using illumanock in Wa

[Tony 270]

Wish they would just legalize them.  There is no advantage to the hunter and would help track the animal in an effort of being more humane.  Wake up Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife!!!

Agree'd, traditional means aside, anything that will help you collect your harvest more quickly/humanely can't hurt to be considered

Then allow laser-guided arrows, spot lights attached to bows for those low light situations, cross bows, expandable broadheads for those who don't want to take the time to tune their broadheads....

Merry Christmas

Your argument compares taking game vs recovering game. I'm not for any electronics that aid in the shot and taking of the animal, but in this case they're talking about tools to help recover game you already shot/shot at/took. Illumanocks don't help before the shot, only after the arrow was released.

[Machias]

I guess that's the whole point isn't it.  If they don't allow you to shoot later, shoot any further, aid your shot in any way.  AND you can already do things that the lumenoks do, with brightly colored fletching and nocks.  Like aid in the visualization of your arrow path and where you hit the animal.  Then why the push to take that first step onto the slippery slope?  How about laser pointers, range finder bowsights, lighted sight pins,......the same arguments can be made for all those items.  Everything the lumenoks tout can already be done without allowing electronics onto archery equipment.  Also unless things have changed, and they may have, but I believe the last polls taken by the archery organizations around the state it's still something like 60%+ in favor of NO electronics allowed.

[JimmyHoffa]

Wish they would just legalize them.  There is no advantage to the hunter and would help track the animal in an effort of being more humane.  Wake up Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife!!!

Agree'd, traditional means aside, anything that will help you collect your harvest more quickly/humanely can't hurt to be considered

Then allow laser-guided arrows, spot lights attached to bows for those low light situations, cross bows, expandable broadheads for those who don't want to take the time to tune their broadheads....

Merry Christmas

One problem I have with this statement is with the inclusion here of crossbows.  Since the crossbow thread/poll I've been looking up all kinds of information on crossbows....and modern compound bows (it's looking like) are capable of out performing a modern crossbow.  Mostly in the area of range.  The crossbow bolts are so much shorter that they have to use large vanes for their stability, therefore considerably slowing them down due to drag.  Compounds use leverage which doesn't increase the drag....so overall, the compounds are becoming better and better for long range.  
If you give a person a bow capable of shooting 100 yards, there are a few that will do just that.  I don't see the problem with allowing illuminocks, they don't help make a shot.  I pretty much think anything 'archery' should be allowed including all accessories.  It's called archery season, not traditional archery season or primitive archery season.
But I know that not everyone will ever agree on what they think everybody else should use.  I know the first time I used a synthetic stock on a rifle, people were criticizing me.  Saying how I was ruining hunting, by bringing 'tactical' gear.  Saying how I was shifting the image of a hunter.  They said the same things to a buddy of mine that had an autoloader.  Introducing 'black rifles' into 'their' sport.  So even in the rifle community you get people trying to set limits based on their own interpretations.

[army82abn]

Since we're all still living in the dark ages, why don't we go back to segregation, not allowing women to vote, or the horse drawn carriage?

Modern hunting equipment aids in the humane harvesting of animals; modern muzzleloaders, modern archery equipment, modern rifles, etc. Why allow scopes on rifles? Why don't we only allow blackpowder instead of pryodex and other modern propellents? IMHO I don't see anything wrong with allowing the use of any and all modern equipment while hunting. We pay good, hard earned money for the opportunity to harvest an animal for our own consumption in the form of our license and fees. It's a shame that we allow an already intrusive government to impose itself any further in our lives and recreational opportunities.  EMBRACE THE 21st CENTURY!

[Tman]

Wouldn't they be legal to use during a modern firearm season?  I've heard of several guys that'll buy a modern tag, and hunt with a bow.

[BlackRidge]

Since we're all still living in the dark ages, why don't we go back to segregation, not allowing women to vote, or the horse drawn carriage?

Modern hunting equipment aids in the humane harvesting of animals; modern muzzleloaders, modern archery equipment, modern rifles, etc. Why allow scopes on rifles? Why don't we only allow blackpowder instead of pryodex and other modern propellents? IMHO I don't see anything wrong with allowing the use of any and all modern equipment while hunting. We pay good, hard earned money for the opportunity to harvest an animal for our own consumption in the form of our license and fees. It's a shame that we allow an already intrusive government to impose itself any further in our lives and recreational opportunities.  EMBRACE THE 21st CENTURY!

True, we flip the majority of the bill, but they create the rules and feel they should be imposed, for whatever reason. Its nice they are trying to keep some forms as traditional as possible, but there are some things that with the changing of the times, should at least be considered (lumenocks being a great example)

Especially when recovering your game, why not allow for an easier means?

[Machias]

Since we're all still living in the dark ages, why don't we go back to segregation, not allowing women to vote, or the horse drawn carriage?

Modern hunting equipment aids in the humane harvesting of animals; modern muzzleloaders, modern archery equipment, modern rifles, etc. Why allow scopes on rifles? Why don't we only allow blackpowder instead of pryodex and other modern propellents? IMHO I don't see anything wrong with allowing the use of any and all modern equipment while hunting. We pay good, hard earned money for the opportunity to harvest an animal for our own consumption in the form of our license and fees. It's a shame that we allow an already intrusive government to impose itself any further in our lives and recreational opportunities.  EMBRACE THE 21st CENTURY!

It has NOTHING to do with an intrusive repressive Government.  This rule is supported by the majority of bowhunters in this state.  Now that may be changing but equipment restictions are supported by the very community it affects.  I wonder how we ever harvested animals before lumenoks?  I have taken close to 40 deer with a bow and 5 bears, I use bright colored fletching and nocks and can see my arrow path and impact site without any problem at all.  The more effective we are the shorter and shorter our seasons get.  The reason more and more guys are attracted to archery seasons is the length of the season.  We get a whole bunch of new guys clamoring for the latest and greatest gadgets and the season gets shorter and shorter.  What happens then?  All these fly by night bowhunters will leave a sport their heart was never really into.  You want to use electronics on a bow, go ahead, buy a modern tag and hunt with your bow gear, no restrictions, have fun!

[ribka]

 

Since we're all still living in the dark ages, why don't we go back to segregation, not allowing women to vote, or the horse drawn carriage?

Modern hunting equipment aids in the humane harvesting of animals; modern muzzleloaders, modern archery equipment, modern rifles, etc. Why allow scopes on rifles? Why don't we only allow blackpowder instead of pryodex and other modern propellents? IMHO I don't see anything wrong with allowing the use of any and all modern equipment while hunting. We pay good, hard earned money for the opportunity to harvest an animal for our own consumption in the form of our license and fees. It's a shame that we allow an already intrusive government to impose itself any further in our lives and recreational opportunities.  EMBRACE THE 21st CENTURY!

  Going to beat the dead horse some more
Funny women's voting rights and segregation was introduced into this conversation

If you want to embrace technology hunt with a rifle with a scope with a built-in ranger finder during modern firearms!!

Archery is a PRIMITIVE WEAPON season. We have longer archery seasons than modern weapon seasons because archery is still considered a PRIMITIVE WEAPON. If we embrace the 21st century and allow all gadgets on bows for guys not willing to take the time extra time and responsibility to practice their shooting, and woodsman's skills we will have a ONE WEEK archery season in Washington. I like the longer archery seasons!! I have seen a trend the past 15 years in bow hunting of guys just getting into archery after switching from modern firearms and they still carry the same modern firearm's mentality into a primitive weapon season. Am sure all of the silly hunting shows on tv have aided this mentality too with the marketing all the extra junk to help the bow hunter. But consumers have to purchase the "slap chops" "Chia pets", "snugees" scent lock clothing, butt out tools so why not lumenocks.

Every year I find a lot of dead elk and deer with arrows in the stomachs, asses, legs. This year found 3 dead elk in Little Naches shot in the stomach. Saw 2 more running around with arrows in the necks, asses. I do know a lighted nock wont help you find an animal after you take a 70 yd shot and hit in the stomach or ass. An animal hit in the stomach is possible to find with good tracking skills but the guys typically taking the hail mary shots lack good tracking and woodman's skills necessary to track it after a marginal hit.  If you are so concerned with the wounded/recovered animal argument get out in the woods in the off season and practice your woodsman's/ tracking skills needed in archery season so you can get close to animals ( less than 30 yds) and make the high percentage shot.

Personally based upon my observations, conversations, web postings of bow hunters I think a lot, not all technology in archery, has resulted in more wounded animals not less but this could just be more guys are bow hunting now. Bow hunters now, especially new to the sport, think it is common to take 60-100 yd shots at an alerted animal walking in the woods because they have all of the gadgets on their bows. I personally observed this behavior, like I do every year, up in the late season Nile elk hunt and late season deer hunts.

So I guess I am saying I like the challenge of archery and I'll admit I am selfish and I like the longer archery seasons because it is still classified as a primitive weapon in WA. Have had conversations with WDW Bio's and Gamies and many of them are beginning to view archery now as a modern , not a primitive weapon, because of all the advances in technology. WDFW takes this into consideration when drawing up hunting seasons every year.  Start allowing all technology in archery and muzzle loader and we will have our seasons greatly reduced. 

[MtnMuley]

  Moral of the story/issue.  Use them if you want to.  Don't use them if you don't want to.  ALLOW the hunter that decision.  They do NOT aid in potential to harvest game.  They ONLY help in the recovery of game.  Just like hunting over bait....just because it's legal you don't have to do it....  Just because I have a bear tag doesn't mean I have to shoot one if I see one.... Let the hunter make the DECISION him/herself.  No law law will ever state where you HAVE to use them.  

[dscubame]

Most of these arguments would suggest we all should be only permitted to hunt the longbow.  The compound bows and arrows are all technology from the materials used in the mfg process to the mechanics of operation.  Much of this debate is very much calling the kettle black.

[Lowedog]

Regardless of how we all feel about this one issue I think we will see them allowed beginning in 2012. 

I have been following this same discussion on another site and I took this post from there.  I have not read one argument against them that to me holds water.  The argument that we have never had them in the past and have been fine is weak.  The same argument could have been made against allowing sidearms to be carried during archery seasons.  I also don't buy the slippery slope argument. 

Again, I am neither for nor against them.  I just don't see any arguments being made for why they shouldn't be allowed being strong enough to counter the arguments to allow them. 

The people who are pushing for them have done their homework and they are going through the proper channels to do so...

As for now gentlemen it appears to be up to the commissioners and the public comment portion of the rule making agenda for the 2012-2015 seasons.

I was just at the commission meetings in Olympia and gave testimony for the Lighted nock again. I believe it was received rather well. The commission will be moving moiton forward to the rule making agenda this next summer.  so comment on it when their ready if you want it to pass.      Thanks Nate...

It cannot be stated any better than this.

1. Find your arrow and address the wounded animal correctly.
2. This tool will help stop the taking of more than one animal out of the equation.
3, This will also give the WDFW a better reporting of harvested animals.
4. Take your trash out of the woods and fields improving public and private land owner relations.
5.This does not improve your shot at all...  It only improves recovery of your arrow.
6.This is not a fair chase question, refer to #5. there is no advantage given to the hunter to harvest they animal.
7. No our season should not be shortened at all, because if you look at the obvious and hunters stop wounding and loosing animals more will be left, meaning more opportunities for someone.

And last on a personal note,
We are all bowhunters no matter the method, it would be nice if we could be a little more open minded about the choices each one of us make for our own equipment.

[ICEMAN]

Gentlemen, bowhunters, (I am neither   )...... Maybe you bowmen should consider lobbying for a split in the tradition/use....

We have modern rifle season and muzzle season..... How about modern bow and traditional bow season?

I guess this arguement can and does continue with even the muzzie guys....IE: scope on a muzzy...  Not sure what the best answer is....

[Lowedog]

Gentlemen, bowhunters, (I am neither   )...... Maybe you bowmen should consider lobbying for a split in the tradition/use....

We have modern rifle season and muzzle season..... How about modern bow and traditional bow season?

I guess this arguement can and does continue with even the muzzie guys....IE: scope on a muzzy...  Not sure what the best answer is....

Over the last 5 years with drawing the multi 4 times I have hunted all 3 types of seasons.  I started archery hunting in 1992.  I am happy with the restrictions the way they are for all weapon choices.  I am very much against further separating user groups by going with additional seasons as I think that would diminish opportunity for everyone. 

That said I can't see where the use of a lighted nock is any advantage in the taking of game and therefor would shorten seasons.  If the department does see it as a reason to shorten seasons then I would be against legalizing them.

 

[kibber]

They have already shorted are season.

[Machias]

I guess I'm still waiting for someone from the lumenok camp to convince me why they should be allowed when there is NO advantage.  You get the EXACT same thing by using brightly colored fletching.  You recover no more or less animals with or without lumenoks, NONE what-so-ever.