"In the heat of the moment I..."
11-01-2005, 07:58 PM
#1
Boone & Crockett
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Michigan/Ohio
Posts: 11,682
"In the heat of the moment I..."
This is my first year on the board and I really have enjoyed sharing stories with my fellow bowhunters. I to have noticed a trend, "Heat of the Moment”issue. It goes like this "Saw a big deer, took a bad shot, but I was in the heat of the moment". I have read a lot of post like this, and the result is a lost deer(in most threads). To help these folks who get caught in the "Heat of the moment”here are some tips I use. Use them, or don't just some things I do to help me make quality shots on deer.
1.Make sure your bow is tuned and ready to go no later than July. Yep my bow is tuned and will have nothing added from July on (unless we have mechanical problems)
2.Practice, not just from 20 yds, I like to practice from 50 yds. I feel like Tyson in his early days at 20 yds (knock’em out every time).
3.Practice from above, from the height you hunt. I hunt 20-25 feet high, so I practice that shot.
4.Follow steps 2 & 3 again
5.Go to 3D-shoots, pretend it is real. Don't just fling arrows and drink beer. Try and visualize the shot as if it was the big 160 class you have been scouting.
6.See 2&3 again
7.When your in the tree waiting look at were a deer will come in. Visualize what you will do if he comes in, were you will shoot him, draw your bow, etc.
8.Relax and have fun, not getting a deer is ok, so you do not have to take a bad shot for fear of not getting a deer.
9.Tree Stand setup, make sure you have clear lanes, etc. I know it sounds simple, but 1 branch can cause you to have nightmares(I am still having them).
10.Read the articles on this sight about what to do after the shot. they were very well written.
I am not trying to lecture anyone, but Practice issue is key and here is why. When you practice a lot shooting a bow becomes second nature. Any one who have played sports know the feeling I am talking about. When you practice shooting free throws a lot it becomes second nature. Same with a bow, I tagged out early this year, shot three deer and I was very lucky. All three I did not think "Ok Pull the trigger". I do not even realize I have pulled the trigger. Why, I practice a lot and I rehearse what I m going to when the moment comes to shoot a deer. Will this work for you I have no idea. It has work for me and I just thought I would share my ideas with some of the new guys to our great passion.
1.Make sure your bow is tuned and ready to go no later than July. Yep my bow is tuned and will have nothing added from July on (unless we have mechanical problems)
2.Practice, not just from 20 yds, I like to practice from 50 yds. I feel like Tyson in his early days at 20 yds (knock’em out every time).
3.Practice from above, from the height you hunt. I hunt 20-25 feet high, so I practice that shot.
4.Follow steps 2 & 3 again
5.Go to 3D-shoots, pretend it is real. Don't just fling arrows and drink beer. Try and visualize the shot as if it was the big 160 class you have been scouting.
6.See 2&3 again
7.When your in the tree waiting look at were a deer will come in. Visualize what you will do if he comes in, were you will shoot him, draw your bow, etc.
8.Relax and have fun, not getting a deer is ok, so you do not have to take a bad shot for fear of not getting a deer.
9.Tree Stand setup, make sure you have clear lanes, etc. I know it sounds simple, but 1 branch can cause you to have nightmares(I am still having them).
10.Read the articles on this sight about what to do after the shot. they were very well written.
I am not trying to lecture anyone, but Practice issue is key and here is why. When you practice a lot shooting a bow becomes second nature. Any one who have played sports know the feeling I am talking about. When you practice shooting free throws a lot it becomes second nature. Same with a bow, I tagged out early this year, shot three deer and I was very lucky. All three I did not think "Ok Pull the trigger". I do not even realize I have pulled the trigger. Why, I practice a lot and I rehearse what I m going to when the moment comes to shoot a deer. Will this work for you I have no idea. It has work for me and I just thought I would share my ideas with some of the new guys to our great passion.
