Actually if you want to prove your point you do need to show at least 1 example of lighted knocks leading to shortened seasons. So far you have provided nothing to back your opinion up.
Its not about just nocks, now for the 12th time.
I might suggest:
OTOH I have. For example I have hunted in 4 states (WY, KS, OK, and NE) who allow the use of crossbows. Since they have been allowed I have not seen any major changes in the season length or structure. I have also not seen any major increase in harvest% which would cause season changes to be necessary. So there are 4 states who have allowed technology and have not had seasons or opportunity lost. That proves my point.
Then you arent paying attention. Just in the last six months Wyoming archery hunters are being asked a lot of questions about their season lengths. They also tried to take 10% of the available quota of all big-game tags and make them archery only (which was soundly defeated). Archery elk hunters in WY are trying to implement more type-9 tags to increase their drawing odds, also being met with fierce opposition. Matter of fact, myself and several other Casper area hunters (archery hunters) testified against increasing type-9 tags at the last Commission meeting. Some of the existing type-9 archery tags are as hard, if not harder to draw, than the type-1 tags. The archery only portion of the bear seasons near Casper were also eliminated. In several conversations I've had with representatives of Bow Hunters of Wyoming, they are really concerned that technology is going to negatively impact archery opportunities in WY. But, hey, what would BOW know about archery related issues (pun there)?
If anything the articles you provided showed that states (Idaho, AZ, Co, and MT) who don't allow some modern technology were having to make changes to seasons while states (OK, KS, NE, and WY) who do allow more technology were not making changes.
I already pointed out that WY has and is continuing to restrict archery only portions of the seasons. MT, AZ, and CO have also seen the same thing due to increases in technology and will see more in the future. MT, ID, AZ and CO do allow lots of new technology, exactly whey they've had to adjust seasons. Just because some states havent had to make changes YET, doesnt mean they wont be seeing some real soon.
P&Y approved them so obviously they figured out that there was no advantage gained by using knocks nor was there any proof that by allowing lighted knocks there would be less opportunity for hunters. If what you say is true a group like P&Y would never approve the use of lighted knocks. But they did so obviously they dont' see them as a threat like you seem to.
Pope and Young has caved to technology and is selling out the intent of the sport. They've lowered their requirements twice in the last decade by allowing 80% letoff, now they allow cameras on the bow and lighted nocks. There is fierce debate amoung the PY leadership, as well as the membership at large, over lighted nocks as well as technology in general. Pope and Young sold its soul to advertising, technology, and industry a long time ago. All they have to do to "approve" of lighted nocks is to fire the old leadership (which they did), and appoint new leadership that have no problem with lighted nocks (which they also did). Politics 101 with ZERO concern for the future of archery, archery seasons or wildlife.
Lets blame the actual factors that contribute to less hunting opportunity and changes to hunting seasons and tags such as increased hunter #'s, EHD, Deer/Elk numbers being down, winter kill, blue tongue, etc and not blame factors such as lighted knocks which clearly have little or nothing to to do with hunting opportunity.
Yeah, lets do that. The reason that archery hunters are losing opportunity is because of technology. As Oak pointed out, as I've pointed out, and several others have as well. Elk numbers are not "down" in any state, and are at much higher populations, and over objective in nearly all of CO, WY, UT, NM, AZ, MT, etc. Yet, we're still seeing more restrictions in season length, choose your weapon, draws instead of OTC opportunities, etc. in all of those states.
I used to be able to shoot up to 6 buck deer of either species in Montana with a bow, could hunt the entire Missouri River breaks with nothing but a general elk tag and archery stamp (when there were wayyy less elk than now), could take nearly unlimited doe whitetails, etc.
Cant do any of that anymore.
The reason more people bowhunt is also a function of the technology that makes it easier and eaiser to shoot mechanical dowel flinging devices.
