It’s been a long time coming, but it finally happened. Idaho bowhunters will finally be allowed to use lighted nocks and mechanical broadheads for the fall season of 2022.
On March 7, Idaho Governor, Brad Little, signed House Bill 507 into law, which allows Idaho archers to use lighted nocks and mechanical broadheads in upcoming hunting seasons.
The rule change takes affect July 1, making Idaho the last state in the nation to accept the use of these archery accessories.
“We applaud Idaho for accepting the use of lighted nocks and expandable broadheads,” says Dan Forster, ATA’s vice president and chief conservation officer. “The decision makes the use of these accessories consistent across the country, meaning archers now have fewer things to worry about when trying to comply with regulatory complexities while hunting in Idaho. They can use lighted nocks and expandable broadheads legally wherever they bowhunt in the United States.”
Why is the change good for the bowhunting community?
The ATA says the change gives Idaho bowhunters more equipment choices and may increase their odds of recovering wounded animals because lighted nocks help archers locate their arrows, while mechanical broadheads often create larger entry and exit holes that make tracking animals easier.
Critics of the change held on to traditional standards of equipment from the past. For many years, the state shunned the use of these modern gear items for one reason or another. However, the state has finally acknowledged the benefit of having such gear available to bowhunters, without delivering any unfair advantages to the hunter. It’s a good move by the state of Idaho for its hunting community.
