Buck fever

[BT]

So...you are saying there is hope?!...;D

[lockmaster]

akdd said:

I don't know if I will ever get to where I don't get buck fever. But then I have only been hunting for about 45 years so it might go away when I get a little older. I find that if I don't worry about a shot not working out then I will remain a little more calm. Sometimes the shot happens sometimes it doesn't. If the shot doesn't happen then there is always next time. But no matter what happens I get the shakes after it is over shot or no shot.

I don't know akdd! I've entered my 51st season now...and mine hasn't gone away completely! Maybe in another 30 years I will start to calm a bit! In my younger days and even into my 40's, the "rush" just overwhelmed me at times and even the SIGHT of a deer when I was hunting gave me the "shakes".

I usually handle it pretty well but I have discovered that it can happen anytime depending on the circumstances. I'm usually pretty calm, but sometimes I really have to take a deep breath! In all my years, I still don't really know EXACTLY what it is that causes it!

I have had NICE bucks walk out and I'm as calm as could be and other times a smaller one can walk out and it feels like I can't breathe and my knees are knocking together! ;D It's not that I don't have confidence in my shot...but for me, I get a much less severe case of "buck fever" if time is short between the time I see him and the time I get the shot off. If I watch one and have to wait very long, the anxiety seems to take over and I have time to worry that I WON'T get a shot!

It's just something we get that really feels good...so I don't try to fight it. For me the excitement is the time leading up to the shot! Once he is down, and I can "touch him", buck fever ends and just pure excited satisfaction begins!!!

[BT]

You just described it to the letter lockmaster ;D
That is just it....ridiculous!

[Greg Krause]

Don't get me wrong. My heart still skips a beat when i see a deer aproaching! and yes, the longer I have to watch the deer the more the shakes set in. I have just learned to control it pretty well most of the time........until after the shot. That is when i fall apart

[mq32shooter]

BT, I got it too. I shoot a Carter lokjaw and I started punching it on deer this year ( missed 2 ). After some reflection, I decided to start hunting with my old Stanislawski 3 finger back tension release. Usually, I will shoot this periodically in late summer to revisit good form and back tension. Well, I took both to the woods with me last week and when a small fawn doe offered me a tough quartering away shot, the Stan forced me to concentrate- hold on my spot until the shot was executed. I couldnt have made a better shot, entered 2/3 up on about the last rib and busted the front left leg on exit just below the elbow ( Slicks blasted through the bone!). I do not think Im cured, so I will continue to carry both and if it looks like I will have a none hurried shot, I will break out the Stan ( I keep the Carter strapped to my wrist). If you got one, I suggest you try it- for lack of a better term- it was cool to kill with the back tension release. My arrows shoot a tad low and about an 1 1/2" left with it and it is not quick to load forcing the release rope through the nocking loop, but try it.

[BT]

I was in the stand tonight and although I didn't see anything....I was telling myself what skipmaster had pointed out yesterday.
I tried to recreate the situations of the past and I think that next time it will be different....if I can remember what skip said at that time ;D

[Deleted]

Glad to know it's not just me ;D. Hey BT try doing something during your practice sessions to get your heart rate up, like run around the yard and then grab your bow and take a shot, focusing on taking a deep breath or two,and of course your shooting form.
Doing things when you are stressed physically and mentally are easier if you simulate the stress and practice this way.Ask any soldier out there and they'll tell you that thier training kicked in at the moment of truth,why because they train hard under conditions that are as close as possible to the real thing.
I'm not saying this will get rid of it all(some of it is a good thing!), as nothing can simulate the real thing, but it may help some.
Also when an animal is close don't pay such close attention to them, I have a "list" I try go though mentally; distance, which pin,release on, arrow on rest ect ect. Somehow focusing on somthing else for a few seconds helps me relax.
Good luck,
Ster

[Greg Krause]

I'm here to help!

I just don't know if anybody can help you ;D

[BT]

wapitifever said:

Glad to know it's not just me ;D. Hey BT try doing something during your practice sessions to get your heart rate up, like run around the yard and then grab your bow and take a shot, focusing on taking a deep breath or two,and of course your shooting form.
Doing things when you are stressed physically and mentally are easier if you simulate the stress and practice this way.Ask any soldier out there and they'll tell you that thier training kicked in at the moment of truth,why because they train hard under conditions that are as close as possible to the real thing.
I'm not saying this will get rid of it all(some of it is a good thing!), as nothing can simulate the real thing, but it may help some.
Also when an animal is close don't pay such close attention to them, I have a "list" I try go though mentally; distance, which pin,release on, arrow on rest ect ect. Somehow focusing on somthing else for a few seconds helps me relax.
Good luck,
Ster

You know what?!...thats a kick ass idea!
Thats what it is like afterall

[Deleted]

Give it a shot, It may take time but I think alot of folks could use to try this.Seems alot of people practice when they are rested and calm, the exact opposite of what they are when in a hunting situation.Heck people practice from tons of different positions to mimic real life, why not make it that much more "real" ?
Ster