Have a question up on HNI and I know there is a pile of IL'rs here too, are lighted nocks Illegal in IL? When I was on my hunt last year in IL, I was told by at least my outfitter that lighted nocks were illegal so I left mine in my truck. I mentioned it in a lighted nock thread on HNI and a fellow IL'r had questioned it as he was unsure too. Can we shed some light on lighted nocks? I now wonder as well as I see many TV "celebs" using them in IL and wonder why they would blatantly break the law, or are they?
Christine, I wonder if that's changed from last year or I got bad information. When I was in IL, I was told by my outfitter and guide that they were not legal. He (the guide) was from PA and said he uses them in PA and thought it was odd that we couldn't use them in IL and wanting to be legal, I left mine in my truck. I wonder if it was an up in the air law or the outfitter and guide made a mistake or had bad information. I erred on the side of caution.
A friend of mine said when he took his hunter safety course the DNR officer/instructor said they were illegal.Something about being able to track the animal when the arrow does not pass through.I think using a lighted nock would help make a quick ethical recovery myself.I can not find anything in the IL 2009 hunting digest about it so I will use them this year.
The rules have always read "no electronic tracking devices attached to arrows"...so it could be misunderstood as lighted nocks...although this rule's intent I believe it pertaining to a device such as GPS or radio sensor that remains in animal and would be located by a handheld tracking device...from what I understand...lighted nocks have always been allowed in IL. Here is the latest I just looked up in IL Hunting Digest...Looks like you're OK: Legal Archery Equipment A long, recurve, or compound bow with a minimum pull of 40 pounds at some point within a 28-inch draw. Minimum arrow length is 20 inches, and broadheads must be used. Broadheads may have fixed or expandable cutting surfaces, but they must have a minimum 7/8 inch diameter when fully opened. Broadheads with fixed cutting surfaces must be metal or flint-, chert-or obsidian-knapped; broadheads with expandable cutting surfaces must be metal. Electronic tracking systems utilizing radio telemetry are illegal. See page 7 for rules regarding the use of crossbows. A crossbow device is illegal except for: a) Permanently disabled persons, as defined by law (520 ILCS 5/2.33), may apply to the IDNR’s Office of Law Enforcement (217/782-6431) for an exemption to allow the use of a crossbow (a physician’s certification is required); or b) Persons age 62 and older may hunt with use of crossbow without first obtaining a crossbow permit. A valid photo i.d. with proof of age must be carried by persons age 62 and older.
Yep, they've always been legal. I'm constantly amazed at the amount of bad information being given by all sorts of people who should know better.
I agree with that! I would have loved to have used it when I took my 2 shots in IL. Not that it would have helped me miss that monster but it would have let me track the shot I made on the 8 I brought home.
