Lighted Nocks and Expandables in Idaho?

[lukew]

BY: Jordan Breshears

Do politics belong in wildlife management? Yes, you read that correctly but this blog is about lighted nocks and expandable broadheads. Or is it?

If you have been following the trends most hunters know that states around the country have widely accepted the advancement of hunting technology with a few exceptions, and Idaho is one of those exceptions. They have made a stance against what is being referred to as “technology creep” and for years have not allowed even simple changes. For example, lighted nocks are still illegal in Idaho. Why? Glad you asked, something as simple as a lighted nock can be used as a very helpful tool in the world of archery hunting. It doesn’t improve your accuracy, or help you kill the animal with more efficiency, but it does help the hunter follow the arrow flight better and subsequently make better retrieval decisions. This is hard to argue and therefore you will find most sportsmen support lighted nocks. So what is the issue? The issue runs much deeper than lighted nocks, in fact, this is a very slippery slope and that is why all of the attempts with the Commission or legislation on these issues has failed in Idaho. Because to put it simply, “you give an inch, they take a mile”. Therefore, sportsmen and IDFG’s Commission have shot down what would seem to be advancements in archery hunting for many years... READ MORE

Lighted Nocks and Expandables in Idaho? - Eastmans' Official Blog | Mule Deer, Antelope, Elk Hunting and Bowhunting Magazine | Eastmans' Hunting Journals

Do politics belong in wildlife management? Yes, you read that correctly but this blog is about light

blog.eastmans.com

 

[idcwby]

This wasn’t they way to go about this. It was kept pretty quiet, didn’t hear about it until it was on the governor’s desk. I’ve always liked they way Idaho has went about rule changes and regulations, even though I may not have agreed with all of them. Once politics get involved, proper wildlife management goes out the window. The whole wolf recovery is a great example of politics in wildlife management.

 

[kidoggy]

logic and reason are seldom found in any government agency.
Idaho's F&G is no exception.

that said, I won't lose any sleep over it.
in the grand scheme of things, I care about, this isn't one of them.

 

[Muley bound]

Not sure I understood this correctly….so they did pass it to allow lighted nocks and expandable?

 

[idcwby]

Not sure I understood this correctly….so they did pass it to allow lighted nocks and expandable?

The Idaho Fish and Game commission did not pass a rule change. This was done as a law through the state legislature.

 

[Muley bound]

Well ain’t that some shit!

 

[JimP]

Sometimes I wonder just how we killed anything with old cedar shaft arrows and the old Bear Razorheads..

 

[kidoggy]

where there is will there is a way!
most hunters today think the game should self mutilate and load themselves into the freezer.
most are not really hunters they just Identify as one.

 

[lang]

New regs are out and they are in the new section. So they are legal and in print officially. Not a fan of expandable heads for elk, but love video of lighted knocks!

 

[Bonecollector]

New regs are out and they are in the new section. So they are legal and in print officially. Not a fan of expandable heads for elk, but love video of lighted knocks!

Not taking a side here but fun fact;
Grim Reaper broad heads are produced in ID (I believe) and were originally designed for elk hunting. I’ve had great success with them on deer in the past.

 

[idcwby]

Not taking a side here but fun fact;
Grim Reaper broad heads are produced in ID (I believe) and were originally designed for elk hunting. I’ve had great success with them on deer in the past.

You got my curious peaked, so I had to look and see. Grim Reaper’s website says Utah, are they legal there?

 

[Bonecollector]

You got my curious peaked, so I had to look and see. Grim Reaper’s website says Utah, are they legal there?

Hmmm. I could have sworn they were originally from Idaho. Perhaps I am mistaken. For an expandable broadhead they are a very good concept and I can attest they work very well.

 

[idcwby]

Good to know. If I ever decide to try any, I’ve been looking at the Bloodrunner.

 

[mallardsx2]

This is a grim reaper recovered from my muzzleloader buck last fall.

It had deflected up and buried under the spine and was completely closed.....I am not saying that my muzzy 4 blade would have done any better, but it couldn't have done much worse....so I'll pass on the expendables...

To each their own.

 

[Muley bound]

I really do like lighted nocks. At those first and last light shooting conditions, they really help me see my arrow flight. Or when you miss, you can find your arrow a lot easier!
I am definitely not a big fan of expandables. I used them for a long time, but have had way more negative outcomes then positive. I’ve had a lot of penetration issues with them as well. I tend to shoot tighter to the shoulders, and with the expandables, a couple inches the wrong way and It becomes a big problem! I can’t even imagine trying to use them on an elk or other big game.

 

[87TT]

Someone was "bought" off. I don't for a minute think the majority of IDAHO hunters were for this.

 

[idcwby]

Someone was "bought" off. I don't for a minute think the majority of IDAHO hunters were for this.

I’m assuming it was a group of hunters that were tired of Fish and Game dragging their feet. I’d bet there are more people for expandables than you realize. I know a lot of people were wanting lighted knocks, especially after Pope and Young approved them.

 

[JimP]

You will always find that a small group of vocal people who want a law passed or thing allowed will get their way before the silent majority will.
Not saying that is what happened here but it happens every day.

 

[87TT]

I’m assuming it was a group of hunters that were tired of Fish and Game dragging their feet. I’d bet there are more people for expandables than you realize. I know a lot of people were wanting lighted knocks, especially after Pope and Young approved them.

They(IDFG) have put this out for comment several times. If it was that popular, it would have been changed. I don't think it was. Most of the people I hear complaining about the old rules were NR. Lighted nocks were probably a wash as far as far as popularity. The way they got it through by "Emergency" legislation is Bullshit. What emergency????

 

[idcwby]

They(IDFG) have put this out for comment several times. If it was that popular, it would have been changed. I don't think it was. Most of the people I hear complaining about the old rules were NR. Lighted nocks were probably a wash as far as far as popularity. The way they got it through by "Emergency" legislation is Bullshit. What emergency????

I missed the emergency part of the bill. My take on it, emergency part, so it would immediately go into effect, but not sure. I’m still trying to figure out who pushed, if it was a group of people or an organization?