How do you guys stay calm??
 

How do you guys stay calm when you have deer in your immediate presence, i have all kinds of trouble, i shake my heart pounds adrenaline is rushing, i cant help but shake!! i get so excited i cant hardly control it i try breathing DEEP and holding it and letting it out but it helps for about 2 seconds, anyone got any tips of the trick for me??

Thanks.
Ryan.

RE: How do you guys stay calm??
 

What I try to do is make my mind go and do other things,while watching the deer.....
Lets say this huge 8 is comin in from my right,is he gonna walk straight past me and give me a broadside shot,turn and walk behind me and give me that 1/4 away shot,walk around that downed tree and come intowards me giving me hat dreded 1/4 towards you shot: So when he's walking in,Plan the shot b4 it even happens, pickthe spot to draw, pick that spot where your gonna let that arrow fly,and run this over and over in your head cuz you never know he might change his mind andchange direction at the last second,And keep taking those deep breaths in the mouth out the nose........
Try that it helps meand once the shot is off then you can do whatever you need to do!!

RE: How do you guys stay calm??
 

I don't. ;)

Seriously, experience is really the only thing that's gonna be of any real help.

RE: How do you guys stay calm??
 

I just say "Ah there is one!" and start locking in on where I want to shoot.
Keeps my mind concentrating on the shot and not the animals size. I actually
don't even think about the nervousness anymore. There is plenty of time
for adrenaline to take over AFTER the shot.

RE: How do you guys stay calm??
 

I was just about to say what mobow said, it takes time to learn how to control it, doesn't mean that veterans don't shake and get worked up, we just do it after the shot if we want to be successful.

RE: How do you guys stay calm??
 

Stan Potts Anyone??

Thanks for the advice i agree i just need to be more experienced, being only 17... i have the disadvantage of being young enough that i havent seen a ton of deer.

Ryan.

RE: How do you guys stay calm??
 

You've got to get into "kill" mode. Don't look at the antlers. Just focus on the spot you want your arrow to hit. Think about when you are going to draw, and where you are going to aim.

I used to get buck fever really bad (even on does!), to the point where I don't know how I even made the shot. Experience helps more than anything. Now, that I've got 8 bowkills under my belt in three years, I'm getting much more "calm". I still get excited, but it doesn't interfere with my ability to make a good shot.

RE: How do you guys stay calm??
 

Deep breath, line up the pin, pick the spot and remember: it's just a target.

RE: How do you guys stay calm??
 

I go completely nuts and cant control it, experience is starting to help though.

RE: How do you guys stay calm??
 

I am sure some of the things mentioned help, but nothing takes the place of several Bowkills under you belt. Just stay after'em, you'll beat it;)

Dan

RE: How do you guys stay calm??
 

i turn away for a minute and mouth "oh my god" then i thinkabout how
bad i am going to feel if i dont get the bow on this deer":)

RE: How do you guys stay calm??
 

DISadvantage?? Being 17 is a DISadvantage??? Dude, beginning now, just imagine how much you'll know, and good you'll be when you hit 30.......I see no DISadvantage anywhere....

RE: How do you guys stay calm??
 

After time you will be able to control that emotion. Just like the others have said. The excitemnt is still there but confidence takes over. Any way this is how it worked for me.

RE: How do you guys stay calm??
 

I shake around does even.

RE: How do you guys stay calm??
 

I got lucky this year! From the time I saw my deer to the time he was down was about 20 seconds. Early I had practiced standing up and getting ready to pull back...even thought of killing a small deer (glad I didnt) and even when I knew I wasnt going to shoot it I was pretty much out of control. It was all i could do to keep standing. My legs were nuts. So try to not see the deer until your ready to shoot it;). Experience is a blessing, as I have buck fever controlled during gun season.

RE: How do you guys stay calm??
 

I just don't worry about it. I take a couple deep breaths and seem to settle in the closer they get. Become the predator. Once in a while I find myself breathing a little heavy and I just close my eyes, take a couple slow breaths... slow in and out... and it all settles down.

RE: How do you guys stay calm??
 

I always tell myself that. that i can tell if he is a shooter. until this weekend i saw teh biggest deer i ever saw n lost it stared at them things like none other.

Trust me all u can do is try to think about after teh shot holdin that deer n How u will tell the story. but wait till u c a giant u will lose it all

RE: How do you guys stay calm??
 

Ithink the more you kill the less it effects ya. like the others said its after the shot when I get worked up. I still get a lil shake but not as bad as it use to be.

RE: How do you guys stay calm??
 

I really don't have no answer for you.I remember when I use to do this,I don't remember when I stopped.But anymore my heart don't even skip a beat.

I guess when you get it in your head that you are never going to kill a Deer unless you stop him,put the right Pin on him and kill him.Then it comes better with time.

big rockpile

RE: How do you guys stay calm??
 

Expect to see him. Role play through your mind when sittin on stand. Where he is going to come from, how your going to grab your bow, when to draw......stuff like that. Pretend your a hitman and there to do a job, kind of barbaric and not the things to tell anti's but it works. I never get worked up until after the shot or after they pass by out of range. But if you don't get excited you might as well find something new.

RE: How do you guys stay calm??
 

You can also practice being all worked up. Inotherwords put all your gear on, then jog, run, etc until your blood pressure goes through the roof. Then practice like you have one shot and make it count. It is surprising how accurate you can still be, and it will help you when you are on the stand, staring at a buck knowing that even though you are worked up, the shot will still go ok.

RE: How do you guys stay calm??
 

When I shoot a deer w/ the bow. Its sick to say I think of things that draw my mind away from it, such as mud. I say in my mind mud, mud, mudand think about what mud looks like. I then pick a spot and shoot if the opportunity arises.

RE: How do you guys stay calm??
 

I never consider the deer size (buck). I just put in my mind that its a Doe, and plan out the shot.

RE: How do you guys stay calm??
 

Like some others have said. Experience and get some kills under your belt. But I still get worked up whenever a deer I want to shoot is in range, buck or doe. I have just learned to control it enough to make the shot.

I shoot a lot in the off season too. Then when it comes time to make the shot on a deer,I just sort of go on autopilot. When you have done it a thousand times before, you don't even have to think about it, itjust happens.

RE: How do you guys stay calm??
 

Shooting in front of people a lot (3D, Indoor shoots) teaches you to handle a degree of pressure. I know it's a different kind of pressure, but it is still good for you. Like others have said, shoot all year long under as many varying conditions as you can. Hunting Ground Hogs, Predators in the offseason is a good way to keep your hunter senses sharp also;)

Dan

RE: How do you guys stay calm??
 

i cant describe it...but i go into what i call "kill mode" i dont focus on anything but making the shot. after i verify the game is something i want to kill, i dont focus on anything except making the shot...yardage, shooting lane, drawing, settling the pin, letting loose...

ive never really got the shakes before the shot...ive always been able to make the shot, then usually break down..even at age 12 taking my first deer with a guy that never hunted with me...he was surprised how rock calm i was...then after the shot he thought i was gunna pass out.

one thing that helps me i believe is the fact that ive had a TON of deer up close and personal throughout life...seeing a deer doesnt shock me like it does some people...having a deer up close and personal is nothing new...

my advice...get out and get deer close any time you can...then when hunting focus on making the shot..dont let your nerves take over...focus is key...but you have to get over that initial never jump..i'll admit..catching a glimpse of a deer for the first time still gets me jumpy and shakey and heart beating, but after that initial jump im a rock...

another thing that i think may help is the countless times ive pulled the trigger on other critters throughout life...i dont know..

RE: How do you guys stay calm??
 

I havne't read all the replies, but I believe someone mentioned experience. I'll agree 100%. Letting deer walk, just watching them helped me when I was younger. I also immediately pick the spot I want to shoot, and tell myself "it's only a deer, if he gets away without me shooting, others will come." I'll also admit that since I took up target archery 5 years ago, and having to shoot in front of a crowd once inawhile, has helped my shot confidence and nerves immensely. It's fun out in the woods now, and I can honestly remember every detail of every shot nowadays, right down to the trigger squeeze and my arrow hitting my spot since I've learned how to stay focused.

RE: How do you guys stay calm??
 

After the initial adrenaline rush of seeing a deer, I calm down pretty quick and it's down to business. I used to get all worked up, but experience has allowed me to control the excitement.

RE: How do you guys stay calm??
 

When I first see the deer and decide to shoot I mentally prepare myself. I clip on my release, pick my shooting lane, get in position to draw. I then repeat to myself: "pick a spot, draw, anchor, stay locked on the spot, squeeze, follow through" If I get particularly rattled (rarely happenes now) I repeat to myself that I've made this shot thousands of times before on the 3d range, and in the back yard.

Also, in the offseason, I will do a 100 yard sprint, then go shoot one arrow. This very closely resembles the breathing and heart rate when you have a deer come in that you want to take.

RE: How do you guys stay calm??
 

sounds good, but what did you think to yourself when that monster in your avatar was closing distance? LOL

it is just a target....that'll rip my head off if i miss.