Hi everybody got a question you could probably help me out with. I have been bowhunting for the past 7 yrs now and still have never taken a deer with a bow. Although i have taken alot with a rifile i still gotta goose egg on the bow side. My main problem is that i rush the release i think. I will draw back and sometimes wonder after i miss. " did i look thru my peep or not?" Its like when i shoot i gotta see where the arrows gonna hit. My mind says follow the shot thru till the arrow hits the target just like on practice target. If i could just get my body to do what my mind is saying the whole time. Anyone else had this problem before? How did you get over it? And what goes thru your mind at the moment of truth? Any help wd be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
A confused bowhunter [:' (]

There have definitely been a few occasions when I get flustered and tend to not follow my proper shot sequence. Not looking through the peep is just one of the many indicators of this. My only suggestion to you is to contine to practice under the most realistic hunting conditions that you can create. Only through repeated, focused practice can you turn your shot sequence into somewhat of a subconscious act.

E; Some guys will write themselves a little note on the back side of a limb or their risor. It tells them to " Pick a Spot" , " Focus" , or " Don' t screw up dumbass" . Might be just what you need to force yourself to think instead of just letting one fly. Either that or it goes away all by itself after a few hundred lessons.

Lil E I have killed a ton of deer with a gun like you, but it took three seasons before I killed my first with a bow, I only had one shot opportunity before that and blew it, I thought I was calm, but I missed my anchow point and sailed the arrow right over the deers back. Well I practiced my rear end off after that and when I had my second opportunity the shot was simply automatic due to all the practice, everything just felt right and I released and down she went. With me it was just a lot of practice. It could be for you though you need to slow down and do a step by step to make sure you have everthing right before you even touch the release.

I' ve been bowhunting for 12 years and shot plenty of deer already, and I still rush my shots on occasion as well. I think the key is just running through a set scenario in your mind before and during the shot. Every time you practice go over the mechanical steps of the shot. Draw > Look through peep > Pick a spot > hold the pin steady > breathe > shoot. After you do that enough times it becomes habit and hopefully you' ll be able to do it when the time comes.

I shot about 1" over the back of a nice 8 pt on Saturday morning for some reason I haven' t quite figured out yet. I wasn' t nervous, I held my pin dead on him, breathed, relaxed, squeezed my release, and over the arrow went. Sometimes it just happens I guess.

There are many reasons why we miss with a bow,what helps me is to take a deep breath,and let it out slow.Then it all seems to be automatic.
Sounds simple,but it works for me.

Joe

I used to talk myself thru the shot....

" Ok, there he is, wait ' till he gets behind that tree to draw, ok, now draw and wait for him to step out, good, two more steps, when he gets to that tree he will be 20 yds, take him then, ok find the shoulder, good, easy, easy..there' s the shot, follow thru..."

But the last dozen deer or so I have killed eith my bow I couldn' t tell you how I did it, it just kinda happens once you get used to it.

Thanks fellas for the replys! It' s amazing some of the things we forget! I used to be a baseball pitcher from little league to junior high school. Before i would go through my windup i would go thru a set of steps before each pitch and i wouldnt throw untill i was completely locked in on the glove. I can' t believe how much this can relate to hunting. Focus in on your target, anchor and release. I never looked at the batter as a threw, just watched the ball into the glove. Thanks guys you helped me help myself. By most of your replies about going thru a routine it dawned on me that " Hey dummy you did this for 9yrs when you pitched" I will be hunting tomorrow and will let you guys know if i gotta strike out or gave up a home run

Try drawing on deer that you don' t plan on shooting. You won' t believe how much that will help. All the pressure is off because you already know you are not gonna shoot the deer. Go through the whole shot sequence as if you are trying to take the deer. Figure out when to draw the bow, then draw it. If you make it that far then check your form and look through the peep and drill a hole where you want the arrow to go. Is the deer nervous? Calm? You have made it that far so now is the moment of truth....but you just don' t shoot. In your mind you made the shot. This allows you to really focus on what you are doing and then when the shooter comes through...you are more prepared in my opinion.

Also, try positive visualization. When I' m in the stand I use my imagination and pick different spots from where my imaginary deer will appear and I let him walk in. Then I go through the shot sequence in my mind. For me, it really relaxes me when an actual deer comes in because I have already gone through the process many times. It just kind of takes the edge off. Mind games my friend...give it a try and good luck. Jim

Lil E,
The thing that has helped my bowhunting more than anything else is a 3D target. Not only will it aid in shot placement based on the angle you are shooting, but it is the same basic size, shape and color. No markings are visable on my target, so I am forced to pick a spot.....the old aim small miss small mentality.
Anther thing that the 3D target has helped with is concentration. I will step out back and shoot only one arrow. I may do that an hour or so apart 5 or 6 times a day, but only one arrow. If it is a good shot, I know my routine is right and I have done my job. If it is wrong, I have at least an hour to contemplate my error. It is just like I tell my son when we are practicing his shooting, baseball, or hockey. Practice DOES NOT make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect. Try the one shot only routine, and concentrate like you would on a trophy buck. Talk yourself through each shot. After a few days of only getting a single opportunity to shoot, your concentration should start coming around. Good luck.