buckmine

This years action has been great. I have seen many deer and choose to let them walk. This past week was the first time in ten years I pulled back on a deer and had it in my sights. Stopped behind brush and wasn't sure if it was a fawn or doe.
I had a nice buck chasing two does during gun season. Never gave me a shot but while this was happening I tried rattling, doe can, and grunting and a doe and two fawns came within 10 yards. My noise didn't effect them and the buck never left those two does.
I also seemed to have lessoned in my shaking after having seen a deer. Even bucks but that doesn't mean I won't when I have my mind made up that I am going to shoot.
Anyone else lesson their shakes?

TxCowboy

This was my 4th year of trying to get my first bow kill. I just couldn't get a doe under 20yrds to present me witht a perfect shot in yrs past. This year in October, I sat on the stand and saw several does feeding one morning but only the fawns came close enough for a shot. I watched them for almost 20 minutes. By the time the left I was very calm about having those deer so close to me. A few minutes later when another group of does entered the field they were right under me. There were 5 does there in front of me all under 20 yrds. I picked the biggest one and waited for the best shot. It was hard to draw with so many eyes looking around but I managed to come to full draw. I was amazed that I wasn't shaking! I calmly picked a hair behind the shoulder and squeezed the release. Perfect pass thru, double lung shot for my first bow kill.

I tell that long story to say, yes I think seeing those other deer first and getting over the inital shock of having so many deer that close to me, helped me stay calm when the moment of truth came. Now if you put a 130 class P&Y rack on that deer, I'd probably be more nervous!<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

--------------------------------------------
Hunting the Piney Woods of Deep East Texas.

mauser06

probally hard to believe but when shooting im like a rock..no heavy breathing or anything..just put the crosshairs where they need to be and let one fly...then i let my ecitment and everything run wild...my breathing goes crazy...i shake like a leaf and all the great stuff that keeps us going...first deer i ever shot i was with a pretty good hunter..hes 40+yrs old and taken lots of deer in different states..he took me because my dad had to work and it was the last day..he couldnt believe how steady and calm and controled i was before the shot....after the shot he thought i was going to pass out! just dont think about it just focus on making a clean kill and hold back on getting excited..thats how i do it..

sky_guy_61

Good point mauser. I find that lots of practice shooting helps.. because then your instincts take over when shooting. I use an air rifle in my back yard when I cant get to the range.. and practice constantly.

skeeter 7MM

I seem to get more shaky or nervous when i know I am not going to shoot....weird. When I am shooting it seems all second nature.

Allen Denton

Just as a few others said, I get excited after the shot. I killed a nice 10 point (first 10 of my career) and I was as calm as could be during the shoot and then got the shakes and all exicited. I do let deer go by and it is not the same as when you are going to take the shot but I do think it helps to let them go.

TxCowboy

I guess I spoke only about bowhunting and didn't mention gun hunting. To me gun hunting is a totally different story. I've shot most of my deer over 150yrds and I've never really gotten nervous. I guess the reason I don't get nervous is because I'm normally so far away from the deer gun hunting. When I'm sitting in an open stand 10-20 yrds from a deer and I can hear it breathing, that is when I get nervous. I videoed myself shooting a nice 10pt at 220yrds. I watched him for 2 or 3 minutes because I was waiting for him to be standing perfect since I take mostly neck shots. As soon as I pull the trigger, now THAT'S when I get to shaking!lol Knowing that I just shot a buck makes me shake like leaf. I just can't wait to get down there and see that rack.<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

--------------------------------------------
Hunting the Piney Woods of Deep East Texas.

propmahn

when i see the deer moving inot range i get the shakes and my heart rate jumps sky high but when i move the gun into position i seem to calm down and back to normal before i pull the trigger

propmahn
save the world, reload your brass

Shaggy2

I have found that I am more comfortable when deer are around now than I used to be. I think allowing deer to walk pass you and being selective helps to ease buck feavor.

I also agree that confidence in your shooting abilty helps. I usually don't have much for shakes until after the shot.