Bowhunting Q&A: Right and Left Helical Feathers

Will This Work For Whitetails?

Q: I am 15 years old and shoot a PSE compound bow set at 55 pounds with a 28-inch draw length. I am using 2219 Easton arrows that are 31 inches long and tipped with 125-grain Thunderheads. Is this a good setup for white-tailed deer?
-Kyle Farrington, Chaska, Minnesota

A: From the information that you provided, I recommend that you shorten your arrows to 29 or 29 1/2 inches. The 2219s are a bit on the heavy side, and your bow might perform better with 2413 or 2315 shafts. The 125-grain Thunderhead is one of the best and toughest broadheads on the market and will put down the biggest whitetail in the woods if it's placed correctly. Good luck and good shooting, Kyle.
-Judd Cooney

Searching For Feather Details

Q: I have been unable to find information about the differences between right- and left-helical feathers on arrows. Do you need left-helical feathers for a left-hand bow? I have also been told that if I use a four-blade broadhead, I should use four-fletch feathers. Is this true?
-Henry Krawiec, Waretown, New Jersey

A: Regarding your question on right-hand vs. left-hand fletching, I consulted the Easton "Archer's Almanac." It states that it doesn't matter if you shoot right-hand fletching or left-hand fletching, as long as you don't mix the two. Arrows fletched differently, the manual says, might have slightly different points of impact.

I've also not found any evidence that the number of broadhead blades needs to match the number of fletches. If your setup is shooting tight groups at 20 yards, this is further evidence that it doesn't matter. I wouldn't change a thing. Good hunting. -Gregg Gutschow

Seeking Answers For Angle Shots

Q: When you are shooting at an angle, do you aim at what you want to hit or at a point below the target? Not knowing this hurts my 3-D scores.

Also, I shoot a Hoyt Defiant bow with Master cams and use ICS 400 arrows with 75-grain heads. These are cut to 30 inches and I have a 29-inch draw length. Can I cut my arrows to 291?2 inches, or will this affect my arrow flight?
-Michael Dmuchowski, Massapequa Park, New York

A: Shooting at a downward angle requires that you aim lower than you would over level ground. Projectiles shot at an angle are affected less by gravity, which means that they fly flatter and impact higher. 

Exact aiming on angled shots is more art than science. The greater the angle, the longer the shot and the slower your arrow, the lower you must aim to compensate. Only practice can give you a feel for such shooting.

Anytime that you shorten arrow length, you stiffen the spine. With a mechanical bowstring release aid, cutting off 1/2-inch will affect arrow flight very little. With a finger release, the change could be dramatic.

In either case, you can compensate for shorter arrows by increasing broadhead weight, increasing draw weight or moving your arrow rest slightly closer to the bow. All three adjustments will weaken the way that the arrows leave the bow, making up for the 1/2-inch that you have removed.
-Chuck Adams