I got bit by the FOB bug. These things are great in a cross wind, and they stabilize the arrow very quickly. They pop off when you hit a deer, marking the spot to start your search for a blood trail, plus since it pops off, it makes it easier for the arrow to pass through (no friction from the vanes).

Shamelessly stolen from their web site (I don't think they'll mind me promoting them this way):



The results of this technology looks like this at 30yds:
(keep in mind I just started shooting in late June and this group was in August with not much practice during the 51 days of 110+ degree weather in between):

That is a nice group...and I do see you achieved that in relatively short order, but I have to say I have seen many a newbie bow shooter achieve similar results with modern bow equipment. Unless these results are with a recurve really nothing to ground breaking. Again nice group.

I guess I forgot to mention that this group was shot in a stiff cross wind. I'm in KS where the wind never stops blowing. I'm not good enough to do this with regular fletching after having only shot the bow 5 or 6 times (and having not shot for over 20 years). My friend who shoots more than I do wasn't able to group them like this. The wind was visibly affecting his arrows in a way it wasn't affecting mine.

With these FOBs, I can get my SilverFlame 125XL brodheads with a 1.5" dia. to hit 1.5" high at 30yds ... without broadhead tuning. I ran out of time before season opener to broadhead tune, but I figured that was close enough since I'm limiting myself to 30yds max this first year. They do a good job of stabilizing the arrow quickly since they don't flex & flap like vanes. I busted 3 FOBs checking for groups with my broadheads before I figured out that I need to shoot spots. I have a fairly high F.O.C. of 16% with my Harvest Time Archery HT-2 arrows cut to 28" carbon-to-carbon, the FOBs, arrow wraps, 125gr broadhead, and 50gr of screw-in weight behind the insert: total arrow weight of 470gr.

Official IBO or ATA or NFAA tournaments don't allow FOBs, so unless local shoots allow it, it will have to be vanes. I am actually planning on getting some Harvest Time Archery HT-3 Virtue or HT-4 Redemption arrows for 3D next spring. My HT-2 Harvester arrows for bowhunting have 0.6gr variation among the dozen –– and that's with nocks and inserts, and screw-in-weights installed!

I was impressed enough with their Harvester arrows that I joined their advisory shooting staff.

I just found the new forum.

Do you use FOBs for hunting?

I have been thinking of switching to FOBs. Do I just cut off the vanes with a blade?

I will do that. Thanks for the warning.