In the last few years lighted nocks for arrows have become very popular and much more reliable than they were when they first came out a few years ago. I personally use them on my hunting arrows so I have a better idea where I hit an animal, which gives me instant feedback on whether I made a perfect or less than perfect hit. Let’s take a look at a few of the different lighted nocks on the market.   Easton archery bought out Tracer nocks a couple years ago and made some improvements on an already very well designed nock. The Tracer nock is activated by a magnet that you attach to your riser shelf. When the arrow passes by the magnet the nock lights up for 30 seconds and then goes into a blinking mode to conserve battery life. The nocks battery life is rated for 90 hours; however, once you have a few hours of use you will notice they aren’t as bright. This isn’t a big concern if you are using them mostly for hunting and you usually don’t shoot too often. Another brand of lighted nocks is the Lumenock which differs from the Tracer nocks magnetic activation. The Lumenok is the most popular lighted nock on the market and simply turns on by the force of the arrow being shot.  The simplicity of its design and operation make it the lighted arrow nock of choice for many of today’s most progressive archers and professional bow hunters. The Lumenok adds only a few grains of weight to your arrow. No magnets are required for Lumenok function. Minimal arrow shaft end preparation and fitting are required for proper Lumenok function. Firenock is one of the more recent additions to the lighted nock market. Firenocks use what they call the “G Switch”, This is the same technology as the 2nd arming switch in modern missiles.   (i. e. it needs to sense a specific acceleration before it can be armed.   This technology eliminates accidental misfire/self arming).   Firenock “G” series is really a high-tech piece of equipment with the hunter’s designs in mind.

The arrow experts at 3Rivers Archery show you how to use cresting paint and the Bohning pro-crester to paint cresting lines on your arrows. (Scene from Crafting Traditional Wood Arrows DVD available from 3RiversArchery.com)

Arrows are a very important part of your archery equipment, and although they look the same at first glance, today’s modern technology gives manufacturers the ability to make arrows out of many types of materials.   Let’s take a look at some options when choosing an arrow. Wood arrows have been around hundreds of years when you look back at archery’s history. Today, however, wood arrows are seldom used because they offer little durability and they are not a consistently straight arrow compared to others. Aluminum was a very popular choice up until recently, although many archers still prefer aluminum especially with target archers. The biggest con of using aluminum arrows is they are easily bendable when they hit an object other than the target. In a hunting situation, when the arrow passes through the animal and strikes the ground, rocks, or trees, they can bend slightly without the hunter knowing. The next time the arrow is shot, you will have inconsistent results. Carbon has become the popular choice of bow hunters because it is very durable and will not bend. The arrow is either straight or will break from hitting a hard object. Carbon is very light weight for the amount of material actually needed to make an arrow. Some companies also combine other materials to the carbon such as Kevlar, which makes the arrow even more durable. One thing to keep in mind when using carbon arrows is to make sure the arrows hasn’t splintered from use. This can cause injury if a splintered arrow decides to break apart on the shot.

The arrow experts at 3Rivers Archery show you how to glue on Trueflight Feathers using fletching jigs like the Bitzenburger. (Scene from Crafting Traditional Wood Arrows DVD available from 3RiversArchery.com)

The following article covers a topic that has recently moved to center stage—at least it seems that way. If you've been thinking you need to know more about archery arrows, here's your opportunity.
The arrow is the single most important piece of archery equipment, followed by the bow. Without good archery arrows your aim will always be off, no matter how accurate you can shoot.
So what makes a good archery arrow? There are many factors that influence the quality of an archery arrow.
The stiffness of the shaft of the arrow affects how much the arrow wobbles after being shot from the bow. You don't want an arrow that bends too much, or it will be less accurate.
The material that an archery arrow is made of can affect its performance. Modern arrows are usually made of wood, aluminum, or carbon. It is important to select arrows of the right material to suit your needs.
I've covered some aspects of archery arrows already, but there are a few other things that I'd like to mention. The I'd like to talk some more about %keyword before I wrap up this article.
A heavier arrow will impact the target with more force, but will travel much slower than a lighter arrow. Make sure to take this into consideration when choosing an archery arrow.
The head of the arrow is also important to consider, especially if you are going to be using the arrows to hunt with. Be sure to select a head that is best suited for the particular animal you will be hunting.
The nock of the arrow is the slit on the end which holds the arrow in place as you shoot. An archery arrow's nock should not be too tight on the string, or it will not release properly when you shoot.
The fins attached to an arrow are called the fletching. Some fetching is made of real feathers, and other are made of plastic or synthetic feathers. Archers often debate which is better to use, so it is best to try both types and see which better fits your needs.
Selecting good archery arrows can improve your shot tremendously, so try out many different types of arrows and find out which types of arrows are best for you. Don't be afraid to spend a little more, because high quality tools are always worth their price.
Now might be a good time to write down the main points covered above. The act of putting it down on paper will help you remember what's important about archery arrows.