Lighted Nocks

[dead river]

It wasn't until one of the recent comments in another thread that i even realized so many of the western states has disallowed them. Frankly, its ridiculous...why would you have a law that limits the use of a tool to ethically recover an animal once it has been shot, yet the has no way to provide advantage of any kind in providing the chance to shoot that animal. Sometimes i am shocked at how the micro-management of herd units in the west seems to have also promoted a hyper-sensitive mindset in the agencies and has led to some interesting minutia on petty stuff like this in the laws. Why not make it illegal to use a flashlight to follow a blood trail while you are at it...I generally try to refrain from negative post, so my apologies if this seems that way, but i dont see the logic in the law and it apparently existed for most of the mountain states.

 

[Wild Country]

Best dbl check your source. Lighted nocks aren't legal.
OHA submitted a position statement supporting them, ODFW put it on the June agenda and it wasn't adopted at the oct rules setting meeting.

Thanks WB, word is its going to make it this time with OHA backing it and already having submitted the letter to the ODFW to allow the changes as the positives outweigh the negatives. The support of OHA and making a presence at the meetings and Pope & Young now allowing them the tide is changing! Also, you Oregon hunters should join your local Oregon Hunters Association Chapter, I am a Board member of the Yamhill Chapter, we currently have almost 11,000 members and are the largest nonprofit group that supports the hunting heritage in Oregon and with over 250,000 hunters in Oregon our numbers should be so much bigger. Immagine the support we could have if all Oregon hunters were members....maybe we could hire a few more lobbyist to have a bigger voice in the over 300 bills concerning wildlife and the various challenges the hunting community faces in today's world. And those 300 bills are just the start for this year alone. If anyone needs help with information I would be happy to help,

 

[okielite]

It wasn't until one of the recent comments in another thread that i even realized so many of the western states has disallowed them. Frankly, its ridiculous...why would you have a law that limits the use of a tool to ethically recover an animal once it has been shot, yet the has no way to provide advantage of any kind in providing the chance to shoot that animal. Sometimes i am shocked at how the micro-management of herd units in the west seems to have also promoted a hyper-sensitive mindset in the agencies and has led to some interesting minutia on petty stuff like this in the laws. Why not make it illegal to use a flashlight to follow a blood trail while you are at it...I generally try to refrain from negative post, so my apologies if this seems that way, but i dont see the logic in the law and it apparently existed for most of the mountain states.

I hear ya. It is pretty funny how some states react to certain things. People in some states will tell you that legalizing crossbows during archery season will cause a huge increase in harvest and the seasons will end up being shortened. They also think that allowing lighted knocks will somehow be a huge negative and absolutely ruin hunting. I have not seen that happen in states who allow those things. The ironic thing is many of the people who are against things like lighted knocks carry all sorts of gadgets like rangefinders, ballistic calculators, custom turrets, etc.. I'm sure the same thing happened when people started using compound bows instead of recurves. Or 209 primers on muzzleloaders.

 

[dead river]

............................. The ironic thing is many of the people who are against things like lighted knocks carry all sorts of gadgets like rangefinders, ballistic calculators, custom turrets, etc.. I'm sure the same thing happened when people started using compound bows instead of recurves. Or 209 primers on muzzleloaders.

Exactly! My dad was one of the founders of the NC Bowhunters Association back in the late 60s. There was a huge political issue over allowing the use of compounds. 30 yrs later the same association is crying about crossbow legalization...

I am just not that worried about how you harvest your animal legally...i hope everyone gets a deer or elk within the allowable harvest rates that can be supported

 

[wildstreak]

I hear ya. It is pretty funny how some states react to certain things. People in some states will tell you that legalizing crossbows during archery season will cause a huge increase in harvest and the seasons will end up being shortened. They also think that allowing lighted knocks will somehow be a huge negative and absolutely ruin hunting. I have not seen that happen in states who allow those things. The ironic thing is many of the people who are against things like lighted knocks carry all sorts of gadgets like rangefinders, ballistic calculators, custom turrets, etc.. I'm sure the same thing happened when people started using compound bows instead of recurves. Or 209 primers on muzzleloaders.

EXACTLY!

Around 2006 or 07 the Kentucky department of fish and wildlife proposed allowing crossbows during regular archery season. That proposal was vehemently opposed. Traditional archery groups, modern archery clubs, you name it was calling and complaining. Their major complaint was there would be an influx of out of state hunters coming in to shoot our velvet deer (KY's archery season opens on Saturday of Labor day weekend) and also that shooting a deer with a crossbow would make it so easy that our deer numbers, especially buck numbers would suffer badly. Neither of these complaints came true. Matter of fact the introduction of crossbows in KY has almost been invisible with barely 2000 deer yearly killed with a crossbow. Yet, that didnt stop the lobbyists from pushing. They successfully restricted the use of crossbows during archery season. Crossbow hunters get about half or less of a season than what the regular archery guys get. And they are still fighting it today. As a bowhunter, just seeing how quick those groups attcked other hunters made me want to buy a crossbow.

 

[WapitiBob]

Thanks WB, word is its going to make it this time with OHA backing it and already having submitted the letter to the ODFW to allow the changes as the positives outweigh the negatives. The support of OHA and making a presence at the meetings and Pope & Young now allowing them the tide is changing! Also, you Oregon hunters should join your local Oregon Hunters Association Chapter, I am a Board member of the Yamhill Chapter, we currently have almost 11,000 members and are the largest nonprofit group that supports the hunting heritage in Oregon and with over 250,000 hunters in Oregon our numbers should be so much bigger. Immagine the support we could have if all Oregon hunters were members....maybe we could hire a few more lobbyist to have a bigger voice in the over 300 bills concerning wildlife and the various challenges the hunting community faces in today's world. And those 300 bills are just the start for this year alone. If anyone needs help with information I would be happy to help,

At this point in time I don't see myself ever joining OHA. This letter to ODFW is first time in their existence they have made a positive move for bowhunters in the state. Their std SOP is to give lip service to our (OBH) proposals then tell the Commission why they're a bad idea when speaking at the meetings.

 

[BullDawg]

I will say I can understand why a state would not allow lighted nocks and definitely understand why they would not allow crossbows during archery season. Not saying one way is right or wrong but I understand and I have my own opinion.
I would say pope and young had a big influence on making the lighted nocks but I can also understand why they would be illegal. They can give someone the illusion that they have an advantage and they can shoot later than what is legal and ethical. I have met many hunters that would shoot well into dark thinking they had an advantage because of lighted nocks.

Now crossbows is a whole nother can of worms

 

[CrimsonArrow]

I agree with dead river's first post completely. There is no logical reason to disallow lighted nocks. That being said, I use nockturnals.

 

[wildstreak]

Now crossbows is a whole nother can of worms

Please elaborate.

 

[ivorytip]

its not archery..... not worth an argue over though, but this thread is about lighted nocks, and they should be legal everywhere.

 

[okielite]

No matter what your opinion is of crossbows and lighted nocks, the reality is more states allow them every year. It's coming no matter what your opinion is. Just a matter of time IMO.

Who knows, in 20 years people will probably be using their ipad to hunt with and primitive seasons will be for centerfire rifles,no lasers allowed.

 

[ivorytip]

as sad as that is, its true and already capable.

 

[Joe Hulburt]

as sad as that is, its true and already capable.

What I think is really sad is how many newer bowhunters think they need a lighted nock to make a clean kill or to recover animals. I suppose it is possible that on a rare occasion they could provide a little bit of help but the reality is a whole lot of people are going to be disappointed if they think one little gizmo will turn them into an effective bowhunter.

I wonder how many years it will take after lighted nocks are accepted before the same folks are pushing for legalizing the little radio transmitters that you can attach to your broadhead to assist in recovering your poorly hit animal? Wonder what is next after that???

 

[coloradoshedhead]

What I think is really sad is how many newer bowhunters think they need a lighted nock to make a clean kill or to recover animals. I suppose it is possible that on a rare occasion they could provide a little bit of help but the reality is a whole lot of people are going to be disappointed if they think one little gizmo will turn them into an effective bowhunter.

I wonder how many years it will take after lighted nocks are accepted before the same folks are pushing for legalizing the little radio transmitters that you can attach to your broadhead to assist in recovering your poorly hit animal? Wonder what is next after that???

Not a new bowhunter and not looking to improve on a clean kill. Clearly this will not aid in the killing of an animal. If that was even remotely the case the cpw and p&y wouldn't even entertain the thought allowing them. You are right about your barely accepting the fact of this might aid in the recovery of an animal in certain cases. I guess I am of the thinking anything I can do to maximize a quick recovery to ensure I fill my freezer I am all for, especially if that aid only weighs next to nothing. Take the negativity elsewhere sir. Especially not to a place where guys are always bringing up new and improved ways and ideas to improve on something we all share a great passion for.

 

[ivorytip]

yeah i dont think anyone one this forum thinks it would make them a better shot, finding arrow after shot would be so much easier, seeing where animal was hit would be easier aswell, making known what kind of shot was made. gut shot, double lung, liver...... incase of gut shot i would stay put for a long time before finding, if i know i made a clean double lunger then i wouldnt wait near as long if at all to look for animal. faster you can find arrow, the sooner you can determine your shot placement.

 

[coloradoshedhead]

^^^^^Fact^^^^^

 

[BOHNTR]

Sorry guys, I'm with Joe on this one.

 

[WapitiBob]

"seeing where animal was hit would be easier"

fact

 

[okielite]

What I think is really sad is how many newer bowhunters think they need a lighted nock to make a clean kill or to recover animals. I suppose it is possible that on a rare occasion they could provide a little bit of help but the reality is a whole lot of people are going to be disappointed if they think one little gizmo will turn them into an effective bowhunter.

I wonder how many years it will take after lighted nocks are accepted before the same folks are pushing for legalizing the little radio transmitters that you can attach to your broadhead to assist in recovering your poorly hit animal? Wonder what is next after that???

I understand your perspective but technology has been influencing hunting for decades and that will not stop. Shooting a flint lock myzzy is a whole different ballgame than a modern high powered rifle with low BC bullets and a drop compensating turret on the scope while using a rangefinder to find distances. Same with longbows/recurve compared to todays modern compound bows.

Technology will change how me hunt moving forward. You can fight it every step of the way but it wont' stop technology from changing the way we hunt.

Crossbows and lighted knocks are like legal marijuana. It's coming no matter what your opinion is on the matter.

 

[Hilltop]

This thread has taken all kinds of turns... Regardless of if you like them or not we owe it to the OP to offer helpful information.

my 2 cents- Make sure you practice with whatever brand you choose as they do change your arrow weight slightly. I use Nocktunals and like them. I shoot well over 300 fps and still have no trouble seeing my arrows point of impact. To me, this is the greatest advantage to using them. Knowing exactly where your arrow hits is a game changer in some situations- It allows the hunter to take the best course of action to recover the animal IMO.