Recovering mentally from a miss/bad hit---Buck Fever

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Kraftd
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Re: Recovering mentally from a miss/bad hit---Buck Fever

Unread postby Kraftd » Thu Nov 12, 2015 6:22 am

Lots of great advice on this thread, as usual.

The goal is to practice enough and shoot some deer to where everything is second nature. However you think that works for you is what is best. For me getting really intense and angry would do the opposite, but again, most of this is personal mental preparation that needs practicing.

My best shots on deer are all shots I have little to no recollection of drawing, holding and squeezing, just second nature.


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Re: Recovering mentally from a miss/bad hit---Buck Fever

Unread postby Zap » Thu Nov 12, 2015 7:06 am

:think:
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Re: Recovering mentally from a miss/bad hit---Buck Fever

Unread postby sunset samurai » Thu Nov 12, 2015 7:09 am

Hauntedwaters wrote:
Kraftd wrote:Can I ask where these misses are occurring? If they are consistently high, I would be willing to be you aren't bending at the waist. Early on in my hunting I chronically did this, and shot over a fair number of bucks. The other answer, is you may never get over some of the misses (there are a couple that I still replay often). If you are missing high, practice from a stand, a lot.

I also couldn't agree more with the shoot deer comment. You can only build true confidence by doing. Even a couple will be night and day. Maybe you will be lucky enough that it will finally happen on a big buck, but I wouldn't wait on that. Fill some tags, you will not regret it later on. I shot a small buck this year after I made a poor shot on a doe, a big part of it was to get some mojo back. Killed a decent 3.5 year old a couple of weeks after that.



This is a really good question. One miss was to the left and under. One was under. Didn't see the third. I put lighted nocks on my arrows now so I can better see the arrow's flight for more information. You're 100% right. I need to shoot more out of an elevated position. I am going to find a Sportsman or Archery club that has elevated 3D shooting.

If you hunt with the stick/stand mobile rig one thong I like to do is sit my 3D target at an unknown yardage, set up sticks n stand, climb up shoot a few arrows, climb down get em n do again. Two fold practice, good to prsctice quiet setups n helps practice shoot at elevation with heartrate up.

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Re: Recovering mentally from a miss/bad hit---Buck Fever

Unread postby Hauntedwaters » Tue Nov 17, 2015 2:18 am

I took the advice and shot a doe this weekend. Really was a confidence booster like you guys said. I paid attention to all the mental checks and advice you guys gave and it went as planned. She was down 75 yards from the stand. Thanks again for the advice!
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Re: Recovering mentally from a miss/bad hit---Buck Fever

Unread postby mibowhunter » Tue Nov 17, 2015 3:16 am

Good work Hauntedwaters! I need to follow the advice from this thread too, I've had an awful season closing the deal... which has never been an issue for me until this season. 3 misses, I'm about ready to hang it up, clear my mind, and get back in the saddle next year.
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Re: Recovering mentally from a miss/bad hit---Buck Fever

Unread postby E72 » Tue Nov 17, 2015 3:43 am

sethg wrote:I was a pitcher at a high level recently. I treated my bullpen sessions just like a game as far as mentality. That way when I got in a game, nothing changed for me mentally.

I do the same thing bowhunting. My practice sessions (especially close to the season) usually reflect a hunting situation. Sometimes I practice elevated off the roof of the shed. Many times I only shoot one arrow (learned this trick from Levi Morgan), so you gotta make it count. I also practice drawing and holding for a long time, and then shooting. On the flip side, I'll practice drawing and shooting quick. I practice making a "merp" to stop the deer, and then shooting. I try and practice every scenario leading up to the season. Realistically, in a tree with a shooter coming in, you don't need to be thinking about 20 different things that you have to do. You need a 3-4 step routine you do every shot, mentally, all summer long.... so when moment of truth comes, it all happens automatic. Its like a mental checklist that becomes second nature.

Another thing that I do when I get in the stand (especially without shooting lanes prepped... ie public land), is I practice drawing in those shooting lanes, and making a mental picture of where a big buck could be standing and where I can get a clean shot off at. This helps a lot also... someone above mentioned this and I agree with them.

Once you drill all that into your mental and physical routine, then like Dan said, you won't even know what you're doing until you see the arrow zip through the boiler room. Hang in there, but don't keep practicing like you do now. Make you practice session like a hunting situation... then you'll be ready for the moment of truth!!!!


Good point ! Where I grew up, I used to shoot off the top of an old shed and would place my target behind an apple tree. I would practice shooting through holes in the leaves and branches . It helps you in a real time "in woods" situation . This Reminds me I need to challenge myself more in practice sessions . ;)

Congrats HW on that doe!!
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Re: Recovering mentally from a miss/bad hit---Buck Fever

Unread postby Motivated » Fri Dec 22, 2017 1:43 pm

Bump. Some great advice here.
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Re: Recovering mentally from a miss/bad hit---Buck Fever

Unread postby mainebowhunter » Fri Dec 22, 2017 2:32 pm

If your season has wound to a close, there is no better time to start working through this stuff. This could be the only thing standing between you and a mega giant in 2018.

Buck fever threads
http://www.thehuntingbeast.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=39083&hilit=the+fever
http://www.thehuntingbeast.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=36350&hilit=target+panic#p516977
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Re: Recovering mentally from a miss/bad hit---Buck Fever

Unread postby Dewey » Fri Dec 22, 2017 2:34 pm

Just do what this guy does. :lol:

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=43704
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Re: Recovering mentally from a miss/bad hit---Buck Fever

Unread postby <DK> » Fri Dec 22, 2017 2:40 pm

gunner24 wrote:A few things that have helped me make a better shooter when the moment counts. because we can all hit where we want to all day long when we are practicing or at the range.

1.) run around get your heart rate up then shoot as mentioned before. this does help.

2.) practice atleast a few times a week during hunting season. this helps keep confidence up, and confidence with the bow is what you need when you are in the field.

3.) start shooting with both eyes open instead of closing your non dominant eye. this opens up your field of view. When you shoot close distances at deer and are closing one eye sometimes all you will see is the brown body of the deer in your sight, and you may not exactly know what part of the deer you have your pin on in the heat of the moment. when you have both eyes open, you can see so much more! including the whole body of the deer, if he's moving, what pace, so on so forth. This was the single best attribute (for me) out in the field for making better shots on deer.

stay positive and keep at it. confidence is key.


I feel like this thread was started by me....

This is the exact 3 things iv been working on myself. Both eyes open has presented great results in the back yard, so good iv considered shooting a special no peep bow sight. I have found it to improve my accuracy at 30 & 40 yards. However iv had difficult time translating it to the field. Another thing that had helped me along is switching to vertical pins, so I have a better view of the vitals and can ensure its not shoulder hit. To add onto that last point - to build confidence up iv concentrated on upping the ante on arrow penetration in case of bad shots.

All that said... I think everyone or most have to go through it and we all have to find our own way. Just read somewhere recently about a guy who has hunted 30 years and just now has target panic. Some hunters its just bucks, others its all deer. There is no shame in not shooting when it doesnt feel right. Which is something iv accomplished and failed at. We might shame ourselves but its our job to put solid hits in them. Instinctive shooting is the goal which can take time. They are amazing animals and exceptionally tough.

Its a very interesting subject but very tough for a bowhunter bc it weighs on the heart. After I have a bad season I feel like should just quit but scouting season seems to reignite the fire for me! Getting back in the woods with no pressure on myself leads to a great time of reflection and moving forward.
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Re: Recovering mentally from a miss/bad hit---Buck Fever

Unread postby Boogieman1 » Fri Dec 22, 2017 2:45 pm

I would say 99% of my misses were either being set up in a tree that didn’t provide a opportunity for a good shot, or having to watch a buck for along time b4 I get the shot and completely overthinking the situation instead of just reacting like I have practiced thousands of times. If u got buck fever u need to come to grips with it or it will eat ya alive! Try talking to yourself and not looking at horns just the spot u wanna hit. As already said practice drawing down on all deer if u can, I can’t do it cause my muscle memory lets it fly as soon as the feather touches my nose. Shot 2 I didn’t want trying that so now I don’t touch my bow unless I’m certain it’s what I want.
Life is hard; It’s even harder if you are stupid.
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Re: Recovering mentally from a miss/bad hit---Buck Fever

Unread postby JAK » Fri Dec 22, 2017 2:54 pm

Years ago I switched to both eyes open and it was a night and day difference.. Telling myself I have time to make a good shot also really helps. I know people that are the best shot in the world when u target practice but killing a deer is a whole nother story I truly do believe it's 90 percent mental.
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Re: Recovering mentally from a miss/bad hit---Buck Fever

Unread postby RidgeGhost » Fri Dec 22, 2017 3:24 pm

Shoot does. And lots of them. You'll be a more efficient killer once it's no big deal to you. Of course it will be more nerve racking on a big buck, but the shot itself should be almost instinctive
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Re: Recovering mentally from a miss/bad hit---Buck Fever

Unread postby Bonehead » Sat Dec 23, 2017 2:13 am

I practice different during hunting season compared to the off season.
Shoot only two arrows before going to pull them.
Instead of shooting at 10 yard intervals (20,30,40ect) make your very first shot a random yardage like say 37 yards ranged. Then make your 2nd arrow also random but not use range finder guesstimate).

This will give you a more realistic shooting scenario during your practice session during hunting season.

Like a lot of others have stated, kill some doe. Best practice you can get right there.
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Re: Recovering mentally from a miss/bad hit---Buck Fever

Unread postby headgear » Sat Dec 23, 2017 2:48 am

Think positive, you did everything right but that one detail, no doubt it is an important detail but missing is a wonderful teacher. Learn from it and be ready the next go around, don't dwell on the past. We have ALL messed up at some point and will likely do it again in the future.


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