Stupid question

[Gtownviking]

Just read an article in Trad Bow mag and it made a statement that illuminated nocks are illegal in some states. It's been a long week for me but I honestly cannot see why they would be made illegal.  Anyone care to enlighten me why a state would make them illegal?

[Andrew Wesley]

the way some states have it written in their rules is
"It is unlawful to have any electrical
equipment or electric device(s) attached to
the bow or arrow while hunting."

that comes from Washington States hunting regs.

not that it matters to me. over here in Germany there is NO ARCHERY hunting. PERIOD.
the bunny lovers say it is cruel to shoot an animal with anything that produces less than 2000 joules of force at 100 meters. be thankful your in the States and can hunt at all.

[gudspelr]

Yup-illegal in Idaho, too.

[nd chickenman]

Its not that they were made illegal, the laws were written before the nocks were invented. Some states are amending their laws to make them legal

[LA Trapper]

Thanks for the perspective gudspeir.  It is easy to forget not all things/countries have the same values.

Billy

[Bowwild]

Some states also mimic, because of influence from their state bowhunter association, Pope & Young rules.  Many of the bowhunters in the state bowhunting organizations are traditional archers and have quite a lot of influence with their state FW agencies.  In fact, in many state NO other deer hunter organization is as active in law making as these bowhunters are.

Now, the "reason" for the prohibitions is simply a line in the sand against certain types of technological advances. For example, trail cameras are ok with Pope & Young but the ones that transmit via the web instant pictures aren't.

All of this is of course hair splitting and sometimes gets pretty silly.

[joe ashton]

yes illegal in Colorado too.         Our law is written like Washingtons. I think the lumin nock is an unintended consequence  of the rules..

[Bill Carlsen]

Silly....but true.

[lpcjon2]

My thought on lighted nock's is if its that dark that you cant see your arrow then maybe it's to dark to shoot, And your range estimate may be off.

[Buckeye Trad Hunter]

Originally posted by Andrew Wesley:
the way some states have it written in their rules is
"It is unlawful to have any electrical
equipment or electric device(s) attached to
the bow or arrow while hunting."

that comes from Washington States hunting regs.

not that it matters to me. over here in Germany there is NO ARCHERY hunting. PERIOD.
the bunny lovers say it is cruel to shoot an animal with anything that produces less than 2000 joules of force at 100 meters. be thankful your in the States and can hunt at all.

Or anything that is capable of projecting light is illegal in some states.  That is what gets you in these states is the fact that while not creating a beam of light to spotlight it still projects light.

[hitman]

I sure do feel bad for you Andrew and all of the others countries that cannot hunt. We are truly blessed ans we need to hold together on all of our hunting rights or we too will be in the same shape. God bless America and those that fight to keep our freedoms.