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Re: Buck Fever / Target Panic
Posted: Sat Jan 21, 2017 2:24 pm
by Jackson Marsh
DABB
Draw, Anchor, Bend at the waist, Bury it.
That's my mental mantra as a buck is coming in.
Re: Buck Fever / Target Panic
Posted: Fri Aug 11, 2017 3:11 am
by Boogieman1
With season around the corner for most figured I would bump this one. Maybe someone is going to have there first big buck encounter this year and the info can help them keep it together. I have only had a bad case one time, when I first started off and it was bad lol.. Think what keeps me from it now, is when I go into a kill set I'm 100% that I'm gonna get my shot. That's the reason I'm in that stand on that day. Does it always happen? No, but when it does I'm not in shock or surprised, he did exactly what I thought he would do.
Re: Buck Fever / Target Panic
Posted: Fri Aug 11, 2017 3:22 am
by cbay
I suffered a long road of dealing with the moment of truth. Shot some does and then a couple bucks where things worked out. From then on i had enough positive experiences to build from and knew i had to take all the negative experiences in my mind and throw them out the window. What worked was to concentrate really hard on killing the animal. No more looking at the "experience" or entertaining some thought of anything other than putting that arrow exactly where in need to.
Re: Buck Fever / Target Panic
Posted: Fri Aug 11, 2017 5:10 am
by Kybowhunter
Having a very detailed shot process helps alot. Instead of thinking about the situation and messing up, you're mind is filled with checking off every step. This not only controls your thought process but sets you up to make a perfect shot as well.
Re: Buck Fever / Target Panic
Posted: Fri Aug 11, 2017 6:20 am
by <DK>
Jdw wrote:I have had trouble putting my arrow in the correct place at the moment of truth since I started bow hunting more than 20 years ago.
When I first started hunting any deer would cause so much excitement that I had quite a few misses, and (worse) bad hits. After more experience and killing lots of does and small bucks I managed to lessen the effects of target panic.
At least that is what I thought
when a nice set of antlers would come slowly approaching through the woods, it would cause increased heart rate, blured vision, a 10x increase in the speed of time and an inherent ability to screw up the most well layed plan, that until a few seconds before was working out perfectly.
That happened so often on big bucks that my wife would ask me why I put so much time into putting a plan together if I was just going to "choke" at the moment of truth.I missed a 19 yard shot at a 160" buck with a drop tine and was so sick over it that I took quite a while rethinking my outlook on shooting and the thought process going into it.
I finely closed the deal on a 170" deer this past fall and I hope that experience will help me settle down and follow through with my shot routine without rushing the shot or punching the trigger in the future.
It is still a work in progress and probably will be as long as I am hunting bucks with a bow.
Can any of your relate to this or am I the only one who's brain stops working when a big buck comes in to view.
Feel free to post any techniques that you have found helpful or horror story's/
VERY OUCH!
Been there...
Good bump Boogieman & Good post JDW. Honestly its like listening to myself describe issues iv dealt w recently...even the path to the issues is similar. Though im shooting not 170s yet.
PK and Stanley really picked me up middle of last season. Sorry I missed this thread to try and pass on the same help. One thing to keep in mind, is the fact that you're getting onto some bucks and good bucks at that - is something many struggle with. The 2016 season I tanked chances at a lot of antler and every reason was different, but not really.. I took a step back for the remainder of the season bc my heart wasn't into it... Started scouting day 1 of the off season instantly renewed my drive.
I do not have any real wisdom to share bc I haven't cleared the hump yet. One thing that is helping me along the way is a vertical 3 pin sight to focus better on whats happening and the kill zone. Also iv played around shooting w both eyes open. I don't have much to say about it except trying it at 40 yards a few times my shots were night and day more accurate. This may be a "solo sport" but having great support behind you when you're down is the best thing a person could have. Regardless of any goals for the season, how many bucks or inches and what not... If I could kill the biggest buck or the smallest buck in the woods this fall but if its not a good shot then I wont be truly happy.
So I guess aside from a whole list of goals a hunter can set for himself it all comes down to being in the presence of a deer and putting a good hit on. Being able to let down if the shot isn't there is tough. Confidence in the fact that tomorrow is a new day and you'll see another one can go along way.
Re: Buck Fever / Target Panic
Posted: Fri Aug 11, 2017 7:16 am
by docwaters
Back tension release made all the difference for me. Punching the trigger was an issue before, but no more. Great tip on stopping looking at antlers the moment you determine he's a shooter. Also, for me, taking a doe early season helps with the psychological aspect of becoming too excited with the new season and that first opportunity on a shooter.
Re: Buck Fever / Target Panic
Posted: Fri Aug 11, 2017 10:52 am
by Kybowhunter
docwaters wrote:Back tension release made all the difference for me. Punching the trigger was an issue before, but no more. Great tip on stopping looking at antlers the moment you determine he's a shooter. Also, for me, taking a doe early season helps with the psychological aspect of becoming too excited with the new season and that first opportunity on a shooter.
A back tension or "hinge" release is a great idea for any hunter to try. Alot of people that havent actually shot a hand held hinge should take a strong look at the Scott Hex. It's a wrist strap style release with the same principles as the back tension. Even if people dont want to hunt with one its a great tool to use in practice.
Re: Buck Fever / Target Panic
Posted: Fri Aug 11, 2017 11:13 am
by Buckbreath
Very hard to overcome! I suffer from this off and on. Completely a mental thing for me. I know what I do wrong but sometimes its hard to not punch the trigger and drop my bow arm even in practice. When I do practice, I try to make it perfect practice and always end on a positive note.
Re: Buck Fever / Target Panic
Posted: Fri Aug 11, 2017 1:28 pm
by PAbowhunter
docwaters wrote:Back tension release made all the difference for me. Punching the trigger was an issue before, but no more. Great tip on stopping looking at antlers the moment you determine he's a shooter. Also, for me, taking a doe early season helps with the psychological aspect of becoming too excited with the new season and that first opportunity on a shooter.
X2
I actually shot a carter evolution for a few season which is more of a training aid I think. Helped me eliminate punching. Another thing I did was shot without a sight at close range for about a month everyday. Amazing how this helped. A little different at first then became almost instinctive.