Lighted nocks

[gtsticker]

Is there a danger of deer seeing lighted knocks out of a longbow? Especially at distances of 20 yrds or slightly more? Have you had any issues?

[speck1]

I have been shooting nocturnals out of my recurve and longbow. Doesn't seem to bother the deer at all. I know this because I have missed all three times. Nocturnal sure is pretty when it flys by them. First two shots went right over their back so last weekend I aimed low on a great buck and went right under him. Pretty cool when you actually hit one and you can watch your nock run thru the woods.

[Bisch]

I do think lighted nocks are cool, but just can't see putting another $10 into an already very expensive arrow! I have tried them, but have not shot any critters with them. Of the ones I have tried, the nockturnal is by far the most reliable.

Bisch

[Featherflinger]

I've been using Nocturnals for several years. I don't believe it causes them to react any different at all. They are going to react to the sound of your bow out of instinct. I would be willing to bet the glowing nock coming at them doesn't make one bit of difference.

[M.E.B.]

I am thinking that since the nock is located on the back of the arrow they don't notice it much but I normally only shoot whitetails at about 12 yds or less. They are sure cool to watch in flight.

My thinking is the direct opposite of Bisch's. I figure if I have a lighted nock on the arrow I have a greater chance of finding the expensive arrow. I have left broken nocturnals on and they burn for a long long time. So even if you use one in the morning and don't find it you can go back at night.

I use florescent wraps on my fletched end. I also put a strip of florescent wrap behind my broadhead. That way in case the arrow gets broken it makes it easier to find the broadhead for expense and tracking purposes.

And I fully agree with Bisch Nocturnals are by for the best lighted nock. A tip is to put some bowstring wax in the off/on switch hole. If you do not do this on a pass through blood will get into the switch and ruin it.

[RickBarbee]

I do think lighted nocks are cool, but just can't see putting another $10 into an already very expensive arrow! I have tried them, but have not shot any critters with them. Of the ones I have tried, the nockturnal is by far the most reliable.

Bisch

Same here.

I like to play with them, and do trick shots with them, but I have never had an arrow stay in an animal with one, so it didn't help any to recover the animal.
It did help me find the arrow in the dark, so that was a plus, but I would have found it anyway.

I build my own anyway, so it's not like they cost me much.

Rick

[M.E.B.]

Not only do they help in arrow recovery but they also help to let you know where you hit the animal.

I like them a lot. You don't have to have a quiver full of them. One will do. You can always use it on another arrow if that one breaks.

[wat1352]

I think the sound would affect a deer more than anything. Just my personal opinion. I've used lighted nocks for a while and think they help with judging the hit and estimating how long you should let a deer lay before tracking.

[Jmsck12]

Recovering arrows is easier with them but effecting the deer I don't think it matters when they get hit by a broad head

[SwampRabbit]

I shoot them. I find them helpful in recovering my arrow, which helps you determine the type of hit.

[bloodstick]

I don't really have a dog in this fight as i don't shoot a longbow.
However, i do use nockturnals and have yet to have one stay lit after hitting an animal. They all turn off for some reason.
Just my 2 cents

[Retsbew]

I've never seen a need or had any attraction for battery-powered arrows/lighted bow sights when bowhunting (even with my compound 25 years ago), and it seems even more bizarre when a 'simple stick and string' is the gear of choice. Aside from the pickles and ice cream aspect I have to think that deer approaching or exiting from the side can indeed see lighted arrows (or any lighted equipment) just as easy as we can under the conditions where lighted arrows would logically be used...i.e. near darkness.

In these parts quitting time is 30 minutes after sunset. At that time of day battery nocks aren't necessary to see where the arrow goes. This assumes the 'spot' on the vitals was visible to begin with...or theoretically the shot wouldn't have been taken at all. As far as finding the arrow, most archery hunting here is done from tree stands and/or in thick cover. If the shot is through the vitals or a complete miss the arrow would generally be sticking at an angle in the ground near where the critter stood, or sticking in a tree/log beyond the critter...fairly easy to find. If the arrow is still in the critter (poor penetration) the nock normally wouldn't be visible for very long since the animal will disappear quickly in cover and a hanging arrow would soon be knocked out by trees/brush, offering little to no tracking advantage.

Speaking of tracking, blinking nocks can't replace the need for this skill. No matter how much we'd like to shortcut the odds and make it easy there's just no substitute for well-placed shots and basic woodsmanship, especially if hunting late in the day in thick/unfamiliar cover.

Aside from a good flashlight or Coleman lantern I don't see the value of glowing hunting gear.

[speck1]

I video all my shots in slow motion. Very difficult to see the arrow without the nocturnal. Really helps arrow recovery as well.https://vimeo.com/148398329

[stykshooter]

Don't think that WT react to the light. Personally I love them especially late & early mornings, eye's aren't what they use to be, of course don't like loosing an expensive arrow either.

[M.E.B.]

I don't really have a dog in this fight as i don't shoot a longbow.
However, i do use nockturnals and have yet to have one stay lit after hitting an animal. They all turn off for some reason.
Just my 2 cents

I have never had that problem. If the shots were complete pass throughs I would recomend as I did above in sealing the switch hole with bow string wax to keep the blood from shorting the light out.