2 years(several hundred hours)cleaning upthe mess that was their beforei bought it)... i also had my mind made up before i knew it was illegal...and im very stubborn.

RE: Who makes thier own feathers from scratch?
 

all you need is an x acto knife and sinu

RE: Who makes thier own feathers from scratch?
 

I am with Alpha Capo, if they are so woried about a feather that i found on the ground then they can get over it. But i know that cops dont care if you have them in kentucky where i live becuase a cop help me pick up feathers from a owl and take them to my house. He only asked that i give him 2 of them. 1 for him and 1 for his wife.