Stalker-Köcher aus Leder

Ein Stalker-Köcher ist ein eigener Typ, weder Target-, Rücken- noch Seitenköcher. Der Unterschied ist der Schlitz an der Seite: Beim Pirschen ziehst du den Pfeil seitlich heraus, statt über die Schulter zu greifen, wie es ein Rückenköcher verlangt. Trag ihn an der Seite oder schieb ihn nach hinten auf den Rücken. Dort sitzt er umgekehrt zu einem Rückenköcher und trägt sich eher wie eine Umhängetasche. Keine Taschen, keine Hüllen. Ein mit Lammfell gefütterter Kragen hält die Pfeile leise, und der Schaumstoffboden nimmt Jagdspitzen und breitere Kleinwildspitzen auf, die hineingedrückt werden. Ein Dutzend Übungspfeile mit Blunt-Spitze passt bequem hinein. Ein Dutzend Jagdpfeile passt nicht, weil die Jagdspitzen Platz brauchen. Er passt auch für Linkshänder. Aus 3 mm vollnarbigem Rindsleder, das seine Form hält. Der Typ ist alt, nicht unsere Erfindung. Diese Ausführung ist seit dem Prototyp von 2020 im Einsatz und wurde für Roving und Stump Shooting verfeinert.

Die anderen VLBB-Köcher decken Feld, Target und Taschenköcher ab.

Der erste VLBB Stalker-Köcher, in den Worten des Bogenschützen, der ihn getestet hat (im englischen Original)

Back in mid 2020 I started talking to László about making me a new quiver. In the past I’ve used his excellent finger tabs, so I knew what kind of leatherwork quality he was capable of. At the time I was interested in one of his field rig setups, but as the conversation went on, it became clear that because I’m primarily a roving / stump shooting kind of archer, that wasn’t going to be a good fit. It was then he mentioned that he’d had in mind for some time a design for a stalking quiver. He suggested that he’d make one and I’d test it out, and give him some comments for any modifications it might need.

In October 2020 the prototype VLBB stalking quiver arrived in Australia after a brief journey from Hungary on the other side of the world. The next day I took it out for a test drive, and it has been my main field quiver ever since.

As with anything that comes from VLBB, it is beautifully made, with quality materials and tidy, strong stitching. Given that I’m known by some of my archery friends as ‘Captain Flatcap’ for my tendency to be wearing a flatcap almost year round … Laszlo had a stamp made and the quiver is personalised with my nickname!

For the kind of archery I mostly do, the stalking quiver and back quiver work best for extracting arrows while wrestling with the undergrowth and traversing over uneven ground. The VLBB stalking quiver has worked perfectly for me under these kinds of conditions. I usually have it low down by my side on the draw hand (right) side of my body, and sometimes around behind my back. I also shoot what is colloquially (but incorrectly) known as a horsebow, and various different length bows can get caught up in a quiver that is too far around behind the body. About half way between my side and my back works best, and I can retrieve arrows comfortably without having to look at what my draw hand is doing.

There’s lambswool lining in the top collar, and a foam pad in the base, so it’s easy to keep the arrows quiet in a stalking situation. As I generally use arrows with various kinds of small game heads on them which are wider than either field points or broadheads, the volume of the quiver at the base is designed for there to be enough room for me to fit a couple of dozen arrows in at a time.

The only modification that I have suggested after quite extensive field testing, is for the angle of the front opening to be relaxed a little, to make it easier to get arrows out in a wider range of positions.

Dealing with László is always a pleasure and the quality of his work is absolutely first rate.

Lawrie Conole, Victoria, Australia

Wie sich dieser Köcher von den anderen unterscheidet: mein Überblick über Feld-, Stalker-, Target- und Taschenköcher.