Weather or not you use a release will 1) depend on your bow set-up. Either set your bow up to use a release or not to use a release, mostly depends on type of rest that is on the bow. 2) once your bow is set-up, practice with it a lot during summer into fall, and when a deer is in front of you, every thing will happen automatically. If you use a release and practice with it, using it will become natural, and shouldn't cause any problems in the "heat of the moment"