I used to get nervous at times. I can honestly say that I don't anymore. BUT.. when I did I had several little tricks. One, as the deer comes in start planning how and when to stand if you're seated, look for other deer that could screw the deal or might be better targets, start positioning your body for the shot, keep eyeballing around for other deer, envision the shot(where it'll come, when you'll draw) As the deer comes in and changes directions you've already thought of that move maybe. If you really start to shake... CLOSE your eyes and take 2 or 3 deep breaths and let them out quietly. Open the eyes, check the deer, close the eyes and take a couple more breaths. I don't worry about the deer I'm going to shoot anymore... I look for his buddies and make sure I don't get busted. I look at my deer when it's time to draw and shoot.

Try to think of what you need to do to get the shot off, squeeze (don't jerk release), the follow through, etc. Pick your spot, make it small, concentrate on the target, not the pins. And above all don't rush the shot.

Basically, I try not to focus on just the deer, but on what I need to do to get the shot off cleanly.

Expect to see him. Everytime you go out hunting, expect to see that big deer. You'll be ready when it finally happens.

J

Just imagine the deer naked

OH yea good ol buck fever[&o] The way i do it is i tell myself i am the dominant predator in these woods and i can kill anything that i want to, and if i dont see a deer for a long time and one comes along that is a shooter to help me get the jitters out i get angry at the deer, lol. I know it sounds silly but me being mad and saying i am going to shoot you really helps me out to settle down, because instead of being nervous i am angry, not to the point where i am shaking but i am calm and i get the job done everytime.

My son, Joe, is one cool dude when it comes to shot time. He has tremendous focus on his task and then executes with uncanny results for only a 3 season bow hunter. I on the other hand have a difficult time relaxing myself at that most important time. When I was younger I was like my boy but in recent years I liken it to an older golfer having the yips sneak into his putting stroke. This summer I will be practicing much more often on small game, that gets my adrenaline going, hoping that numerous encounters with live game will help me overcome my recently learned behavior of yipping on shots.

I hear what your saying with this one totally!! I've never shot a buck with my bow, so I don't know how that one is going to go. But with the doe that I've shot, I keep telling myself "It's just a doe, it's just a doe". I've shot many, many doe gun hunting and I don't get nervous or get the shakes till after the shot is made. It never has worked yet to calm myself down because every DANG time I draw on one, I'm shakin to beat heck. I guess that's what makes this sport so great! Hopefully with a few more kills and a few better techniques, the 1st initial shakes go away a bit. Don't get me wrong, I love the feeling but it would make for a lot heck of an easier shot.

ROTFLMAO!