This is a basic run down of what I do to prepare for the moment of truth and how I handle myself from the moment I sit in my stand, to when an arrow is released......... call it attention to detail, call it Keeping it together , call it whatever you want but this list of steps can really help save the day in a big way. We'll assume you already know how to pick your spot, hunt the wind, not stab yourself with a broadhead and all that good stuff.
To you vets.......old hat. To the newbies I hope you might pick something up to maybe remember when things get exciting!
Let's get dramatic:
My "Moment of Truth 10 Commandments", if you will, to giving yourselfa better than averagechance to seize the moment when it's presented to you.
1. Create a safe ,stable, and familiarhunting environment for yourself. Sounds stupid huh? Well it's not....
Your success in the field is going to begin and maybe end with how comfortable, secure, and at ease you are in that moment. (and this mainly applies to treestands) It all starts here.
Know your limits, PRACTICE climbing in and out and shooting from them.
Simply shooting from an elevated platform is not enough!! There are very real and different Physiological (How the body reacts) and Psychological (How the mind reacts) differences from standing on say a big wooden deck or roof at 15ft, and standing on the edge of a 24" platform 20ft off the ground. Shooting will feel VERY different.
IF you have never done it before just trust me and do NOT take that fact for granted!
If you are uneasy, or even afraid to move one way or the other the first time you climb up.........your hunt is probably over before it starts.
Above all else do all of this while your butt is securely fastened into a fall restraint system that is tied to the tree and noton a peg inyour garage.
2. Attention to Detail!!!
Assuming you made it into your stand and are still alive to get settled in, Make a quick assesment of your gear.
When a 150" buck is standing 20 yards away is NOT the time to find out your release is caked with mud, your mechanical broadhead blades are open, your sight pin fiber is missing or any other number of common misfortunes.
Check anything and everything that could have gone wrong and make sure it didn't.
And keep your bow where you can reach it with minimal movement.
3. Know your range.
I don't care if it's with a $400 laser rangefinder, some ribbons or simply stepped off....make sure you are aware of and can reference at least a couple key landmarks within your shooting range. If you don't know how far it is how do you expect to hit it? KNowing yardages ahead of time is maybe the single greatest key to raising your confidence in anticipating a shot. If you are second guessing as you draw the bow...........you've just created a game of chance.
4. Expect to see a Deer, Buck, Bear, elk………….
Another one that sounds dumb as a box of rocks right?.......again it isn’t!
You need to fully prepare your mind to actually see that animal you’ve been dreaming of, you WILL see a buck and he’s going to come from here, here, and here. Or maybe even over there.
Things can go from slow motion to fast forward in an instant and an unexpected adrenalin rush can send a situation that would normally find you in complete control to one that feels like it’s spinning out of your grasp and you need to do something quick to change it.
This can lead to full blown case of buck fever or shakes which generally makes the rest of these steps and clear headed decision making a tough task to accomplish!
So nip it in the bud and prepare yourself mentally with a good calm, positive mindset that has you confidently expecting what is going to happen and that you’re ready for it.
I know you’re saying “DUH!?”
Trust me we’ve all been zapped with that jolt of adrenaline because were simply praying to see an animal and were on pins and needles or conversely didn’t have high hopes and fully expected to see nothing. Both are a recipe for disappointment from the start.
Be in control of the situation before it even starts.
Ok enough Dr. Phil.
5.Plan the Shot
The second you determine that an animal has become a TARGET, stop staring at his headgear or her sexy legs........quickly scan ahead of the direction of travel and decide where you want to shoot the animal.
This should also go hand in hand with a couple pre-determined landmarks.
And this is important........if the animal is within your effective range and giving you a good relaxed broadside or quartering away shot, don't milk it and hope for something even better. TAKE THE SHOT.
This "feel" if you will will come with experience. You can't rush the shot, force the action or make something happen.........you have to let the chips fall where they may, but you also have to seize the first quality opportunity.
It's a fine line between being patient and being slow, but when in doubt........WAIT.
You're in doubt for a reason so let the animal get into a better position, close the distance more or both.
Knowing when to actually draw the bow and shoot is maybe the most messed up aspect of our sport.
6.Don't blank out!!! 
You got the bow back, so now is when you really need to keep it together! Your mind will race the instant the bow hits full draw, and for the inexperienced or especially excitable it will also scream SHOOT! You have to beat that little voice back very early on because it will snowball very quickly and create panic. Panic = BAD..........Control = GOOD
Bad things happen in EVERY aspect of life when you panic so remain calm and confident of what you are about to do. (After all you are comfortable with your stand, your equipment, the range and your shooting ability right?)
7.AIM
Simple little word huh? It is if you actually do it. This goes along with don't blank out. You have to force your mind to focus on the exact moment and task at hand. Your mind will again be racing, and trying to either take in the whole picture or you'll have unfocused tunnel vision.
You need to snap out of that swimmy feeling of things spiralling out of control and turn the animal into a bullseye.
Not from a heartless human being standpoint but you now have to turn that animal into something your mind will relate to clearly........and that's nuts and bolts shooting.
AIM HERE..........ARROW COME OUT THERE. Really that simple.
You have to force your mind to want the arrow to hit a specific spot. Just like any 3D target you practiced on think about the angle the animal is standing on and conciously think about where your arrow will travel through and what it's going to hit.
Myself personally I actually try to picture the top of the deer's heart the entire time..........I look INTO the deer's chest and follow that spot no matter what angle the animal takes. Then I simply shoot when the time is right.
If you think about what the arrow will hit INSIDE rather than just finding an external aiming point my opinion is that you will be more effective.
8.PAY ATTENTION!!!
You just shot and the sound of the arrow impact has just left your ears........Now is not the time to be jumping up and down, reaching for your cell phone, or passing out! [
]
Your entire focus and energy should be consumed with detail at this moment of absolute chaos. You need to stay focused and watch the animal's direction of travel, try to determine EXACTLY where it was hit (especially if it stands at a distance) The really focused and savvy will instantly reach for their binos. This is one of their most important functions!! Listen.
And lastly you need to visually mark an EXACT landmark where you last saw the animal.
Hopefully you did everything right to this point and your looking at his big dead butt laying 50 yards away but obviously many times they get out of sight, and the eye can trick you.
Staying focused at this crucial time is so important I cannot stress it enough.........the work isn't done when the release cracks off or the string slips from your fingers.
9.CALM DOWN!!
Seriously sit down, relax and replay what just happened.
What you do next is just as important as everything leading up........if you didn't see the animal fall in sight, just sit there and remain calm, and stop breakdancing in your stand.
Enjoy the moment, check out a flock of geese, or a squirrel, take in the sunset,anything to just soak in the moment, but whatever you do don't go doing the Triple Lindy off the end of the platform and chase after your deer!
Its as much a safety thing as it is a recovery thing.......people do stupid things under the influence of adrenaline!
If the animal made it out of sight, give it 1/2hr or 45 minutes and then safely and calmly climb down and inspect the scene.
If you can find first blood.........or find your arrow you're in business.
Try to interpret the sign combined with what your mind saw as it replays the shot to determine your next course of action.
I won't go into the whole recovery and tracking phase of things (we'll leave that to Rob for a later date )
But just rememeber that when your feet hit the ground, haste CAN make waste so slow down and THINK.
10.Oh yeah.............Thou Shalt take good pictures.
