Does anyone use a lighted nock? Can they be used with traditional?
They can be, but they are also illegal to use while hunting in some states
I love them for hunting in low light conditions. They give you a lot of information and leave a lot of guess work out of what you should do on a hit you are not sure of.
I had to go to Atlanta today and we stopped off at Bass Pro to kill some time. I bought a single Nockturnal lighted nock to see what they are like. Never used one before. We'll see!
I use them all the time. Just plain fun.
Just bought one for my CX250's. Pretty cool to watch arrow flight. At ten bucks a piece I think one is enough.
Nockturnals are pretty good!
I will not hunt without them anymore. Great for tuning as well, if you are visionally challenged like me- you can really observe the flight of your arrow.
as for traditional- have to be used in carbon shafts or aluminums with uni-nocks I believe.
QuoteOriginally posted by TxAg:
Nockturnals are pretty good!
Thanks for the info Jeff! I was hoping I made the right choice!! :thumbsup:
Oh yeah they are cool watching them dissapear into a deer. Even more they are great when tuning. Your eye can see what the arrow is doing to whole way to the target. Ive used three different kinds and I really like the Carbon Express Lazer eye nocks.
(http://i.imgur.com/QRQ2i.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/zTw3S.jpg)
Sure they can be used with trad gear. Nockturnal have proven to be more reliable in my experience too. Besides their hunting application they're a lot of fun to practice with.
Nockturnals are the best I have personally seen.
I used them for the first time this year. I like them a lot.
Some may not consider them to be traditional but as all have said above great to watch in flight and dissapearing into your game.
And great for vision impaired hunters as my son is"my tracker" work wonders,can be seen for quite some distance at dark.
Will not hunt without them again. :thumbsup:
Cant use them in Colorado to hunt but they are fun to play with. :thumbsup:
I think they're great. Tried them this past year and loved what I learned about my shots. I know it doesn't seem "traditional", but its nothing more than a visual reference. IMO a big plus when you shoot at an animal. I'd put one on a woodie.
I love them! They Do Not help you make the shot but they help you to know what happened. If your arrow stays with the animal and falls out 50 yards after the shot it shortens the time to locate the blood trial.
Nockturnals are my favorites at this time
(http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee98/Benjy45/TradGang/DSC06195-1.jpg)
(http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee98/Benjy45/TradGang/DSC06194-1.jpg)
Hi All,
These are just a glue on, or what......?
QuoteOriginally posted by Teacher_of_the_Arcane:
Hi All,
These are just a glue on, or what......?
The ones I've had experience with are just like a normal plastic nock that you'd stick in a carbon arrow. They way they "light up" is based on which manufacturer you go with.
There is also a pretty easy way to make your own using standard nocks and fishing thill lights.
Only bad news about Nockturnals is they might get a little more expensive....
http://www.bowhunting.com/publisher/Hunting-News/2012/1/12/Rage-Outdoors-Acquires-Nockturnal-Lighted-Nocks
I think they are great though my previous experience with them was not so good. I fooled with them 6-7 years ago. The ones I had were Burnt Coyote (or something like that). I just couldn't get them to work reliably. I am sure they are better now. My main reason for getting them was a number of deer shot in my hunting camp one year that were either never recovered or took way too much effort. In every case the hunter swore they made a good shot but in reality they did not. The problem is in low light situations you loose track of your arrow, deer jumps your string, etc. with a lighted nock you have a much better clue as to how lethal you shot was. So to me it's not a traditional/non traditional argument. It's really a more ethical way to hunt since it can be a great help in finding your downed animal. It's a shame states like Colorado don't allow them as they in no way aid your shooting ability.
I got some last year but didnt get a shot to you them.
Most of my shots have been in the last 15 legal minutes of shooting light.
So they should be helpful in locating the arrow when I miss.
When I hunt wild boar i expect to see them at the really last min of shooting light ,so if you wait to track them it is already dark.I had great success in tracking finding and knowing the shoot placement with the Nocturnal,far better that the Luminox I used before.It is a great help when hunting,and it can't be considered a shooting aid,but rather a recovery tool.Plus they are great to help you in the tuning.
I'm sorta conflicted on them. I get it, that it's neet to see the arrow like that, and if it helps someone retrieve a game animal, well thats a good thing.
I don't like the idea of using something electronic on a bow, however. I also don't like the possibility of these being used illegaly, after hours. I won't be using them.
I hunted with a guy who had an early version of them once. They didn't work all that well.
I have used small pieces of reflective tape on the nock end to aid in after dark arrow recovery.
Roger: Lightted nocks are nothing more than a more visible arrow, only better.
You can't enter any animal in Pope and Young with them if that is important to you.
QuoteOriginally posted by Bill Carlsen:
Roger: Lightted nocks are nothing more than a more visible arrow, only better.
I don't have a great argument against that statement. I like an arrow that you can see....like I said, I'm conflicted because it is "electronic".
In my opinion the P&Y club needs to revisit the "electronic rule" concerning arrow nocks. I think the original rule was meant to prohibit electronic guidance of an arrow and a nock doesn't do that.
Three words. Nocturnal, LOVE THEM
Really like the nocturnals, have had them turn on on my draw a couple of times, think it cost me a turkey or two.. but liked not having to hunt for my arrow after shooting a deer at night. Todd
Used them for many years and love them. Especially when it comes to filming your hunts, you can really see the arrow flight on the playback or editing of the video. I have used many and my favorite is "Lumenok" by burt coyote they seem to work the best for me.
Though I have no experience with them, I see you can make your own at a fraction of the cost. Check out the well known home videos/DIY site.
Dan
I just purchased some Nockturnals and I tested them out last night. They are pretty cool, but a little tricky to turn off. It really helps you watch the action of your arrow! They are quite illuminating about your arrow flight.
I plan on using them for hunting.
I have some misgivings about the idea of electronics and batteries and such attached to my bow or arrow...and I am usually not a fan of "gizmos" but it seems like the benefits far outweigh the negatives.
I need to adjust them so they fit the same as my normal nocks though.
The controversy over lighted nocks has gotten rather heated and divisive here in Washington as well as other states. They are illegal in WA, however the state Fish and Game conducted a survey among 3,800 bowhunters and the results are not too surprising.
•86 percent favored the use of lighted nocks,
•10 percent said no lighted nocks should be allowed,
•4 percent were undecided.
It seems the loudest objection is coming from the state's traditional archers.
Most of the Western states ban them (WA, OR, ID, MT, CO), however North Dakota reversed itself recently and allows them.
I agree that Pope and Young will most likely visit this issue again and remove the ban.
I don't own or use them for any reason, but I can see the argument for their use.
I hunt with and love Nockturnal's if for no other reason they do look really cool!
The only thing I use now is the lumenocks. They work well in every situation I have used them in. Their weakness lies in the fact that if the arrow strikes something hard and the nock bows out or loosens. The light goes off.
Tracer nocks by Easton are sketchy with the need for a magnet to illuminate the nock. If it doesn't swipe over the magnet, it's going to be a dark arrow flight. They do blink after a few moments which aids in location.
Haven't used the carbon express or nocturnals.
I love shooting lighted nocks. They are very helpful in tuning and will definitely show you if you have a bad release.
Nothing lets you see your arrow fly like a lighted nock. I LOVE seeing my arrows fly!
I think after last week I will start hunting with them. For some reason I wanted to put one more animal into P&Y and Compton. Can't do that with a lighted nock on your arrow.
I really like them when hunting from ground blinds to help find arrows(that seam to snake under the grass ) and in the dark
I'm with bansheewins on this one. Even though I'm new to trad, my experience with lighted nocks has been good for a couple of reasons. First, if you enjoy videotaping hunts, lighted nocks are a fantastic aid to following the arrow. Second, and perhaps of some importance to all bowhunters, if you have clear evidence of where your arrow hit as a result of reviewing video of a "marginal hit," you may have a little better idea how quickly to follow up on the shot.
Probably not trad in my opinion. That said, I may still use them. (ditching 65% let-off, front sights, peep sights, and mechanical release was enough, right? ;)
Kingsnake
Nocturnals in my opinion are the absolute best retail version of the lighted nocks.
I prefer to build my own. A lot less expensive, and work just as good.
Here's how I build mine:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8SWVlkyt8Y
Rick
WOW, not how I imagined this thread to go, I'm all for legalizing them in my state, however, I don't plan on using them simply because of the cost of them, it's already an expensive proposition loosing an arrow, I realize they might be easier to find, still makes an arrow more expensive than I want it to be and who knows, I might get a book eligible animal some day:) not likely, but sometimes the simple minded bucks and bulls get big antlers too:)
QuoteOriginally posted by SaltyDawg:
Nocturnals in my opinion are the absolute best retail version of the lighted nocks.
I prefer to build my own. A lot less expensive, and work just as good.
Here's how I build mine:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8SWVlkyt8Y
Rick
Where do you get the Rod n Bob Thill light from?
QuoteWhere do you get the Rod n Bob Thill light from?
I usually get mine at Academy Sports, but I'm sure other sporting good stores like Cabelas, Bass Pro, and some others carry them. Think I remember picking some up at Walmart once also.
Rick
have a link,so i can see the package?
http://www.rod-n-bobbs.com/index.php?page=prodList&by=type&by_id=BatteryLights
Thanks for all the helpful comments:
Can anyone please give experience based information about arrow tuning with the added weight of the these much heavier nocks on the back of the arrow, please?
My rule-of-thumb is that adding weight to the back of an otherwise correctly tuned arrow requires four times as much weight to be added to the front. Maybe the broadhead will have to be stepped-up 25 -50 grains? Thanks.
Kevin
QuoteOriginally posted by Brandywine:
Thanks for all the helpful comments:
Can anyone please give experience based information about arrow tuning with the added weight of the these much heavier nocks on the back of the arrow, please?
My rule-of-thumb is that adding weight to the back of an otherwise correctly tuned arrow requires four times as much weight to be added to the front. Maybe the broadhead will have to be stepped-up 25 -50 grains? Thanks.
Kevin
That is the 64 million dollar question, I wouldn't imagine it to change the tune to that much. Probably variable by a factor determined by how much FOC you have. If I can remember I'll plug some numbers into my archery software tonight after work and see what shakes out.
Firenocks! Gravity switch ...longer battery life and about 50 more colors than Nocturnal Simple to cut off unlike Nockturnal
Brandywine,
I get accused of tinkering too much but I have fun. Because I shoot the lighted nocks so much. I use hot melt glue and add split shot to my regular nocks to get then the same weight as my lighted nocks and then tune everything.
QuoteOriginally posted by Brandywine:
Thanks for all the helpful comments:
Can anyone please give experience based information about arrow tuning with the added weight of the these much heavier nocks on the back of the arrow, please?
My rule-of-thumb is that adding weight to the back of an otherwise correctly tuned arrow requires four times as much weight to be added to the front. Maybe the broadhead will have to be stepped-up 25 -50 grains? Thanks.
Kevin
The nockturnals i used weighed 20 gr vs a normal 10 gr nock. No difference
I've never used them. I attempted once but I couldn't get em to work. I can't even remember what brand they were. I'm sure it wasn't the one most recommended above.
If I used them I would only nock when I was about to shoot a Doe. I realize the opening I'm affording Murphy and his law.
As a PY Measurer I wouldn't use one on a record-class critter.
I've used the Carbon Express ones, the Lumenocks, and the Nockturnals. The nockturnals have proven far more durable and more reliable and MUCH longer lasting for me. I won't use the other kinds I mentioned any more.
Tuning was mentioned -- I know for me, I shoot heavy FOC, as do many of us in the trad world. If you have super heavy front loading arrows, an 8 to 10 grain increase on the back shouldn't matter. I like them alot ...haven't lost an arrow since using them.
Use them for tuning and hunting both
earlier this week I ordered some "after burn" lighted nocks, gonna try them out this summer on some wild hogs. I use a cat quiver and most of the lighted nocks would "turn on" in this type of quiver from pressure on the nocks. If I read correctly the "After Burn" nocks have a switch in the nock groove it lights up from string pressure at the shot.
hmmmmm....
if battery powered glowing nocks fit into traditional bowhunting...what doesn't?
joe
I'm working on a magnetic-switch led full-draw indicator. Goes from red...to yellow...to green.
Haters will hate.
yes, i suppose they will.
but are thinkers allowed to think?
joe
I try not to think about tradition when I'm hunting with my cell phone in my pocket,thermocell on, super bright flashlight in my pack for blood trailing and wearing gortex lined boots or rubber knee boots. but when I do think about it I just hope I have enough gas in the thermocell to last the whole hunt.. I tried the red lighted nocks today about 1/2 hour before dark.. they are bright. I don't see them as an advandage in shooting but can see how it may help in finding game. many times right at dark I have had a group of hogs feeding all arround me, I make the shot and hogs run everywhere and I loose track of the one I just shot, I often hear it pile up and give the death squeal but not always. I don't always get a pass thru or a good blood trail either, I think these lighted nocks may help me recover the hogs faster, faster is better when it's 90 degrees out.
QuoteOriginally posted by Robertfishes:
I try not to think about tradition when I'm hunting with my cell phone in my pocket,thermocell on, super bright flashlight in my pack for blood trailing and wearing gortex lined boots or rubber knee boots. but when I do think about it I just hope I have enough gas in the thermocell to last the whole hunt.. I tried the red lighted nocks today about 1/2 hour before dark.. they are bright. I don't see them as an advandage in shooting but can see how it may help in finding game. many times right at dark I have had a group of hogs feeding all arround me, I make the shot and hogs run everywhere and I loose track of the one I just shot, I often hear it pile up and give the death squeal but not always. I don't always get a pass thru or a good blood trail either, I think these lighted nocks may help me recover the hogs faster, faster is better when it's 90 degrees out.
Bingo!
robertfishes-
perfectly valid thoughts.
but plastic vanes are better in the rain...risers cut beyond centershot are more forgiving...ditto with spring-loaded plungers...80% letoffs allow a man to hold longer and shoot a bow which hits harder...a sight with a laser rangefinder makes for surer hits at long range...
...and on and on.
all i'm saying is that of ALL the things i just mentioned, i consider lighted, nocks, along with the laser rangefinder, the farthest from traditional.
no personal affront, and certainly no hate, intended.
carry on!
joe
Neither did I see hate, although there are people in this world who interpret "we disagree" as hatred. Plenty of room for all schools of thought...and thinkers! ;-)
I was thinking when I posted that. I was thinking oh man here we go again in turning a simple question this guy had about lighted nocks into a "Are they traditional or not" thread.
:deadhorse: :deadhorse: :deadhorse:
If you don't like lighted nocks I think you are a hater of lighted nocks. The way I took his question is, was it possible to use them on our arrows? If that isn't his intent I stand down. If it is then lets not turn it into a trad or not trad thread because in my opinion if you don't make your bows, knap your heads and tie your hand made turkey feather to your hand selected shafts of river cane with sinew from a dead carcus you aren't "Traditional".
The original poster's question was extremely open-ended and could be interpreted in any number of contexts. It could have been meant as "physically possible(?)" or "philosophically acceptable(?)".
I'm not so black and white that something not liked or used...means it is hated. I can completely disagree with a man. I can absolutely disagree with a device. I can totally do both without hatred.
I agree with you TJ on the topic of "traditional". We long ago passed the point of being fully traditional...and it's not an adjective or title that I apply to myself. I'm just a bowhunter.
uh...wow! got it, tj!
carry on!
joe
i just made some up like rick showed on u-tube and they seem to work great, i might get a little video of them about sundown and showem off. ive bought them before and used them on and off over the years but i allways loose them somehow or another. they are fun to watch!
they defenetly dont improve my hunting.
Here's a lighted nock kill from yesterday afternoon!
The shot was in a field of clover and grasses that were about 12" tall. The shot was at 15 yards and at low light. I thought I had shot under her. I never lost sight of the arrow and immediatly when I got to my arrow I could see I did not miss. I would never have found this arrow in the dark in this field. Also this means that I did not leave a broadhead in the field to cut my buddies tractor tire!
Also, FYI the nock did not help me make the shot but it did help me find my arrow so I could determine what to do next.
Here is the story if you are interested.
http://tradgang.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=117671
The point is NON OF US is truely Traditional>>-->
unless we carve our bows from only wood and animal parts,flax/bees wax for string, arrows from flint wood, sap and feathers and only put on animal skins or wool. With that said everyone has the RIGHT to decide How trad. they want to get. AS LONG AS IT'S LEAGLE AND SAFE live and let live. The antis are trying to destory our sport :banghead: we don't need to fight each other , thus helping them. I hunt with carbon arrows, steel broadheads, d97 string and a Laminated recurve(Blacktail)But I'm trad. and some times use Lighted and other times unlighted plastic nocks :archer2:
ok. this has been bothering me, but i think i have figured it out.
see, i couldn't pursue my 1st hunting love, archery, for over 30 years, and then, several months ago, a guy showed me i could.
so i've been away. not from hunting, but from my beloved bow.
then i find y'all, and i'm pretty happy. brothers.
then i see a thread on a techno-gizzie, and i question its "tradness".
see, i didn't know y'all had been through all this a
hundred times before.
i now understand...if i'm not interested in lighted nocks, i don't post on the "lighted nocks" thread.
it's how y'all get along. and it seems to work very well.
i'm a slow learner, but i'm a learner.
thanks for your kind patience.
joe