RE: Wasting the feathers?
 

I cut and fletch my own arrows with the feathers, also. I ,too, take the very smallest and fluffiest downy feather as a wind indicator on my trad. bow. I tie about a one inch feather with sewing thread to the top limb of bow. The slightest wind moves it, and it is easy to see and check quickly.

RE: Wasting the feathers?
 

Almost forgot, the remainder of the feathers I send every year to the NWTF Suni feather program. As I said keep the wings for fletch, save a few for the memory book and the rest bag up and send to them! [8D]