how many of you....
 

When you see a deer coming do you get the shakes or do you get them after you shoot. Ever have you knees go weak?

Share your story!

I know my heart pounds like mad when I get deer in sight.

RE: how many of you....
 

Yeah Im about the same. My adrenaline starts pumping. Hearts beating fast. Theres a smile on my face the whole time. Great stuff!

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No way. It's boring. That's why I do it every year....:D

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I can tell you. When I first started bow hunting when I was 13 (17 years ago) I used to get the leg shakes whenever I saw deer. When i finally got one with the bow I thought i was going to fall out of the tree.. MY knees gave out and I had to grab the tree before I fell. That stopped after about 3-4 deer under my belt..

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I typically get the shakes after the shot...lots of shakes. ;)

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I also get shook up before the shot. If I see a shooter coming I really have to work to stay calm enough to make a good shot!!Allot of the time I have to look the other way periodical so I don't fall out of my stand[&:]. As the years pass I don't think I get any better I just have done it enough that everything is just automatic when it comes to the shot!!!

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Haha ive been bowhunting. well this is my 3rd year and i shake more then anyone i know, i get so freakin excited my knee's go crazy, especially if im cold. In those 2 years i have under my belt , ive killed 11 deer and i shake just as freakin hard now as i did the first one i shot lol :D

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My knees went weak last year on opening day muzzleloader.

When I got into my treestand I loaded my gun and then placed a cap. My cap holder fell down to the ground.

Later in the morning I had a nice 8 pointer 15 yds broadside and went to shoot and I had a dud. Pop! Then I remeber I dropped my caps. The deer stayed within 35 of me for over a half hour. I was just shaking like a leaf.

After he left I climbed down and put in a new cap, aimed for a tree and no problem.

Lesson learned I always keep extra caps with me in my pouch.

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Yes and Yes! I get the shakes during many different types of encounters of deer. Mostly though it's when I have a direct confrontation - whether that be just drawing back or actually taking a shot. It's very normal for me to have to sit down and calm my shakes down after shooting a deer so as not to fall out of the treestand! My Dad has always said - if you don't get excited when a deer comes near you it's time to hang it up! But obviously it's a personal thing. For me, it's the reason I enjoy bowhunting so much.

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Well I've only taken 1 deer and it was with a gun. Oddly, When I saw the buck come in my mind went into a mode more like a checklist of things to do (put in earplugs, take safety off, breathe correctly, pick a spot, make sure of what is behind the target, good vital path etc) I was so concerned with doing everything right because it was my first shot on any live animal that the gun went off before i could get nervous.

However, once I realized what had just happened i was shaking like crazy

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I get really excited when i first see them or hear them coming, once i have a visual on them and can tell what im dealing with, i calm down big time. I guess this is a good thing cause i can concentrate on what needs to be done. After i release the arrow and see the deer bolt off, i can hardly stand im shaking so much.

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Very rarely when a deer is coming in. But always after the shot. Thought it would go away but it has been years now and still do it. It's a good feeling though!!!!

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When i hear the sound of them comming(crunch crunch) thru the dry leaves but cant see them yet i start to get excited not knowing what is comming, is what does it for me.

But once the deer starts working its way closer and getswithin range something takes over and i calm right down, taking deep breaths helps some. After the shot is when i really get the shakes and have a hard time climbing down from my stand sometimes.....but thats what its all about:D

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The only time my legs get shakey and come close to giving out is when I'm thinking of Hickchik or Huntingal.[8D][8D][8D]

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I usually don't get the shakes and all that. Sometimes though... If it's gonna hit me, italwayshappens after the shot.

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I have gotten the shakes a few times over the yrs. But It is usuallyafter the shotwhen I notice it most.
If I have to watch adeer that I want to take for long period of time and as he walks closer and closer the pressure builds. And If I no I have made a good shot on a nice buckthat is when get the shakes.
(imo) But that is the felling that I live for in bowhunting.

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I get the shakes in most situations involving deer encounters. The worst though is when I can hear one but can't see it. I hunt some thick woods in God's Country (UP) and the first time I ever heard a buck chasing a doe and grunting and crashing through the brush I totally freaked out, bad case of fever. Same thing happened last year, but I remained a bit more composed and ended up getting the buck unlike in the first encouter. Gotta love the shakes though, when that stops, I stop hunting.

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I always get the shakes espicially when the first deer of the year walks out. Doe or buck. It give me a sense of accomplishment knowing I am in theright place. The great thing about bow hunting is many times you have a chance to calm down before the shot and then it starts all over again.That is the way it worked out for me last weekend.The deer came outfed aroungvery calmlyfor a few minutes and finally presented the shot.. The rest is backstap on the table.

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No ,just get down to business,plenty of time after to get excited

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That's the fun part. The excitement of spotting a deer before they spot you and keep them from spotting you! I get the shakes when I first see a deer and determine its route. Then, I seem to settle down and become relaxed before shooting. I then get the heavy breathing and shakes after the shot. Funny....shaking before and after, but not during. I guess it's practice and years of experience. It's still awesome.

Heck, I get excited at seeing deer and not having them see me even if I don't get a shot off. To me, it's fun!

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I get tickled every time I see the ad for the Tiger Woods 06 golf video game when I am watching sports on ESPN... with the guy standing beside Tiger and trying to line up on a put and his legs start shaking so hard that he sounds like a woodpecker hitting a rotton log... reminds me of some of my shots.

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Ialways get shook up even when im not huntin.:)

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I actually got the jitters and was cold one time to the point that I couldn't get my bow drawn. Needless to say...I didn't connect that day.

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oh the dreadful buck fever!!!!
i have missed five deer so far because of it. one which was going to be my first. it was an eight pointer. but its all right, i like the feeling

my dad said thats what hunting is all about. and ifi dont get that feeling anymore that i should stop hunting.



good luck all!!!!!

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i normally get them after a deer has left, especially when they have an arrow in them

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I get them when I first see the deer until they leave with or without my arrow passing thru. When that feeling goes away I guess it will be time to hang up the bow.