Trad Gang

I am wondering about the general opinion about the use of lighted nocks by traditional bowhunters.

Just a couple months back I bought a 6 pack of firenocks, and I love em! I bought them because I think theby will look extremely cool when I film my own hunts this season. Also, I think it will just be neat to see them flying thru the air, IN MY PERIPHERIAL VISION of course  :thumbsup: .

I started using them last fall for my #1 arrow. I voted that they probably break some trad rule. I don't really care though, I use what's good for me.

Just another gadget as far as I'm concerned.  Just put a small wrap of marabou feather in back of the fletch if you have to light things up some.

I'm basically opposed to gadgets as I feel it was the downfall of archery 35 years ago and it is the downfall of muzzleloader hunting now.

I don't use them but I don't think they'd violate any principles, at least not any worse than some of the other stuff we already use...

Even with large colorful fletching on a well tuned bow and arrow combination I'm finding it harder and harder to see my arrow flight on game. Some of our elk hunting is in the dark woods and in the middle of the day it is hard to see my arrows so last year I went to lighted knocks and it was easy to see where my arrow hit. So I vote yes for their use even if they aren't traditional.

Tried the marabou feather...couldn't get it to work for me (i probably put it on wrong).  Got "badger arrow" to four fletch some hot pink and that lights things up pretty well!  :)

Electronics have no place on either the bow or arrow, whether you are using a recurve, longbow, or compound. Open the door for lighted nocks and soon every other electronic gadget comes streaming in. Remember our liberal seasons are based on primitive equipment, don't give those who don't favor bowhunting  more ammo to take away what we have. This is especially important here in the west where most States have banned electronics years ago.

I like them. I shoot in the woods and I haven't lost an arrow since I started using one on my deer arrows. Do I think it violates trad rules? Yes, but I think fiberglass backed limbs and aluminum arrows do also, but I still use them because they are what I like.

If they violate "Trad" principals, it does not bother me a bit - I am a recurve shooter/hunter.

How anyone could have issue with being able to more clearly see the hit and make a sound decision on the followup tracking to aid in the recovery of an animal is beyond me.

Steve

I sure enjoy seeing them fly on Buff's videos.    :D

Well Steve B a lot of people have an issue with it. I am in complete agreement with Larry O on this one; no electronics on the bow or arrow; That applies to guns as well.  The use of some woodmanship and personal restraint might be needed rather then a reliance on gadgets.  Luckily our Fish and Game Department made this decision twenty years ago so we do not have to deal with the junk in Montana.

I don't use them, but don't see a problem using them. Especially if one's eyesight is fading. Put your self in that persons place. It is not a tracking device by any means. Not saying I'm in favor, but I have never understood why electronic tracking devices are illegal in the first place. Most hunters have lost game in their life. If an animal is wounded why wouldn't you, me, or anyone else in the world want to have the best possible chance of retrieval. If they were allowed could there be abuse? No doubt. More than there already is. Probably not. Are riskier shots going to become the norm. How about the 300+ fps guys out there that shoot over 50 yards thinking they can go through anything,and have never smelled a living deer. I busted one of these guys poaching on our land 2 years ago. Unfortunatly I was 10 minutes late. He just gut shot the big boy from 50+ yards that we had been zeroing in on. It crossed the property line and they went after it. I got permission and went over the next morning. I didn't find it and it was obvious they didn't either. Funny, the law couldn't find them. Locks only keep honest men out.

Playing the devil's advocate. Should I sell my climber and hunt only off the ground. My guess is that most have crossed the Trad line already in one way or the other. In my opinion everyone must draw their own.

Pages and pages on prepping for a bad hit with single bevels, foc, logs for arrows, fletching profiles and even strips of tape for "turbulation", and other gadgets.

But a way to judge the hit from an unexpected bad hit (the reason for those listed above) other then these is a violation of a "trad" principal?

Like I said, beyond this recurve hunter.

Steve

Way too expensive for me.  If you want to buy them and use them, go for it.  Bill

I use them in low light. They do not aid in aiming in any way and give no advantage in making the shot. They do however show the location of the shot and can help make decisions on recovery, all of which is after the fact. You still have to pick a spot and hit it.
I use them on a carbon arrow which probably ought to come closer to violating some percieved traditional ethic than what kind of nock is in it.

Here is another thought........I know all of you are great shots and never miss but it helps poor shooters like me find our arrows when we miss. All joking aside they are a big help when trying to find an arrow especially after dark.

Great tuning aide. And for those like me who enjoy watching the arc of the arrow shoot a lighted nock at dusk at targets and enjoy.

Other than helping find a lost arrow, I see no real need for the things.
I can follow a fluorescent green or orange nock just fine in most lighting conditions.
But then I carry a compass in the field, and still drive with maps too!   :archer:

I honestly have no issues with them and had not thought of using them, until I read the filming post.  I bought a LW camera arm....and the lighted nocks will probaby show up well.  I'll be filming myself, occasionally.

Never have used them but would like to someday. Would be neat to watch them disappear into a whitetails ribs.

I make my own for around 3 dollars a piece....have some in red & green & they both show up quite a bit in low light....here's a little video of them, sorry about the video quality.....they also hold up better than the already made up ones for a fraction of the cost.I use em for shooting bullfrogs & messing around stumping but haven't used em on deer yet....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZBxlqIfpxM

I have used them to hunt...only time loosed on game I watched a beautiful arc right over a does back  :knothead:  . As far as being "trad" I don't think so, nor the carbons they rest in. Just my 2cents. I don't judge anyone who uses them, I like to watch their flight when shot in low light, but having switched to woodies that is something I can't do. I don't see anything unethical about them so I say have fun with them. Every advantage on making a good clean kill and retreival is a positive thing in my book.

I will bet on one thing. . . they will make you become more accurate much quicker, particularly for farther shots- like 30+.  The trajectory feedback will be awesome if you practice with them.

I think I will try Christmas tree lights on my woodies. If only I could get them to light up. One string ought to do it.  :biglaugh:    :biglaugh:

they re a great way to teach your brain the arrows trajectory when shot in low light.

For me the biggest advantage is to determine arrow impact on the animal, especially on a pass thru which is the norm for me. You get immediate feedback on your hit which is vital info if you had any concerns about where or if you hit an animal. For me they are nearly useless in normal daylight but early morning or getting on towards quitting time they can't be beat. They add nothing to one's accuracy and have the advantage of only giving you immediate feedback about the placement of your shot. In one of Asbel's books he talks about the importance of a hunting arrow being highly visible. Lighted nocks only enhance that variable IMO. As for their cost, if a lighted nock helps you find one arrow it has paid for itself at that moment.

It's a personal choice.  For me, it's just something else to go wrong in the woods.

I really like the lights for hunting purposes as it shows me the point of impact beyond any shadow of a doubt.  That alone is worth the cost in my eyes, especially if you question whether or not you should begin tracking immediately or wait.

I do wish they'd make one that would "beep" after 30sec or so - it'd make finding them in the shrubs a LOT easier...  

:D

They are illegal in ND so I haven't tried them.

Illegal to hunt with in Colorado.

I would never want to use them.. The trad "police" would issue a violation.. LOL

JDSIII

I use them and think they are one of the best thing ever invented for a bowhunter.Nothing does as well letting you know where the hit was really at no matter time of day.Nothing makes finding the arrow after the passthrough so you get more info on the hit.Makes the decision making of what to do next much easier that many times in the past.

As far as the trad stuff.Could care less.I just hunt with bows and can't see how anything that only aids in recovery (not making the shot) can ever be bad for hunters. jmo

Well said James.

I would use them if they weren't $10 each. They are cool, but not that cool.

Really like em on "BUFFS" video's.

They don't aid the flight or accuracy any and may help determine the best course of action in trailing an animal with a marginal hit.
I guess the same could be said for a glass bow over a selfbow. Where is the cut off between traditional/primative? Would Ishi have used razor sharp two bladed Zwickies or other heads if he had had them? I think so. We're not better than those who shoot compounds with sights and releases, we just walk a different path. All are free to be as modern or as primative as we see fit.

Well, I just voted and found out that of ~20,000 Trad Gang members that approximately 0.58% of the TG members have voted so far.

But my curiosity got the best of me....

Next, I just had to pop open my 2009 C*****s Archery catalog and check out the products on page 47 that are related to this poll.  Seeing that there are 2 options provided, it means that consumers will have a choice!  Now *that* is the American way - however, I was unable to confirm if these 2 product lines were in fact manufactured in the USA.

Thumbing through the same catalog, I discovered that pages 29-34 (immediately following the "traditional" archery section) were just filled with state-of-the-art mechanized horizontal arrow launchers and accessories - including the very same product that we are being polled on.  I'll bet that when those babies get triggered off at velocities up to 375 fps its like watchin' a tracer smoke through the atmosphere!  And if one just happened to miss the target, it would be real easy to recover that arrow with the lighted nock.....

Just a few comments to wrap it up:

I was taught that where you are 5 years from now is all about the books one reads and the people that one associates with.

Seems to me that people outside the archery circle could possibly have the wrong impression based on association.

I guess it may all be a matter of perspective....

"Walkin' the walk is a lot more powerful than talkin' the talk!."

Shoot straight, Shinken

Oh, I almost forgot!

DITTO on what Larry O. Fischer and Walt Francis said!

Keep the wind in your face, Shinken

never have, but would

lighted nocks also disqualify entry into Pope & Young (am a measurer and long time member).  An argument could be and has been made that lighted nocks may give the shooter a notion that the ncok will enhance recovery and he/she may take marginal shots, longer shots.  I use chartreuse yellow fletch and they work great in following the flight of the arrow and show up incredible on dark objects - the lung area of moose and bear as examples.  I still limit myself to my "effective range" and never sway from that.

As a qualified Pro Staff member of Goodwill Stores Incorporated, I can't spend that much money for nocks.  I bet Mr. Magoo would love them, as would Jose Feleciano if he bowhunted.
You may also be able to find a little audio chip that would beep and tell you where the deer fell.

To each there own I guess.  If a compound shooter can use a laser range finder I don't see what the big deal is with a lighted knock.  People that shoot past there effective range will always do that.  Ethical people won't shoot past there effective range just because they got a lighted knock.  Also call me crazy but if somebody shoots a deer dead I would just assume they find it. Sure as heck aint no worse than following a string from a tracker to a dead animal. I aint knocking string trackers either.  Can you put a deer in pope and young if you use a rangefinder?

I don't use them them but would if I wanted.

My thought is if you're using the carbon arrow they go into already,you're already over the trad line.

Used them last year for the first time and loved them. Can't see me not using them again this year. However after doing this "trad" thing for 35 years now I find out I"m not anymore and besides that, P & Y won't accept my entries anymore, man I'm gona loose some serious sleep over that!

I started using them last season for the
sole reason of videoing.  It makes for great
video.  The Firenocks are probably the best,
but are expensive.
However as some have stated they are illegal
in some states, and would also void any
record book kills.  I could care less about that.
If I wacked a big boy on video, I would rather
watch it over and over again with a lighted nock,
than to have my name in a book.
But thats just me.

Worth there weight in gold for bareshaft and broadhead tunning.

Ten bucks each, naw. I like my tracker arrows, light shaft, yellow and white vanes, yellow nocks. I would still like to see them fly.

I like them. If it aids in the recovery of an animal or arrow or both I don't see anything wrong with it. Nor do I think some one is less skilled because they choose to use them. They look great on video. I would use them if they were cheaper. m2c. Gilbert

I don't use them anymore after finding that a teeny-tiny nuclear-powered portable TV camera screwed securely into my traditional wood-grained carbon arrow does a much better job at making me successful.  The little TV clips to my hat visor, handy yet not intrusive.  Not only can I see where the arrow goes after taking bad shots after dark, I get to watch all my favorite 'I Love Lucy' reruns during slow times on stand (optional nuclear powered antennae required).  My absolute favorite part is watching myself coming towards myself when I get close to the arrow.  That is so cool!

Nope, don't use'em.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMqLT-4ezzk

do a google search for "homemade lighted nocks"

the link above is one i found on youtube.

i've made a few myself but did it in very basic way...basically, the thill lights used for fishing fit securely into my nock once i drilled the nock out just a bit.  then i just pop the nock out and insert light (already turned on) and start hunting.  those thill lights last a long time, so sitting on stand for a couple hours with them turned on doesn't hurt.

i've found that a red light inside a green nock creates a "hunter orange" color that is easily visible on video.

I started to have one in my quiver last year, although I never used it. I thought their advantages far outweighed their negative impact on traditional bowhunting.... until I read Larry Fischer's point of view, which I found myself agreeing with.
Food for my thoughts....

I dont use them, I got away from gadgets when I put the compound in the case for the last time.  Really I just want a simple down to earth hunt these days and just one gadget is one too many.  Im not gonna worry if others do use them within the confines of the law but really for every gadget we use to replace real woodsmanship skills I think it detracts from the real purpose of being out in the field in the first place.  Im currently feeling really good with a self bow in my hands that I built with my own two hands, POC shafts with natural barred turkey feathers.  I do have steel broadheads and plastic nocks but I draw my own lines and lighted nocks just go too far for me personally.

I use them - never felt distracted from my purpose. Also never felt the tiniest loss of traction standing on what some call a slippery slope.

Nope ,electronics don't belong!! next it will be lazer sights so you can see your spot you've picked! Then a tracking becon to find your game faster,maybe a mini lap top to watch all the action after the shot!!   K.I.S.S.
 OK I'm Bad, I just realized that I do carry electronics while out trad hunting, so what i said up above doesn't count!! I carry my timex battery watch!!   :D

Until I walk or ride my horse to work and to hunt.....I'll consider gadgets a part of my life (to a degree of acceptibility).

Until I make my own sinew strings and cane arrows.....I'll consider technology is acceptable (to a certain degree).

When I stalk up on a deer, instead of shoot him from a treestand, I'll accept that there are modern advances that I take full advantage of.

And the lighted nock will likely not be the death of traditional bowhunting.

I am torn myself. I bought em, then decided to stay with my old time equipment. In fact, went further back.

Putting them on POC, Hickory or Doug fir would be a PIA. *grin*

I definately "see" the possible desire for them as I grow older and my eyesight is less than I'd like, especially in low light situations.

Since I rarely shoot very far at all and wouldnt in low light anyway I knew they weren't for me.

It's difficult to draw the line anymore what is and isn't "trad" oriented.

Not so long ago, carbon in the limbs, carbon arrows etc etc were singled out and "some of us" still feel that way even though I gave em a go.

heck...WAY back in time and IN my life FIBERGLASS on the limbs was frowned upon! I'm willing to bet many of you young bucks here weren't aware of that.

Each needs to decide for themselves and while I personally don't feel they are trad oriented, Ive nothing against a person feeling the need to better see his arrow strike to more quickly decide what kind of hit he or she had..... IF they are having problems.

That said, I know some that are just "gadget oriented" yet, I too, stay with trad archery to not include all that and keep my hunting sweet and simple.

I watch Fred Eichler shoot those ugly dang pink feathers and danged if they dont show up GREAT but YUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK. LOL No offense!

Another personal choice I guess. One of my loves of trad achery is the beauty of the equipment. I just cant bring myself to put pink ANYTHING on anything I use.

Just old and stuck in "a rut" myself. All sports "evolve" and Im betting all the old timers like me in each sport don't like it.

It's human nature IMHO.

Some of us just feel there is an added plus to using the equipment of yesteryear. NONE of my 6  bows were made in the last two, (oops, oh my!) THREE decades. My "newest" is a pair of 1972 Shakespeare Root Brushmasters.

I'll bet the ranch some of YOU will one day take that route yourselves.

New blood will bring different ideas to our sport, as it has for a millenium.  If it's GOOD FOR YOU...is your choice, regardless of mine.

Keep em sharp and pick a spot!

God Bless.

How many have used that flashlight gadget thing for getting to your tree stand, finding wounded game or getting out of the woods at dark? I also have a gadget that I call a truck that gets me from here to there and another called a game cart that gets dead animals from here to there. When Laura and I hunt our new property we have a gadget called a canoe in which we put other gadgets like quivers, back packs, safety ropes, tree stands and all sorts of other gadgets we feel make us hunt better and more sucessfully. We also find those little "bright eyes" tacks to be very helpful getting to and from out stands in the dark. I'm not trying to make an arguement here, however, I see lots of threads with trail cam pics, salt licks, wind indicators, KME sharpeners,  new quivers, string silencers, gps units, on line topo maps and aerial photos.  All these things and lots of others are gadgets we use to help us in the field. To say that a lighted nock is an electronic aide is simply silly (unless your flashlight is also an electronic aide, or your cell phone or two way radio) when all of us are on this site using computers and trail cams, etc.,  and then take our cell phones or cameras with us to take photos while we are sitting in our stands. To me, gadgets that are useful and serve a function are welcome. I keep a lot of them in that gadget I call a back pack.

As long as  something is legal and it suits our needs we all have choices to make when we step into the field in regards to those items we use. Lighted nocks are here to stay and I, for one, have found them to be invaluable in game recovery situations where I have to make a decision to back out and come back or not.

QuoteOriginally posted by Bill Carlsen:
How many have used that flashlight gadget thing for getting to your tree stand, finding wounded game or getting out of the woods at dark? I also have a gadget that I call a truck that gets me from here to there and another called a game cart that gets dead animals from here to there. When Laura and I hunt our new property we have a gadget called a canoe in which we put other gadgets like quivers, back packs, safety ropes, tree stands and all sorts of other gadgets we feel make us hunt better and more sucessfully. We also find those little "bright eyes" tacks to be very helpful getting to and from out stands in the dark. I'm not trying to make an arguement here, however, I see lots of thread, particularly on this site,  with trail cam pics, salt licks, wind indicators, KME sharpeners,  new quivers, string silencers, gps units, on line topo maps and aerial photos.  All these things and lots of others are gadgets we use to help us in the field. To say that a lighted nock is an electronic aide is simply silly (unless your flashlight is also an electronic aide, or your cell phone or two way radio) when all of us are on this site using computers and trail cams, etc.,  and then take our cell phones or cameras with us to take photos while we are sitting in our stands. To me, gadgets that are useful and serve a function are welcome. I keep a lot of them in that gadget I call a back pack.

As long as  something is legal and it suits our needs we all have choices to make when we step into the field in regards to those items we use. Lighted nocks are here to stay and I, for one, have found them to be invaluable in game recovery situations where I have to make a decision to back out and come back or not.

How many have used that flashlight gadget thing for getting to your tree stand, finding wounded game or getting out of the woods at dark? I also have a gadget that I call a truck that gets me from here to there and another called a game cart that gets dead animals from here to there. When Laura and I hunt our new property we have a gadget called a canoe in which we put other gadgets like quivers, back packs, safety ropes, tree stands and all sorts of other gadgets we feel make us hunt better and more sucessfully. We also find those little "bright eyes" tacks to be very helpful getting to and from out stands in the dark. I'm not trying to make an arguement here, however, I see lots of threads with trail cam pics, salt licks, wind indicators, KME sharpeners,  new quivers, string silencers, gps units, on line topo maps and aerial photos.  All these things and lots of others are gadgets we use to help us in the field. To say that a lighted nock is an electronic aide is simply silly when all of us are on this site using computers and trail cams and then take our cell phones or cameras with us to take photos while we are sitting in our stands. To me, gadgets that are useful and serve a function are welcome. I keep a lot of them in another gadget I call a back pack.

Ooopsss! I guess I over edited my first response....sorry.

I use them , whether you hunt with them or not, you can't argue the fact that they really help in bareshaft tuning as you can see the nock all the way to the target and get a great tune on your bow by using these things.
It is illegal to hunt with them here in Colorado but I use them on out of state hunts.  The way I look at it, it in no way helps me or gives me an advantage in hitting the animal, only in seeing where the arrow hit, and how best to follow up the hit animal.

It does however, makes me laugh when some people start soapboxing about stuff like this, and then in another thread, you hear them bragging about their new bow with foam core limbs and carbon backings!      
Now don't get me wrong, I am in NO way bashing the new technology that is foam cores and carbon backs or even carbon arrows (I happen to like all of these). It just seems pretty funny to me when people will accept these things, and not something like a lighted nock.

 
To each his own....

Well said Bill!   :thumbsup:

I started using them last year. $25 BH, $10 arrow. Saved me $120 in Texas on retrieved arrows alone. After that it got to be fun to what the arrow in flight in low light conditions... It has not made me any better of a shot, and I don't see anymore deer than I did before. I do get most all arrows back now and not in the farmers tires. As Paul Brunner said one time or close it, I didn't make up any of the Trad laws, there fore they don't apply to me...I'm sure you won't got to hell for shooting a lighted nock  :bigsmyl:

I haven't hunted with them.  I'd still like to be able to enter my animals into P&Y or Compton.  I wonder if I painted my nocks w/ glow in the dark paint if that would be illegal?  I do put a stip of reflective tape or even use a reflective wrap to help me find arrows in the dark.  I like to shoot an arrow or two when I get set up in the afternoons. I do use them as a tuning aid and shoot 3D with them at times.  I just LOVE to watch arrows fly, and shooting a lighted nock at a LONG taget is just a beautiful thing.  I make my own with the bobber lights.

How many electronic aids haven't worked when you needed them?  That truck ever leave you on the side of the road?  

Elitism is a bad thing, and tossing technology out of some sense of superiority is pretty silly.  The other side of the coin is the more stuff you rely on, the higher your chances of rolling snake eyes when you need things to go right.

SteveO, did you get the instructions for making your own off of ****? I did, but haven't made any yet. Was wondering how they work and if anyone using that type are happy with them.

"I didn't make up any of the trad laws.  Therefore, they don't apply to me."

Classic!

A lighted nock that does not light is not a deal breaker.It does not change the arrow flight or impact point in any way if it is not lit up.Electronics can not fail you on such an item as this

The cost is high but when you recover one arrow or one deer you would not have otherwise it pays for itself pretty quick.Since I can use the same arrows 2 or 3 years the cost means nothing.I don't go out with a dozen arrows with lighted nocks.No reason for it.A couple in the quiver for the last light,early morning and cloudy days is enough.

I find it baffling that so much is put into trying to get a broadhead that makes up for our mistakes and I see so much rejection for an item that's only benifit is recoverying an animal after the shot.  :confused:  

Yeah I did not make trad rules either.I just like to come home with what I kill.A lighted nock will help make that possible sooner or later.  :)

I don't think this falls under any rules as I'm not aware of any rules but some hunters don't want any electronic devices on bows or arrows as it is more in keeping with what we are doing here.

I feel it is a personal line in the sand we each must decide to draw or ignore.  No rules apply here, just choices.

thanks for the opinions    :thumbsup:

I tie a small amount of fir shavings to my hand carved nocks with a small piece on sinew.  Then I light the shavings by striking a couple of pieces of flint together just before the shot.
Only reservation I have is that some game laws prevent the use of fire when hunting.

I have not used them however while filming a hunt in Africa I watched a kudu that was shot with one and it was no doubt where the animal was hit. interesting enough as the animal ran off the arrow was pulled out by some brush and the arrow was actually lodged about 4 feet off the ground. had it not been for the lighted nock the arrow would have never been recovered.

it's hard to single out any one piece of equipment as bad or good for traditional archery/hunting. I am blessed to have good eye sight and have no trouble seeing my 180-200 fps arrows in flight, however I don't feel I can judge the next fellow if a lighted nock aids in seeing the flight of his/her arrow as well as the impact on game.

For the most part bowhunting, especially with traditional gear, is an individual pursuit. We each must make the choices in our equipment that we feel is not only ethical but will help make us better hunters. If using carbon shafts, lighted nocks, gps or any number of other products gives one the confidence to make clean kills on game then I say forget what anyone else says and do what feels right to you.

I don't enter the woods before daylight and think to myself, "I sure hope all Trad Hunters approve of how, why and with whom I'm hunting today". I enter the woods to satisfy a desire in me to enjoy nature with the hopes of tagging what ever critter it is I'm after. I hunt ethically and don't do things that would shed a bad light on not only traditional bowhunters, but all hunters.  Who am I to judge how and with what someone else chooses to hunt.

QuoteOriginally posted by Red Boar:
I sure enjoy seeing them fly on Buff's videos.     :D  

X2!

I rarely hunt with them (unless I am hunting hogs at night) but they are a great training tool.

You can learn a lot about your arrow's tuning, flight trajectory, and your own form from shooting with one at night.

Mr. Wrenn is right on.  If for some reason the lighted nock doesn't work who cares. (other than you paid a lot for it and it should work properly)
If it doesn't light then your just back to the regular way of visually tracking where the arrrow hits. Worrying about some new fangled piece of technology failing you at a ctitical time doesn't seem to be an issue with in this case.  I totally subscribe to the KISS principle, but lighted nocks don't make anything more complicated.
My bigger concern is that it might tempt people to take marginal or even illegal low light shots at game.

It is irresponsible to shoot in lighting conditions that are so low that accuracy  becomes an issue due to poor visibility. However, I leave the woods when I reach my personal threshold for that situation....even if it is still "legal" hunting time.  However, once the sun goes down shadows start to creep in and the whole sight picture thing starts to change and whether I like it or not shooting arrows with white or chartruse fletching is not always easy to follow in those circumstances. And if a nock fails to light on occaision I still have made the same shot...hit or miss....but I do  not have the same information that I would have had if the nock worked properly. (Reasons for nocks not lighting are often due to the nock fitting on the string too tightly or improper fit into the shaft).  I have also had it happen to me twice on deer when I would under or over shoot. Both times the deer would scamper a few yards and come back to eat the apples under the apple tree and totally disregard the glowing nock. Turkeys often react to the lighted nock with a peculiar sense of curiosity and I have had them actually surround the arrow and look at it like it was some sort of iridescent insect. Lots of gadgets are just that....gadgets that offer as many disadvantages as advantages. Unreliable gadgets get the heave ho. Lighted nocks do not take up any more room, make no noise and if they fail to work properly no harm is done. When I have the time I like to tinker and sometimes come up with a gadget or improve on one that makes my quest a little easier or improves on the performance of my equipment. There are numerous threads on this site all the time in regards to such pursuits...we even have a "HOW TO" forum....just to keep things simple, I suppose. I love my lighted nocks and hope that as time goes on they are improved upon.

For those that already shoot lighted nocks, or are thinking about trying them, I have found that the brand lumenock are not as dependable and alot more fragile than some other brands such as carbon express' version which uses a different means of activation. These are more reliable and much more durable.
This same design can be homemade VERY easily by just searching the internet for 'lighted nock'.
You can make one for about $2.00 compared to $10.00 for a store bought one.