A Guide to Traditional Archery Quivers
Traditional bowhunters today have more options for quivers than ever before. The right quiver can make or break your hunt. It’s important to realize that man has contemplated how to carry arrows for thousands of years.
Arrowheads and evidence of bows and arrows have been found in South Africa which is estimated to be between 60,000 and 72,000 years old. You would think we would have this figured out by now. But we continue to tweak designs and experiment.
In this article, we set out to explain the different types of traditional archery quivers.
Traditional Archery Quivers for The Traditional Bowhunter
One of the most important pieces of traditional archery equipment is your quiver. How would you safely carry your arrows in the field without one?
Common quivers within traditional archery are the classic back quiver, the extremely popular bow quiver, and the handy side quiver. All 3 styles have their pros and cons - I have used each extensively. Let me break it down:
Back Quivers
Back quivers are a classic piece of gear. They are ubiquitous and an ever-present part of traditional archery. They spark memories of Howard Hill when using a longbow, and of the Native Americans when roving with a self-bow.
Many leathermakers offer a back quiver, they can be very plain or ornately hand carved. A back quiver is an excellent project for a mentoring adult to assist a youngster with.
Pros:
They hold a lot of arrows, and that is often important when stump shooting or small game hunting.
They are comfortable and secure.
You can carry different types of arrows, for example when small game hunting you can have a mix of standard fletch and flu flu arrows, should you have to decide between rabbits or squirrels.
Cons:
They are often loud.
The open top collects forest litter.
They can be challenging to draw and replace an arrow into.
They are not the best way to protect the edge of your precious broadheads. I have seen many methods of keeping broadheads sharp in a back quiver, from leather hoods to handfuls of oatmeal. None of them seem satisfactory. I have several back quivers, but they are largely relegated to the 3D range and stump duty.
Nothing feels more like true archery than drawing an arrow from your back quiver, all while keeping your eye on the target, expertly placing the nock on the string, drawing, and releasing the arrow all in one smooth, polished motion. Kustom King, 3 Rivers, and Shrew Bows offer some of the best options out there.
Bow Quivers
Largely, these are the hunter’s favorite. Securely attached to your bow by a variety of means (thumb bolts, rubber straps, rubber clamping devices, etc.) they turn your bow and arrows into a one-piece unit - grab it and go.
Pros:
They safely secure your arrows and broadheads.
They are silent when properly attached.
Sometimes an archer appreciates the added weight of a bow quiver.
They are especially handy when traveling through thick brush, in that they are easy to manipulate quietly.
They offer extremely quick access to an arrow.
Cons:
If not attached properly they will cause vibrations and noise when you shoot.
Some archers find the weight and balance a little “off”.
For me, the biggest negative about a bow quiver is that all of your arrows, and the brightly colored fletching, are attached to your bow when you are manipulating for a shot on an animal. I use a lot of white or yellow fletching. More than once an animal has picked up on that blob of color as I was moving for a shot.
It might seem that the solution for this is to remove your quiver once you are in your blind or tree. That can work but bows often shoot differently with a quiver on versus removed. Try your combination out before the hunt to be sure. Selway and Great Northern are the best bow quivers, in my opinion.
Side Quivers
A happy medium in arrow management is the side quiver. Once a lost design, they have transformed from the random homemade quiver to the many excellent commercially available side quivers we have today.
Kustom King, 3 Rivers, Great Northern, and Safari Tuff all sell excellent examples of this quiver, yet my absolute favorite is the GFA Quiver. GFA being the initials of the late G. Fred Asbell, this quiver is his final design after years of trial and error. The GFA is available in only very limited numbers due to a halt in production, but it is the finest quiver I have ever used.
I have had my original GFA since they were first offered, at least 20 years ago. It has hunted with me from the cedar swamps in Michigan to the prairies of the Big Mountains of Wyoming and fit into every application.
Pros:
Side quivers are quiet.
They are an easy to draw an arrow from with minimal motion.
Your bright fletching is not waiving about and can be well hidden from your prey.
You can place your side quiver in your tree, on the ground next to you - always handy for an arrow without affecting your bow.
A side quiver is a handy way to mount or store accessories. I have seen some that incorporate a “possibles bag” type pouch. I have affixed a sheath knife and an extra shooting tab to my side quiver.
Cons:
None
A true side quiver is different from the hip quiver you see at your local 3D shoot. A side quiver has a shoulder strap similar to a back quiver, but it hangs at your off-bow side, meaning a right-handed shooter, holding their bow in the left hand, will have the side quiver riding on the right hip.
A proper side quiver is easy to manipulate from your hip to your back, even tucked up under your arm, depending on the terrain and hiking conditions.
Wrapping Up
We are fortunate to have many choices when it comes to traditional archery quivers. Shop reputable dealers and manufacturers and try as many styles as you can. Like me, I am sure that you find a quiver for every bow, and every bowhunting or archery situation.