RE: Letter of Resignition?
 

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

RE: Letter of Resignition?
 

You mean some people DON' T get the fever? If I ever got that way, I' d quit hunting. The sweaty palms, heart pounding in your throat and shakey knees, the adrenaline rush... that' s where the FUN is. :)

RE: Letter of Resignition?
 

I agree. Isn' t it cool though how the shakes go away immediately after you draw? Just quiet! I love that.

Greg

RE: Letter of Resignition?
 

IT AIN' T THE BROADHEADS! Your arrow is flying over 250 fps and I don' t care if you are shooting the dullest broadheads in the county, if you put it in the boiler room you will be getting enough penetration to do the job. I make sure to shoot brand new heads but that is not necessarily your issue. What your issue is I am not sure but I would guess it lies with you rather than the equipment. Better luck next time. I' ve shot some very nice deer in my day but I' ve also sadly wounded some...like wv hunter said when I first started it was a bit ugly. [X(]

RE: Letter of Resignition?
 

i have the same problem as bounty hunter last year a stuck a buck didint find it and did the same thing this year it not because your a bad shoot iam one of the top guy at 3-d shoots but when it come to deer i get to exiceted... like wear said talk your way through the shoot..... just think your shooting at a target pick a spot and squeeze... once you get the frist one its all down hill:D

RE: Letter of Resignition?
 

Me too. Funny how it affects some differently than others. I' m usually very calm until AFTER I shoot. Then I have to hug the tree to keep from falling out of it. I guess it' s my own way of making sure I wait a bit before getting down to track it. LOL