Bow, Back, or Hip Quiver?

The following is what I remember about using different bow quivers. Keep in mind that my hunting is most often stalking and still hunting, or sitting in a ground blind for a few hours. I'm usually less than a mile from my truck and more arrows if needed. Your hunts may be very different.

Also I hunt with recurved bow which weighs about one pound. Even a lite weight compound bow with all the attachments weighs five or six pounds. Read about choosing the best hunting bow for the way you hunt.

When I first started with a bow, I practiced in my backyard without any arrow quiver at all. A few days before deer season I went to the local Kmart. I bought the cheaper of the two bow quivers they stocked.
I didn't think a quiver was very important.

In the past I carried a practice/small game arrow with a judo head. I now shoot a few practice shots at the truck and carry a slingshot for small game.

Today I'm fairly comfortable with only two broad-head arrows, but I really like to have three. I sometimes go back to the truck for another arrow if I loose one. I've taken a second shot a few times, and a third shot once when a flock of turkeys came by.

That first Kmart quiver turned out to be one of my favorites. It was simple, quiet, light weight, and held four arrows. Perfect, except for one thing; it screwed on to the side of my bow and was not easily detachable. I couldn't put my bow in its case without removing the two quiver screws; a real pain...

So I bought a bigger quiver which was detachable. Perfect, except for one thing; it stuck out to the side away from the bow, and it held seven arrows. I guess that's two things.

Anyway, with seven arrows it weighed twice what my recurve bow weighed, and it had leverage because it stuck out away from the balance point. It didn't carry well, or look right either.

I was beginning to realize that a quiver was more important than I'd originally thought. I researched what other hunter's were using. The "Robin Hood" over-the-shoulder quiver had several drawbacks. Arrows can rattle around, get dull, and make noise; even fall out at times. Some archers put oatmeal or something in their back quivers, but I didn't like that idea.

I was attracted to the looks of some of the quivers made for stick bows , but I didn't find any which were fast and easy to detach.

No extra weight on the bow, no noise, no change to the way the bow handles or shoots. The only real negatives appeared to be hanging up when walking in brush, awkward when one sat, knelt, or climbed. Some of them swiveled which sould help with that.

I made a trip to the city and visited several well stocked stores this time. Most of the hip quivers were for 3-D shooting, not very good for hunting. One plastic gizmo would allow me to attach my bow quiver and turn it into a swiveling hip quiver. That should work. Yea!

The next year I replaced the seven arrow quiver with a better detachable six arrow quiver. I used the rig for several years. I was about 90% happy with it. But, when I began to sit more than walk, I found that I was taking off the belt and hip quiver for more comfortable sitting.

When I saw this combination back pack and quiver for the first time I thought it would be 'perfect'. Only one more piece of gear, and it would carry stuff, and lots of arrows.

It worked well, but not perfect. It was hot on my back in early season. It sometimes snagged on low hanging limbs I tried to slip under. It adjust to the arrow's length, but arrows with judo heads are shorter, so it only carries broad-heads. Soon I was leaving more stuff in the truck, and didn't even need the pack.

I still like that backpack quiver. If I ever go on a longer hunt, like elk hunting out west, I will probably use it. I also like the hip quiver, if I want to carry more than three arrows; I think it's the way to go.

Today I like a compact, detachable, three arrow quiver. This quiver, with three arrows, balances and carries almost like it was part of my bow. I can simply grab it and go. It snaps on or off the bow quickly. I love the way it looks and feels. If I really need more arrows I'll take the hip quiver.

I don't need small game arrows today because I carry a slingshot. The slingshot is great, easy to carry, and I don't need to carry or retrieve small game arrows anymore.

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