Hey Mossy Oak, been there done that. I quit for three years after a string of poor shots. My last day, I sat in my stand trying to come with a way to tell my dad that I was done with a bow. A squirrel came through and I pinned it to the tree at fifteen yards. That thought sat in my mind as much as the shoulder shot buck and the wounded doe. I could do it if I could stay under control. After three years I was dying to get back at it. I came up with some unorthodox ways to train but they helped me greatly. It is called buck fever. Do you remember any of the circumstances leading up to any of the shots? Do you remember aiming or the release? I' ll bet not. Whether it is shaking so much you are falling out of the tree, passing out, or just making poor shots when you are good with your bow, it is buck fever, target panic, or whatever you want to call it.

Suggestions:
Don' t give up!
Get rid of any serated edge broadhead. They just don' t get the penetration.

Shoot heavier arrows?

Are you big into arrow speed? Slow it down and add weight and broadhead cutting edge. Make sure any new equipment works for you before ever going into the woods.


In terms of practice...

Set out your 3-d targets. Your still in school so your young yet. Do several sprints around your yard until you get out of breath. Pick up your bow and shoot only while your heart is pounding. Pull them and do it again and again and again.

Shoot with your eyes closed. Get close to your target, bales are better for this, draw your bow and close your eyes. Try to feel everything about your bow and the release. Concentrate on form. It doesn' t matter where you hit just try to feel a shot that you usually try to look at.

Shoot blank targets to pick a spot.

When I get a case of target panic, I draw my bow and aim without an arrow before practicing. I just hold on target for as long as I can than let down and do it again and again, maybe for five minutes total. It helps me focus on my spot and maybe take a bit longer to put my pin exactly where I want it.

When you shoot do you focus your eyes on the deer or on your pin? To be acurate, focus on the deer and let your pins be fuzzy.

I have thrown my bow around and that is just expensive. Just keep at it, be glad when you miss clean, if you wound one, say a prayer for the deer and try harder to stay in control next time. I' ve been back at it for seventeen years and I can control the fever but I still get it. Like I tell my son, that leg shake is one of the reasons that I am here.

Greg