Im new to Traditional so please be gentle

[Forest Walker]

I understand that you have to use feathers if you shoot off the shelf, but the bow I was given(Bear Bearcat about 40 years old) has this little plastic rest on it, can I use vanes with this rest? Or should I just have the rest removed and shoot off the shelf? Any other advice you can give would be helpful also. I used to shoot a compound but quit a few years ago and my 7 year old got a bow for his birthday and wants dad to shoot to so I figured I would try Traditional

[myronman3]

who says you have  to use feathers off a shelf?  

there is only one way to see if something is going to work with trad bows,  take a few shots and see for yourself.  they may fly great,  they may not.  only one way to know for sure.

[Tuffcity]

Generally vanes won't "lie down" enough if shot off the shelf and you'll get arrow kick because of it.  You can shoot plastic vanes off an arrow rest without any problems.  If arrow flight is a erratic off the rest you might have to adjust the nock position to get better clearance.  All this is assuming you have the right spined arrow matched to the bow and other tuning is taken care of as well.

RC

[Mac11700]

Since your bow has a plastic rest on the riser...you can use either plastic or feathers..the feathers will give you a little more speed...but the plastic will do better in nasty weather..and are cheaper to purchase.Feathers look better..but are easier to ruin..

Mac