Lighted Nocks?

[billythekidrock]

I know that lighted nocks are against the law for big game but are they legal for small game or unclassified animals?

Never gave it much thought for smaller critters like yotes, coons, etc. until today. 

[buckfvr]

Not sure, but I believe what you listed are fair game for lighted nocks and mechanicals too...........keep in mind a lighted nock adds significantly to the rear of your arrow, sending the FOC totally out of wack unless you add insert and or point weight.  ANd then.......  maybe you will have affected your spine..........

[JimmyHoffa]

pg 68.  Archery 1.b.  It says it applies to all archery, not game specific.  My guess is no, but that is just how I am reading it.

[billythekidrock]

pg 68.  Archery 1.b.  It says it applies to all archery, not game specific.  My guess is no, but that is just how I am reading it.

That is how I read it as well, but in a conversation it was brought up that that is written in the "Big Game" regs so it should only pertain to big game. 

[wraithen]

yeah cuz the big game manual doesn't specifically mention the small game rules 

[billythekidrock]

yeah cuz the big game manual doesn't specifically mention the small game rules 

That is exactly what I said, but I had to agree with them that there is nothing about caliber or equipment in the small game section. Now cougar is classified as big game, but the rules are not the same as with other big game. ie: .22 cal vs .24 cal.

My position was that lighted nocks are not legal for small game based on the first line under archery on pg 68. 1. Rules pertaining to all archery.

[JimmyHoffa]

Sounds like you might have a way.  I'd be trying to find rules for small game, but maybe it's hidden somewhere in the trapping booklet.  They put some small game species in the upland book.

[wraithen]

By the words ALL ARCHERY and not big-game archery you definitely seem to be correct. I would say ask a wdfw officer but you may not see one anytime soon and I've pulled out a reg to educate them the only time I met them.

[billythekidrock]

By the words ALL ARCHERY and not big-game archery you definitely seem to be correct. I would say ask a wdfw officer but you may not see one anytime soon and I've pulled out a reg to educate them the only time I met them.

Yea, 'cause they know the rules. 

[buckfvr]

What about all the Turkey specific broadheads they sell here???  Many of them do not meet criteria for big game.

Its not lighted nocks but same issue for comparison.

[pianoman9701]

Call your regional office and ask them.

[JLS]

What about all the Turkey specific broadheads they sell here???  Many of them do not meet criteria for big game.

Its not lighted nocks but same issue for comparison.

(b) It is unlawful to have any electrical equipment or electric device(s) attached to the bow or arrow while hunting.

Note it specifies hunting and does not address what you are hunting for.

The broadhead requirements don't apply to turkeys, only big game animals.

(g) It is unlawful to hunt big game animals with a broadhead blade unless the broadhead is unbarbed and completely closed at the back end of the blade or blades by a smooth, unbroken surface starting at maximum blade width and forming a smooth line toward the feather end of the shaft, and such line does not angle toward the point.

     (h) It is unlawful to hunt big game animals with a retractable broadhead.

[Lenkerslawker]

The good news is that WDFW has been conducting over the phone surveys and asking if you have an opinion in the lighted knock debate.  All archery hunters that are selected for the phone call should be doing their part by saying how much a lighted knock would help to recover animals.  Even if you plan on using them or not, the option should be ours as it helps recover arrows, which should aid in recovering animals.

[HornHoarder]

Don't take my word for it, but I think that just recently I heard lighted nocks are now legal. I'd check with WDFW. Let me know if theres any truth to that.

[billythekidrock]

I know they have been doing surveys, but they would not be legal until the new three year package begins.

[pianoman9701]

The good news is that WDFW has been conducting over the phone surveys and asking if you have an opinion in the lighted knock debate.  All archery hunters that are selected for the phone call should be doing their part by saying how much a lighted knock would help to recover animals.  Even if you plan on using them or not, the option should be ours as it helps recover arrows, which should aid in recovering animals.

Explain that to me, how will a lighted nock help you recover animals, 80% of all shots are pass throughs (my opinion)... so if you find your arrow, then you can find your animal?  Develope the ability to trail blood.

The lighted nock will help you see where your arrow is striking and assist you in determining whether you got a good hit. This isn't a replacement for tracking skills, it would be an additional tool for animal recovery. I'm not going to use lighted nocks but I clearly understand what the benefit would be.

[jackmaster]

sorry fellas i am not a bow hunter by any means couldnt shoot myself in the foot with a bow so excuse me when i ask but why in the hell would lighted knocks be illegal? it isnt like you can spoylight with them, arent they more for being able to track the flight of your arrow? excuse me for my ignorance in advance..... 

[boneaddict]

You should look at the other 10 42 page threads about this topic and then you'd have your answer.

sorry fellas i am not a bow hunter by any means couldnt shoot myself in the foot with a bow so excuse me when i ask but why in the hell would lighted knocks be illegal? it isnt like you can spoylight with them, arent they more for being able to track the flight of your arrow? excuse me for my ignorance in advance

[jackmaster]

thank you sir i have my answer, kinda sounds like another got nothn better to do with their time rule, but i am not a bow hunter so i guess i dont have a place to complain on this issue

[Lenkerslawker]

yeah sorry nwwa, I should of clarified that a lighted knock would help you know where you hit an animal,(not just big game) which in turn can help you recover your animal.  Your absolutely right.  You drifted a little ways into left field there but sure we get the point.  You know its crazy, lighted knocks actually aid you in tuning your bow.  Or, God forbid, your not nwwa bowhntr, and you dont make a perfect pass through shot and mortally wound the animal and it goes a little ways before expiring, with the arrow still in the animal.  Might be usefull.  Might not.  I like the option.  In the elk woods you do get areas where elk "live", this place would have lots of tracks and not be as easy to track big game as they cross over other elk's tracks and often don't bleed as well as you would like, with a arrow still in wound.  But Nwwa doesnt make bad shots,  so nothing to worry about for you.  But for us other guys, it could be usefull tool.  One day i hope to have the blood hound skills as the nwwabowhntr.  Sorry bub, dont know wild wind and dont spend my life on this site, but since you've got all sorts of time, tell me how bad of a hunter i am cuz i have a "sneaking suspicion" you like to give your opinion when no one is listening.

[D-Rock425]

I didn't read all the post in this tread but it doesn't matter one way or another to me if these become legal or not I still see no point in me using them.  If people want to use them I don't have a problem with it all.

[huntnphool]

People need to understand that when these are legalized, they are still not legal for Pope and Young.

 And your point is? I'd be willing to bet that of the 10% that voted no in the poll, less than 10% of even them are current P&Y members.

 Who really cares if they are P&Y compliant, more than 40 states have legalized lumenoks, doesn't sound like too many people are concerned.

[huntnphool]

 It will be interesting to see which way WDFW take this. Either way, I agree with Tradbow, there are a lot of other issues that need us all, as archery hunters, to get united and try to get addressed.

[D-Rock425]

Ok I read a few post on this thread now and all I have to say is

[huntnphool]

 

[wrongway]

you know if they pass the lighted knocks we may loose hunting days, as our archery equipment gets better we loose days and the lighted knocks are in the states eyes going to make our equipment better, this came right from the state. when we got grater let off on our bows they took days, do we want to loose any more ?