I’ve started using them now that I’m living in the Midwest, and absolutely love them for out here. I’m generally shooting into thick cover or a row crop field out here, and the chances of recovering an arrow in tall vegetation is almost nil without a lighted nock. Out West, I haven’t had much of an issue with arrow recovery.
That said, I did take a bull at dusk very similar to the story above, and that was a life-changing experience for me. I made a slight quartering away shot on a bull in the last few minutes of light, and watched that laser strike him on his side as intended. That said, what I couldn’t see was his offside leg back behind the vitals, and my arrow instantly kicked back out and thankfully the broadhead stuck in my side. I was able to watch my bull kick out of there and run off in the distance before slowing to a walk as he headed back down the hill… the whole time while watching my nock flopping around through my binos as he distanced from me.
In all, my bull ended up dropping out of sight about 125yds from where he was originally hit. Without an exit hole on the far side, my blood trail wasn’t very good, but that nock gave me full confidence in my shot placement. I decided to track him and from about 50yds out I looked up and noticed the leaves all glowing green like I’d placed a homing beacon on that bull. That little nock lit up the whole area and made tracking and recovery a breeze.
Now, I will say that I’ve tried quite a few options and I’d personally stay clear of anything other than Nockturnal. I still don’t trust any lighted Nocks in a G size as the material is simply too thin, and I have made the stupid mistake of trying ebay Nocks only to blow one up and partially dry fire my bow. Even with that recommendation for Nockturnal, I have certainly found some brand new in the package that don’t work… but still find them overall the best option out there
