Side quivers with arrow grippers

[James Harvey]

#4169

Hey guys,

A while ago Duncan was kind enough to send me the plans he had for his beautiful hand made side quiver and I knocked up a pretty rough copy out of some scraps I had laying about:

I have been really digging it and with my wood arrows it’s really quite good but carbons are mucho rattly and I’ve had the odd spill resulting in a game of pick up sticks.

So I’ve been looking around at the side quivers with grippers. The only archery shop in town doesn’t have any so I can’t inspect any in person. I really like the look of Asbell’s side quiver, but I’ve read a couple of unsatisfied reviews, related to the use of hot glue in one of the joints that occasionally fails. I figure I have glues at home I can fix that with.

The only commercially available alternatives I’ve come across are leather equivalents (Great Northern Sidekick) and slightly different leather design like the Shrew Mantis. They all look really nice but lack one of the great charms of my homemade quiver and Asbell’s, the quick adjusting strap.

Has anyone used any of these and love them or hate them?

Cheers fellas,

Jim

[David Petersen]

#27647

Jim– I’m curious why you apparently don’t like bow quivers? For stumping I like a hip-pocket quiver or a standard shoulder quiver. For big game I’ve not used anything but a bow quiver since my first hunt a few light years ago. Only complaint I ever had was that you had to unstring the bow to get it off and on, but that’s long since been cured with strap-ons. When I hunt I have a big daypack with an attached fanny pact, and other stuff on my belt so that entire waist area is already taken up. I have stuff in my cargo pants pockets also and a side quiver would really seem to be clumsy, unless you hunt in flat fields or desert with no bending or climbing necessary. Just curious about the reasons for your preference?

[James Harvey]

#27688

Dave, I love bow quivers. But for some reason they mess with my Chi when I’m shooting my longbow. I hear what you’re saying re: clumsy. That’s been the charm of this type of side quiver though, it’s quick and easy to change position and easy enough to steer through thicker stuff with my free hand.

[mgerard]

#27719

Jim, I have a GFA quiver and like it. Adjustable strap, lightweight to carry, easy to use with or without a pack. I also have a Safari Arrowmaster that I really like. It has straps with clips at the ends so it can be easily taken off and hung on trees/branches while stand hunting. Can be hooked to a belt loop to keep it from moving much (never been an issue for me) and it has a nice pocket and raincover for the fletches.

[Ralph]

#27770

Jim mine was made by Vista. Looks just like a GF to me but I’ve had it longer than I’ve known of GF. I love it. I put the carabiner on the strap so I can unhook and slide out from under my bino strap and/or haversack or put it on without taking all that stuff off.

I hunt in a lot of sagebrush and catclaw and that low brush can be a hassle with a bow quiver. I do like a bow quiver however. Mine are all jury rigged to be 1 or two arrow quivers. I just use a different rig for different situations.

Another “non-trad” carabiner Jim:D

[Bruce Smithhammer]

#28390

I shot for an hour with my Thunderchild the other evening, and deliberately shot for the first 1/2 hr. with a lightweight bow quiver (EFA) on it, and the last 1/2 hr. with no bow quiver. I honestly couldn’t see any difference in how the bow shot at all. Accuracy was identical either way.

There are advantages and disadvantages to any arrow-carrying system, whether on the bow or off, it’s just a matter of deciding which factors you want to live with. Lately, I’ve been really enjoying shooting without a bow quiver, to the point that when I put one on my bow the other night, it just felt kind of weird and clunky on such a nice, light bow. I don’t know that I’ll use a side quiver for every type of hunting I do, but I find that I’m using them more and more.

[Bruce Smithhammer]

#28408

One dilemma I was having with the Duiker quiver was a good way to carry a small game blunt or two in addition to broadheads. The latter would be secure with the heads buried into foam, but the small game heads would just be loose in the quiver and rattling around. And they were hard to locate in the moment and pull one out without swinging the quiver around so that I could see which arrow I was grabbing. So the best solution I could come up with was to glue a little plastic divider into the foam:

This way the small game arrow is easy to locate by feel, and it doesn’t move around much at all.

[raghorn]

#28547

Vista:

http://www.bowhunterssuperstore.com/vista-knight-arrow-broadhead-quiver-p-1875732.html?osCsid=589a7ede4abdf853bfbcfc16dc555e1f

Neet:

http://www.neetarcheryproducts.com/product-category/field-quivers

On Leatherwall Swap thread;

Calhoun has a Vista up for trade.

[James Harvey]

#28923

Thanks for the replies and thoughts guys. I contacted the folks at shrewbows today to order one of their moosehide versions.

Ralph I like your idea with the ‘biner. I reckon I’ve got a few spare fastex clips like the one on my cammo quiver strap that I could add to the GFA for the same purpose. Equally untrad as your ‘biner but I won’t be so embarrased by it that I try to hide it under cammo tape 😉

Jim

[Ralph]

#29622

Jim, camo tape makes it faux trad. 😀 My wrinkles make me real trad. Ancient?:wink:

Trad dude sounds better than old far…..:D

[archer38]

#35341

Jim, not sure if this is what you had in mind but I made this one myself from an old leather bag, a flip-flop and a yogurt cup. It has quickly become my favorite hunting quiver. The flip-flop gripper works great !

[grumpy]

#45150

Love it!!! The flip flop gripper is the same principle as the knee pad gripper on my bow quiver. Yogurt cup is pretty good too, looking for a plastic container to cover the broadheads on my bow quiver. Container for Bluebunny Ice Cream may work, but somebody keeps throwing them away.

btw, Arwen just looked over my shoulder and asked “Why doesn’t have a head?”

[James Harvey]

#45551

Archer,

That’s just the style I’ve been looking at only I like it higher up under my elbow.

A funny thing happened though, my wife saw me looking at some bow quivers and went ahead and ordered one for me for my birthday! Which was very sweet so I feel I will now endeavour to realign my Chi or Zen or whatever with a quiver on my longbow 😀

[wahoo]

#46326

I always hated things on my bows – just try it and make sure you like – seems like your already doing that- I had mine custom sawn per say by local cobblers but they came out nice. Good luck

[archer38]

#46509

This one has a belt loop or I can sling it like the Asbell quiver. I actually like it strapped over the shouder in much the same position as the pic but up under my right arm. This also allows for my binocs to sling just under it !!

[William Warren]

#47842

Remember this thread? Frankenquiver a leather side quiver I made.

https://www.tradbow.com/members/cfmbb/messages.cfm?threadid=E39542A5-1422-1DE9-ED7512F725A286CC

[William Warren]

#47848

Jim,

With your longbow have you considered a Hill style quiver.

Here is a recent one I made to go with my new to me Big Five

[Stephen Graf]

#49346

Well here’s a nice side quiver that I’ve considered from time to time. Lately though, I’ve been satisfied with a back quiver. But I don’t range to far as to need a back pack with it…

http://archeryleather.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage_images5.tpl&product_id=31&category_id=7&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1&vmcchk=1&Itemid=1

[Carl Brickey]

#62614

I really like the cat quiver for short hunts before or after work, but I also have an old bear bow quiver converted to a side quiver for full day hunts.

[Ralph]

#63137

I had a cat quiver once. Thought it was the cat’s meow until I decided to sit on a log and take a break and glass the country. Right quick it was in my way. 😀

[Carl Brickey]

#63454

That’s my only qualm with the cat quiver too. Its near impossible to sit comfortably with one strapped to your back, not to mention shoot with one on.

[Bruce Smithhammer]

#63461

cpbiv wrote: That’s my only qualm with the cat quiver too. Its near impossible to sit comfortably with one strapped to your back, not to mention shoot with one on.

Please don’t take this the wrong way (I’ve never used a cat quiver), but what’s the upside to a quiver you can’t sit down with, and that you can’t shoot with?

[Ralph]

#63473

I was perfectly happy to leave mine hanging in a tree at camp when I left, minus arrows and goodies. Maybe it was an upper for whoever inherited it. 😀

My wife tells me that if I had the money back for everything I bought and tried, didn’t work as I hoped, and gave away, I could buy her something really nice. 😆

[Col Mike]

#63499

Please don’t take this the wrong way (I’ve never used a cat quiver), but what’s the upside to a quiver you can’t sit down with, and that you can’t shoot with?

Bruce–:D

R2

Know what you mean. That’s why recently I don’t buy anything unless Bruce says something nice about it:wink:

Mike

[bruc]

#63530

Archer 38 That’s Awesome ❗ ❗

Need a build-along like Duncan’s

Bruce

[Carl Brickey]

#64041

No worries Bruce, it takes a WHOLE lot to make me take something the wrong way. You do have a point, I’ll usually wear mine loosely and take it off when I get to a spot to sit down. (I’m still searching for a good alternative though and I like the idea of a tube style side quiver or safari tuff style quiver)

[sinawalli]

#7676

cpbiv wrote: No worries Bruce, it takes a WHOLE lot to make me take something the wrong way. You do have a point, I’ll usually wear mine loosely and take it off when I get to a spot to sit down. (I’m still searching for a good alternative though and I like the idea of a tube style side quiver or safari tuff style quiver)

I’m with you on that! Always had a issue about how to carry arrows when hunting. Went with a Cat quiver backpack style. Does have its limitations like you mentioned, but unless something better comes along(collaspable arrows?),I’ll live with it. Tried a Safari Duikier(?)attached to the side of my pack, but that was just a pain in the ass!

[Bruce Smithhammer]

#7739

I think a lot of what works best as a quiver obviously depends on where/how you hunt. But if I was only going to own one quiver, if would be a Duiker. It does it all for me, and fits very well on my side, right next to my pack.

[David Coulter]

#9462

For some reason it didn’t make sense for me to use a bow quiver. Nothing I can put my finger on, but I guess I figured I’d just snag the arrows on stuff or something. I bought a Safari Tuff, probably the Arrow Master. It’s been good. Works well. The carbons rattle a little if you don’t seat the broadheads firmly into the foam, but once done it’s quiet. I hang it next to me when I’m in the stand, so I can easily reach back for another arrow if needed. The side pocket holds a spare glove, string and knife. I tried putting a water bottle in it when I first got it and it threw the balance right out. Good product. dwc

[skifrk]

#9549

The biggest reason that i do not like bow quivers is that do to my long draw and shooting heavy arrows I can literally feel the wight difference when I take one arrow out to shoot. So I went wit a safari tuff for stump shooting and use a pack/ quiver combo that I found to my liking.

http://sophuntinggear.com/products/?route=product/product&path=1&product_id=393&manufacturer_id=1

The nice thing is the quiver comes off the pack so I could adjust to fit along my side to use for stalking.

[Bruce Smithhammer]

#12239

colmike wrote:

…That’s why recently I don’t buy anything unless Bruce says something nice about it:wink:

Btw, Jim – did you get that new moosehide quiver yet?

[sinawalli]

#13382

Smithhammer wrote: I think a lot of what works best as a quiver obviously depends on where/how you hunt. But if I was only going to own one quiver, if would be a Duiker. It does it all for me, and fits very well on my side, right next to my pack.

Smithhammer, would love to see a pic of your set up! Please and thanks!

[Bruce Smithhammer]

#13425

sinawalli wrote:

Smithhammer, would love to see a pic of your set up! Please and thanks!

No prob. Here ya go:

It’s the ‘Duiker Deluxe’ from Safari Tuff. It’s quiet, light and easily holds a 1/2 dozen arrows. The deluze version includes the large side pocket and a storm cover, which is worth the extra $20, imo.

[sinawalli]

#13640

Smithhammer wrote: [quote=sinawalli]

Smithhammer, would love to see a pic of your set up! Please and thanks!

No prob. Here ya go:

It’s the ‘Duiker Deluxe’ from Safari Tuff. It’s quiet, light and easily holds a 1/2 dozen arrows. The deluze version includes the large side pocket and a storm cover, which is worth the extra $20, imo.

Nice! Thanks! You are able to shoot with that set up, or do you have to drop the pack?

[Bruce Smithhammer]

#13712

sinawalli wrote: You are able to shoot with that set up, or do you have to drop the pack?

No problem at all. I wouldn’t hunt with any setup if I had to drop any of it to shoot. As I rotate my upper body to draw, the quiver and pack rotate behind me, and out of the way of my draw arm. No interference at all.

[James Harvey]

#13734

Smithhammer wrote:

Btw, Jim – did you get that new moosehide quiver yet?

Hah, I thought I replied to this (I definitely typed out a reply.. I must have closed the explorer without submitting it first 😳 ).

I emailed the folks at shrewbows but never heard back from them. In the mean time my wife bought me an Eagle Flight Archery bow quiver which is very nice. I still like the idea of the side quiver for some things. I might have a go at jerry rigging some webbing onto an old compound bow quiver or something. There are some very good ideas on this thread.

[Bruce Smithhammer]

#13822

ausjim wrote:

I emailed the folks at shrewbows but never heard back from them…

That’s a little concerning. I hope you didn’t already send them payment?

The EFA quivers is my favorite bow quiver I’ve tried. Very light and unobtrusive.

[wahoo]

#14485

those ached 38 any the powder river steve should look real nice . I think Asbell sells one also

[wahoo]

#14487

sorry just read post – I’m all doped up with leg injury

[James Harvey]

#14947

Smithhammer wrote: That’s a little concerning. I hope you didn’t already send them payment?

The EFA quivers is my favorite bow quiver I’ve tried. Very light and unobtrusive.

It’s ok, the email was asking for a shipping quote, I hadn’t put any money down yet.

Yep, I’m very happy with the EFA. On top of being so small and light it is also very nice to look at. I know that shouldn’t be important for hunting kit, but there is a definite aesthetic appeal to bows and it’s a pity to ruin it with a perfectly functional but bland quiver. In my little opinion 😉

[archer38]

#19524

I’m not so good with the posting pics and such so I’ll try to explain how I made it.

First, I found a suitable “hood” shaped container.something that will hold 4 or 5 arrows without crowding them too much. We buy a Greek yogurt that comes in a container that is a round cup with a flat side on it. Perfect for what I was looking for !!

Then, I cut a slat of wood about 3″ wide, 18″long and 1/4″thick,

and glued the yogurt cup to the bottom of the slat.

I cut up an old leather bag (thrift store) which had snaps on the ends. I then laid the “cup on a stick” on the leather and traced out the shape needed to wrap the whole thing with it. I made sure the cut incorperated the snap button and band on the edge of the cup.(kinda got lucky there) Super 77 spray adhesive and a careful slow hand and the whole thing was clad in leather.

For the gripper, I cut an old flip flop in a shallow “D” shape, cut a slot in it so it would slide down onto the top of the now “leather clad cup on a stick”

I drilled five holes (could have been 6 or 4 or what ever you want) evenly spaced along the round edge with a 3/8 drill bit and cut a tapered slot into each hole with a box cutter knife.

I used a piece of the handle strap for a belt loop. About 6 inches folded in half and fastened to the top edge of the slat about 2’3 from the bottom so that it hangs at the preferred angle. This loop also works well with a shoulder strap and I now primarily carry it that way !!

THATS IT !!

Hope this works for you !!

[Author]

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