Traditional Quivers

[DancesWithKnives]

I'm mainly a firearm hunter. My limited bowhunting has been with a compound. However, for many years I've enjoyed shooting a custom longbow at the range. Now I'm thinking of taking it deer/pig hunting but I don't have an appropriate field quiver. What qualities do you look for in a good hunting quiver? With a back quiver, is it important that the bottom have a system to secure to your belt (seen that on a couple)? How about some sort of lining to reduce arrow rattle---necessary?

Thanks!

DWK

[GF.]

I've used a Catquiver for about 15 years or more now, including the 3 years over which I logged roughly 60 days and probably 800+ miles of sneakin' and peekin' after the wascally Wapiti...

It'll hold 8 shafts, if you pack them in carefully, and it's vewy, vewy quiet, as long as I don't strap it too tight to my body--in that case, it can creak a bit--and the amount of motion required to sneak a shaft out of the quiver and onto the string is a whole lot less than with a trad back quiver... I even pulled it off one time as a fork bull fed his way towards me from about 30 yards out down to about 7...

Worst thing about it is that shaft length is critical, so some improvisation may be required if you want to pack a couple of Judos along for the ride. I'm seriously considering having 4 out of my next dozen shafts cut a little long for exactly that reason...

One other nice thing is that you can modify a 'base model' like mine to carry a camelback, and you can strap an amazing amount of gear on the outside.

Now, as far as a Trad trad quiver goes... Personally, I'd probably not choose to attach it to my belt , because that would interfere with some of the bending and twisting that I end up doing while hunting on the ground. But no harm in being able to do so if you wanted to....

I think, as far as rattle goes, that a shearling collar on top and a few inches of oatmeal in the bottom are supposed to be the slick combo.

Another good-looking option is a Plains style quiver (or a modern derivation) that you wear over your left shoulder so that it rides on your right hip. Not sure how quiet those would be, though the folks who use them seem to like 'em...Those are sold as 'side quivers'....

My image-posting didn't seem to work, but 3 Rivers http://www.3riversarchery.com/Quivers+Side_c14_s74_p0_thumb.htmlhas a pretty good selection

[ncboman]

I use the detachable quiver from my compound.

One of my recurves has the screwholes to accept a detachable quiver base. When I hunt with the others, I use a short cord and make a shoulder strap for the same quiver.

Doan look all that trad or great but generally I doan hunt to make fashion statements. :o

ncboman

[DancesWithKnives]

Thanks for the advice. Those are good considerations to bear in mind. I already have a compound quiver I can detach and use until I find the right traditional. I'll check out the catquiver too.

Much appreciated,

[ncboman]

traditional quivers, while nice on the range, alway leave me wanting in hunting conditions. I much prefer to carry the arrows on the bow but some bows won't hunt like that.

I use to use the kwikee clamp-on type but don't have one at present.:o

ncboman

[Bushman]

NCB, I had one of those Kwikee clamp-on quivers on my old recurve and it got me good. I was on an austerity budget back in those days and I bought the low end model without the protective top on it. I went deer hunting with my motorcycle (don't ask me how I planned to pack a deer home) and the bow rode under my left leg with the arrows in that Kwikee facing aerodynamically forward. Thirty miles from home I stopped for a stretch and backed my leg right into those broad heads. I missed my femoral artery by an inch or so, but feeling the blood running down my leg changed my mind about deer hunting that day. The ignorance of youth!

[DancesWithKnives]

That's a major ouch!!!:eek: Glad you came out of it OK. I'll keep that hard-learned and painful lesson in mind.

Thanks,

DWK

[ncboman]

:D

When I was 16-17yrs old, I use to ride a Honda 90 bowhunting. I carried my bow on the handlebars. :)

One night as I was headed home from hunting, I actually hit and killed a deer on that bike ... doing all of 58mph (top end). ... broke the deer's neck. I didn't go down but almost. I thought I'd hit a dog but when I turned around and went back I saw it was a button buck. I went home and got the ol man's truck to go back and get it ... but someone had stole the dang thing. :rolleyes:

ncboman

[DancesWithKnives]

I had a Yamaha 80 Trailmaster of that era. 58 mph must have been flat out, with no incline!

Glad you came out of that OK (except for the hijacked deer),

[ncboman]

to find an incline around here ya gotta find a bridge. :D

ncboman

[DancesWithKnives]

Reminds me of a spearfishing buddy who invited me to come down to the Florida Keys. I told him I was badly out of shape and probably couldn't get any deeper than 30-40 ft. He told me that if you want to get deeper than that in the Keys "bring a shovel"!

DWK

[Greybeard]

Cut the arms off the leather coat or jacket and remove the lining if any and cut off the cuffs. Cut four 3" to 4" diameter circles out of the remaining leather. Stitch 2 circles to the small end of each sleeve. Double up the leather at the shoulder end (about 1")of the sleeves and stitch these up. Cut strips of leather to form a strap around the opposite shoulder to your hip. Sew these straps to the "Quivers" at top and bottom of sleeves. You want the "Quiver" to hang off your hip so you can draw the arrows out without going out your back and over your head. Inexpensive and a nice project to boot and works well plus you made 2 of them. Greybeard/

[My buddy]

For a hunting quiver I find it hard to beat the Asbell quiver, or one of similar design.

Here is a link
http://www.gfredasbell.com/GFA_Quivers.html

While it would have been easy for me to construct a similar quiver out of a detachable quiver I already had I figured I would get one straight from the source. Also, considering that I chatted him and his wife up several times at ETAR, it was the least I could do. He and his wife are extremely nice. I also picked up a plaid wool pullover from his wife, another finely made item.

[DancesWithKnives]

Both the do-it-yourself quiver and the ultralight look like interesting ideas.

Thanks!

DWK

[Greybeard]

if you followed my directions, your arrows would be sewn inside without anyway to get them out (or in) . You also need to cut an oblong hole in the upside of the quiver to put arrows in and take them out. Greybeard/