Hi, my name is Jennifer....

[Doegirl]

...and I suffer from buckfever. Heck can't even call buck fever, let's just call it brown and 4-legged fever. Since I've started bowhunting in 2001, this problem has plagued me since day one. Absolutely deadly on the range, absolutely suck at the moment of truth How can I get over choking at almost every shot opportunity I get? I have the best possible bow setup I could afford, I practice-from a tree, with all my huntin' duds on etc, and I don't seem to have problems getting deer to within my 25 yd range. And yes, I have a range finder, too. I just can't seem to connect. Help

[BT]

Hi Jennifer
I have had 4 leg fever too and recently fell off the wagon myself.
I managed to get back on though , so I will tell you what it is like for me and what I do when I feel it coming up on me.

For me , it's mind set...... the less I shoot the worse it gets.
It used to be that just getting close enough was all it took.
The realization that you can is generally what triggers the fever
The difference for me comes when can is replaced with the word will ... thats what helps to keep the fever in check.

The knowledge that a deer cannot escape is what changes everything.
If you even consider the possibility that the deer may suddenly turn in the wrong direction or that it may jump the string....that is when it will start those bad wheels rolling

I strongly believe that if you hunt a blind....you will give yourself a huge advantage in this regard
If you know that you are totally hidden and that the deer cannot possibly know you are drawing the bow....thats huge for self confidence
If you cant do a ground blind then break out the stops and get a wrap around blind for your tree stand.
You need to eliminate that first element of doubt.

Next is the shot....this is the big hurdle for most people.
The best advise I can give you that I cannot follow myself is to pick a spot.
I am not talking about a spot as in a general area
I am talking about a spot that is 1" in size that is in the desired area.
By fixating on that one spot you eliminate the deer itself.
If you really focus you can and will blot out everything but that spot.
We can all do that and you can practice this at any time.
Just watch a man who is watching the final 30 seconds of a tied ball game ..... the world vanishes and all that remains is the key player in the visual spectrum.

I cant do this simply because I always forget and thats a curse for me
Recently (last 2 years) I started focusing on the scapula and I blame that on all this testing to be honest
It's an awful spot to find yourself focusing on and this is the reason I need to remember to pick a spot.

Is any of this ringing any bells?

[mtshooter]

Hi Jennifer, my name is Ann

BT is right on th money What I try and do is concentrate on each step of my form as if I am at the range and not in the field.

If I take each step one at a time and pick a "hair" everything falls into place.

I'm on my way out the door to work, but will jump back on later and explain more

[BT]

I know that your located in OH but if you want to get a real world walk through....feel free to contact me next year.
I am sure that we can put you right in some excellent conditions and get you through this due to the fact that you will have many many shot opportunity's.

That being said (Regardless of you views on the subject) have you considered a preserve hunt?.

I know that it may sound insane but whitetail Doe are generally very affordable and this situation would allow you to get over this hump IMO.
Even if you chose not to shoot at the moment of truth....you will have known that you could have made that shot.

I believe that a preserve is a great training ground and one that may well have you well on your way come next fall
Is that possible?

[Doegirl]

Thanks everybody. I do have a tendency to shoot at the general vicinity as opposed to actually concentrating on a very small specific spot. That usually ends in a white flag waving bye-bye at me.
As for the preserve hunt, haven't thought about that. I'll have to look into that further and explore possibilities.

[BT]

trilby69 said:

Thanks everybody. I do have a tendency to shoot at the general vicinity as opposed to actually concentrating on a very small specific spot. That usually ends in a white flag waving bye-bye at me.
As for the preserve hunt, haven't thought about that. I'll have to look into that further and explore possibilities.

If you are not to far from western PA , I might be able to arrange a spacial hunt for you at a reduced rate.
No promises at all because I have no way of knowing if that is a real possibility.
I do have an ear there and if it's for a good cause.....I can approach the owner on your behalf.
If it works out I may even lend a hand in exchange for your allowing us to video your hunt for an upcoming DVD
Again....I am speaking a bit soon but I believe that our personality might enjoy having footage of you attempting to take your very first whitetail.
I know I would like to see that

[Doegirl]

admin said:

trilby69 said:

Thanks everybody. I do have a tendency to shoot at the general vicinity as opposed to actually concentrating on a very small specific spot. That usually ends in a white flag waving bye-bye at me.
As for the preserve hunt, haven't thought about that. I'll have to look into that further and explore possibilities.

If you are not to far from western PA , I might be able to arrange a spacial hunt for you at a reduced rate.
No promises at all because I have no way of knowing if that is a real possibility.
I do have an ear there and if it's for a good cause.....I can approach the owner on your behalf.
If it works out I may even lend a hand in exchange for your allowing us to video your hunt for an upcoming DVD
Again....I am speaking a bit soon but I believe that our personality might enjoy having footage of you attempting to take your very first whitetail.
I know I would like to see that

Very kind offer of yours. Just one little clarification. I've already taken deer with a bow- 4 (2 does, 1 button, 1 6-pointer). It would be my first from a preserve, though

[BT]

Where's the Pictures!!

O.K. .... let me back up a bit....assumption is a terrible thing.
So you can obviously hit a deer.....is it a matter of missing alot and connecting occasionally?

Give me a bit more information here.

[Doegirl]

admin said:

Where's the Pictures!!

O.K. .... let me back up a bit....assumption is a terrible thing.
So you can obviously hit a deer.....is it a matter of missing alot and connecting occasionally?

Give me a bit more information here.

Sorry no pics of the compound kills, planned on it this season to submit to the blood trails section. I guess I didn't think about pictures after the film of my first deer didn't turn out (disposable camera=junk). I was devastated.
You hit the nail on the head. Lots of shot opportunies, lots of misses As I'm doing some self reflection here, I guesstimate I've had about 25-30 shot opportunies with a bow over the last 6 years. So about 5 a year. I'm only counting those where I actually drew back. I may have been busted 1-2 times on the draw. So we're good there. A good deal of them were errors in range estimation. But I think a majority of my blown opportunities is that I lose my cool and "point n' punch".

[BT]

film of my first deer didn't turn out (disposable camera=junk). I was devastated.

I'll bet!

You hit the nail on the head. Lots of shot opportunities, lots of misses As I'm doing some self reflection here, I guesstimate I've had about 25-30 shot opportunities with a bow over the last 6 years. So about 5 a year. I'm only counting those where I actually drew back. I may have been busted 1-2 times on the draw. So we're good there. A good deal of them were errors in range estimation. But I think a majority of my blown opportunities is that I lose my cool and "point n' punch".

Let me ask you a few questions.....

On the range estimation errors....what was the average distance and when you missed , were you shooting over or under for the most part?.

How many of those missed shots were due to poor form in your estimation?
(I cant put alot of weight into this thought but it is worth consideration)

What is you Bows physical weight?

What are your anchor points? ..... do you use a kisser?.....what size peep?.
(Just looking to build a picture here....something that I can envision)