I use a hip quiver because most of my bowhunting is ground level ambushes or spot and stalk, and a quiver full of arrows is like waveing a flag when trying to close the deal.

I agree that it does not make a lick of difference if you shoot with it on, and that it wont have an adverse affect on your shooting.

What I will argue is that if you practice with it off, you should hunt with it off and vice versa. Consistency is more important overall. Should practice the same what you plan to hunt.

I'll shoot you down on this one. But not on the grounds that it effects the balance of the bow. I find it harder to shoot with the quiver on because the vanes catch the wind and push the bottom of the bow left and right. This becomes more apparent at longer distances. To be fair on a calm day it doesn't make a difference but a gust of wind can definitely screw up a shot at 40+ yards.

Eno,
If the wind is blowing enough to catch the vanes, it is going to catch the extended bow arm, extended bow, your shirt sleeves, etc. I would be willing to bet that the vanes on the arrows have almost no effect when the wind is blowing compared to the wind hitting all other parts of the bow, arm, sleeve, etc. The quiver does one thing which is to make the bow heavier and therefore more stable.
The quiver on does not throw off the balance of the bow. For a bow weighing almost 4 pounds like the one I have (which is fairly light) a few ounces of weight on the side does not create enough rotational inertia to cause the bow to move quick enough to throw off a released arrow. The short time it takes for the arrow to leave the string is not enough time for the bow to begin to rotate due to that amount of weight affixed along the length of the bow. Speaking from a physics standpoint, it is a non issue. If it isn't physics, it must be mental.

I have two quivers - a 4 arrow and a 6 arrow. One captures shafts in two places - for mechanical heads. The other captures shafts in one place, with the fixed broadheads seated in the hood. Not enough difference in precision or accuracy for me to notice. Quiver comes off in the treestand just because it is easier and quieter to rest and maneuver the bow without it.

Consistency is what hits the target every time no matter what u r shooting. So wether u keep it on or take it off doesnt make any difference as long as the bow is in the same configuration when it matters, and u really cant miss the target. That said every true pistolero knows holding a heavy pistola steady is easier than a light one and therefore it buffets trembling and pulse better than a light one. pure inertia physics. How much of an effect this has on a bow is something i dont have personal experience with since bowhunting isnt legal here, and what handmade bows we kids made back yonder didnt have even rudimentary sights on and our arrows was handcut wood sharpened with pencilsharpeners. But my old russian Toz 22lr. grouped 3 times tighter with the silencer on than off and gave the gun better balance, so i shot it better from unsupported positions too. Personally if i could bowhunt and had the choice to have a quiver on or off the bow i think id keep it off and probably hunt with a cleanlined hightech recurve bow just cos the modern compound bow with all fixtures and fittings and a quiver added too rightly looks like a mess. my christmastree looks less busy. Bow of the desert even. and if the quiver attached to the bow reduced visibility too you bettya it be off. Modern compounds might look fierce and all, but to me its just technomasturbation on a serious nerdy level.
I just know that if robin hood had seen one of those he would have gotten a stroke or heartattack laughing his b-hind off :P

The question and answer are in the article. "...I spent a couple days shooting 300 arrows". That is it in a nutshell. I'll bet anything, the people who think a quiver has a dramatic effect on accuracy haven't shot 300 arrows in the past 3 years.

I agree with you! shooting with your quiver does not effect accuracy. It does effect the handeling and noise of your bow, which is why I always detach mine when I get set up either on the ground or in the air! That and it adds unnessary weight when your at full draw and maybe have to wait a minute or so!!

Bunch of Girlymen I say who shoot 380's and 9mm and I shoot a 45 because they don't make a 46!

I'm right here with you on this one. I don't believe that it matters other than maybe adding a tiny bit of extra noise, depending on the fit of the quiver to the bow. However, I will admit that, when practicing, I shoot with the quiver off just to reduce the weight and slow down fatigue. But when hunting, I usually leave the quiver attached if I'm in my climber.

I carry/ wear mine instead of it being on my bow. Simply because arrows hanging off the side of my bow have got bumped on the stand while sighting in on an animal. I practice the way I hunt. I dont think it effects my shot placement one bit I miss with or without it ;0)

we'd need all your measurements to know for sure, but I doubt the difference is statistically significant.

In my experience, neither way is better, but it's wise to pick one and stick with it. I shoot without my quiver attached, but this is mostly in order to improve mobility in the tree stand - arrows stick out and get caught on stuff.

yrs-
Evan!

I think it dosent make a difference in the accuracy at all. I can see where some people would say that it makes it unbalanced because it clips on to the side adding more weight to one side. When hunting it can also act as camouflage.

dighunter,

Randy Ulmer and friends seem to think it does make a difference.

http://www.randyulmer.com/archive/category/bowhunter-magazine-shooting-t...

"To find out for sure, I got together with a few friends for some informal testing. The group was made up of very good competitive shooters who were also bowhunters. We shot at 40 yards with our bow-mounted quivers full of arrows. Then we each removed one arrow at a time until our 8-arrow quivers were empty. We found that the point of impact moved less than two inches at 40 yards. From a bow balance standpoint, I find it hard to make a case against bow quivers.

There is a second, more significant, way that bow quivers can affect your accuracy. When shooting in the wind a bow quiver filled with arrows makes the bow harder to hold steady than one without a quiver attached. On windy days I’ll consider removing my quiver for the shot even when I’m hunting on foot. Tree stand hunters have the opportunity to get rid of the quiver altogether, and that’s my advice. Attach it to the tree (or the stand) in a handy location so you don’t give up any second shot capability."

I think it also depends on the design of the quiver,whether it is monunted close to the bow or not,if you practice with it on or off the shoot that way.I take mine off because mine sits out away from the bow and i feel it effects it,also because of noise and vibration worrys,what if a arrow happens to be a bit loose,I also paint the shafts white for 12 inches and i dont want to be waving a flag around.all my opinion though

my main concern is a quiver full of arrows will make a lot of noise . they vibrate and that = noise.