Bowtech 360

That is what hunting is all about, that feeling is gret.

matt660

Thanks for the replies fellas. I grew up hunting squirrels, rabbits, coons, and the like. I guess it's just that anticipation, hearing that deer walking in from 150 yards out and waiting......knowing how one mistake could ruin my chance. But to me, that's what makes it so much more than just shooting one with a rifle 300 yards away. It feels more like hunting and less like shooting. I'm guna put what I've heard on hear to use and see if I can feel an improvement. Thanks everybody.

GMMAT

Matt:

First off....relish those feelings. They're awesome....and if they ever leave me....I'll quit.

This is my fourth yr bowhunting (coming up). I've been fortunate enough to secure some really fertile grounds....and I see MANY, MANY deer, every year. In 2005...I had a group of does under me and one small buck. I never reached for the bow.....but i was standing. I remember having to prop my righ tleg against the tree because it was shaking so bad. And I wasn't even gonna shoot. If I could bottle that feeling and sell it....I'd retire, tomorrow.

PGA TOUR Pro Tom Watson said once....that there is no substitute for putting yourself "in the arena". You don't know how you're gonna react (totally) unless you put yourself in that position enough times to learn to deal with your emotions/anxieties. I still get those feelingsa lot....but I'm getting better at controlling them (which is THE fun part).

I think it was MOTOWNHONKEY who told me to pick a spot on a deer AS SOON AS I knew it was one I wnted to take. Never let your eyes leave that spot when you're looking a that deer (you're gonna need to look elsewhere, sometimes, .....other deer.....pick a shooting lane.....pick a place to draw when their head's behind a tree....etc....), but when you look at that deer......focus on one small area (very small). It's helped me to control myself in those situations a lot.

Good luck with it....

Oh yeah....I'm 43.

BuckGrunt101

like everyone else said just talk to your self,dont hype yourself up by thinking oman im going to get a shot,dont let yourself think about anything but the animal walking in,just make a good clean shot you owe it to the animal! thats what my brother always told me

GMMAT

And I forgot one important thing, Matt.

Killer instinct. You're a killer. Do your job.

kickin_buck

I have been bow hunting now for 25 years and there are still times I get the shakes. If the shakes ever stop, it might be time for me to stop. I love the feeling of my nerves on edge when the moment is approaching, but I know what you mean about having to control them also. I have taped on the top limb of my bow (just where I can see it when bringing the peep to my face) a little note that say (it's just a deer stupid). I always take a look at that before drawing, it seems to help settle me down. In fact, it has worked so well that I have another note taped on my 3D bow that says (It's just a target stupid). I know it might sound stupid, but reading those really has really helped me with target panic, both in the field and on the 3D course.

WVSPORTSMAN

xanax,klonopin,buspar,vistaril, librium,ativan,benadryl and valium just to name a few.......come on guys I work at a mental heath clinic all day.

OHbowhntr

Matt,
The only thing you can do is learn to function under that feeling. The more you experience it, the more you will adjust to it and how to keep a cool head. It's not even the physical aspect as much as the mental aspect many times that throws us off. Once you get that first one under your belt, often times its MUCH easier. And the "intimacy" of deer hunting makes it that much more emotional to many of us, that's why we do it.

130woodman

Picture the deer in it's underware.When you have a deer come in go through the mental checklist.

Calm down.
Breath
Draw Bow
Pick place on deer
Breath
Don't look at the antlers.
Shoot.
Then sit down so you don't fall out of the tree.

WKP Todd

I believe the only true way to "cure" buck fever is experience. The more you do it, the more confidence you build, and confidence is EVERYTHING.

One thing that did help me was shooting year-around, and with groups of people you don't know. Standing at a line with 20-30 guys watching puts the pressure on, which is as close as I've found.

The biggest thing you can do is to practice as much as possible. When I walk into the woods, I need to feel "deadly". You need to get to the point where shooting your bow becomes "automatic". You can't think at the moment of truth, you simply act on instinct. At least that's how it is for me.