I can shoot in my yard all day and shot great. Put a deer in front of me, well let's just say, adrenaline kills me. I shake so bad. I struggle to pick a spot. I've missed two deer already. The second dropped further than I've ever seen a deer drop but still, I missed. Now my confidence is in the trash and I shake worse. What are some mental things I can practice to work through this? I need help.
I don't know the answer, but I do know it gets somewhat easier to control your emotions once you get a few under your belt!
At least you had missed, and not wounds that ended up with unrecovered deer!
Good luck to you!
Bisch
I used to get the nervousness, even when using a rifle, and what worked for me is hunting while hungry. I hunted in the morning and didn't eat before I went, I did bring something for when I was done hunting though.
I think some scientific biological stuff happens between my brain and the rest of me when my brain is in survival mode. I find myself focusing on the task at hand as if the stalk and the shot is detrimental, instead of simply shooting a deer.
But it might not work for everyone.
When you STOP shaking, it's time to stop hunting!!! One day, it will all come together...
Usually it will happen with a "quick shot" where you have no time to think, and your "instinct" takes over. If you think you shake now... Wait untill THAT happens!!!!!
What Woodchucker said.
QuoteOriginally posted by woodchucker:
When you STOP shaking, it's time to stop hunting!!! One day, it will all come together...
Usually it will happen with a "quick shot" where you have no time to think, and your "instinct" takes over. If you think you shake now... Wait untill THAT happens!!!!!
I agree with this! But for me it is a little different. When I first see a critter that I think is a shooter, I usually get some shakes. When I decide it is time to shoot, all that goes away, and I don't feel nervous at all. I know my heartrate and breathing rate are still elevated, but I feel solid as a rock. It is after I see my arrow hit the critter that I start shaking like crazy, especially if it is cold out!
Bisch
I like what Mike said......hunt hungry.
Gonna be hard. But how about a little psychology.
Go hunting. But NOT with the intent to shoot. You've obviously had some opportunities. There will be more. Go out. Take your bow. Sit in stand. Spend time observing the animals and get control of your physiology. Just watch them. Take some pictures of them. MENTALLY go through the the motions of shooting them. Maybe shoot some squirrels here and there So you can practice on live animals. Then after a while when you feel you may have gotten better control of the shot. Give it a go..
I started having that problem with my rifle hunting. I learned to stop, take a breath and focus solely on the SPOT I want to hit, not the animal. I found I did a lot better.
I walk around all year and acquire targets, pick spots and shoot it ( in my head). Dogs, cats, squirrels, deer, cows. Go to Cabelas or Gander Mtn if you have one and walk up to their various mounts and do the same. Acquire, pick a spot, aim shoot.
Work into the real game. It is the same...
ChuckC
I picked up this tip from some military snipers and martial arts.
Three slow deeps breaths, in through your nose, out through your mouth.
Oxygenates the blood while giving time to focus on the task at hand.
X2 what Dorado said.
Look only at the spot you want to hit, not the whole animal until after the arrow hits.
Another thing is to focus on the shot sequence.
Draw
anchor
Pick a spot
Focus
Release
Follow through
Yes...it'll be hard to do, but next few deer you see, unless it's a gimme shot ultra close, just watch. Let your heart rate slow. If the deer is still around once it slows, then try a shot.
Bob, what you're experiencing is pressure. People in an archery tournament may experience similar pressure, as some people might if they have to make a business presentation in front of a group, or perhaps someone who would like to ask a girl out on a date. If it helps you any, psychologists have shown that nobody performs their best under pressure. People say they do, but they don't. Your tongue gets tied in front of a group, you sound like an idiot in front of the girl, or all your normal brain/body connections that work so well when you're practicing a shot somehow get disconnected.
Some people do perform better if they are competing, but if they do, it's because competing is a positive experience for them, and not one that causes them to feel pressure. What causes pressure for one person might not cause pressure for the next.
If you are feeling pressure in any of the situations I mentioned above, or a lot of situations I didn't mention, you can't wish it away. Accept it, and promise yourself that you'll do the best you can, which probably won't be as good as the best you could possibly do. All the advice above is good. The more you expose yourself to pressure situations, the better you'll be able to deal with them.
I am exhibit A. After well over a hundred deer with a bow, I still can loose it on a fat doe. Never on a buck. I will say that if I focus on the spot that I want to hit from the moment I see the deer I do ok. When I start watching their eyes or their movements and trying to guess what they are going to,do I get nervous.
Have you killed any small game, that may help. Maybe telling yourself your shooting at a spot not a deer.
Im with Matty. Just go out but dont intend to shoot. Get used to deer being in close and watch them. Just observe.
QuoteOriginally posted by McDave:
Bob, what you're experiencing is pressure. People in an archery tournament may experience similar pressure, as some people might if they have to make a business presentation in front of a group, or perhaps someone who would like to ask a girl out on a date. If it helps you any, psychologists have shown that nobody performs their best under pressure. People say they do, but they don't. Your tongue gets tied in front of a group, you sound like an idiot in front of the girl, or all your normal brain/body connections that work so well when you're practicing a shot somehow get disconnected.
Some people do perform better if they are competing, but if they do, it's because competing is a positive experience for them, and not one that causes them to feel pressure. What causes pressure for one person might not cause pressure for the next.
If you are feeling pressure in any of the situations I mentioned above, or a lot of situations I didn't mention, you can't wish it away. Accept it, and promise yourself that you'll do the best you can, which probably won't be as good as the best you could possibly do. All the advice above is good. The more you expose yourself to pressure situations, the better you'll be able to deal with them.
That is very solid info, McDave!!!!!!
Bisch
I too agree with Mcdave. I know about this problem. Have experienced it way too often. And taking a lot of game is NOT a cure. I've taken lots of game and still battle the pressure to perform.
This is tough to get control of. Sort of like target panic. When you get your next shot, and you will, talk to yourself. Tell yourself to relax, take your time. Draw hold and let up. Breath deeply as suggested by others. When you feel in control, go through your normal shot sequence. Pick a spot where you need the arrow to hit.
Relax... And perform the shot. I sometimes have imagine a leaf or stump where I want to hit. It takes control. You can do it!
QuoteOriginally posted by CRS:
I picked up this tip from some military snipers and martial arts.
Three slow deeps breaths, in through your nose, out through your mouth.
Oxygenates the blood while giving time to focus on the task at hand.
This is spot on.... if you work your breathing into your practice it will help your accuracy level too.....
I tend to go into a dead calm when the moment of truth is upon me, and get my adrenaline surge AFTER the shot. Then i shake like a leaf..LOL
I shoot my best at game when I have as little time as possible to get worked up. I hunt an area where it is so thick that the deer are on you before you know it and you just have to grab the bow and go! If I see a big buck off in the distance and he slowly and methodically works my way and then I get a shooting opportunity I get waaaaaaaay more worked up prior to the shot. Keep at it. I still get very over excited and jittery but I love it! And I have become better in time with executing during those times.
Next deer regardless of what it is draw down on them and then let off and just sit there don't shoot. Try that for a few deer and get the motion of going through the sequesnce. You might find it settles your nerves down some.Try it and let us know.
Good luck.
Thanks guys. This is killing me. I've killed loads of deer with a compound, I always shook but I was able to draw ahead of time and hold, this seemed to help settle my nerves. I will try the above ideas and get back to you. Thanks again.
just keep going. I'm right there with you, I know I will miss again at some point, but this is why I chose this journey.
I've bowhunted close to 30 years and still get excited and shaky but after the shot. Focus on a single hair to hit with your broadhead... Forget the "whole deer" pick a single hair to hit and only look there. I call this going into automatic mode. This has helped me. If you can't get focused on a tiny spot to hit don't draw your bow. Focus erases all other issues. Fall apart after is fine and I still giggle a bit as my legs shake for a minute after a close encounter. Bowhunting is awesome!!
Focus on a spot concentrate on that and it helps put all rest of what is going on in your mind on the back burner (somewhat at least). Even so sometimes things just happen. Saturday evening had a doe at 18yds. - seemed like it took forever for her to move into my shooting lane, I finally had a shot. Drew on her and focused just like I stated above. Just as I decided to let the arrow loose she turned 180 degrees and by the time the arrow got there it her rump was now where her lungs were. If she hadn't moved I would have had a good double lung shot. I couldn't believe my eyes. I walked the side of that ridge looking for blood or my arrow - nothing. Sometimes things happen - you just have to keep at it. Go get that next one.
Focus on your shot routine. I am a golf pro and I teach pre shot routines all the time. I ingrain that routine during practice when theres no pressure. When the pressure is on that routine helps people feel more comfortable and the process becomes more subconscious.
I still get the shakes every time too. Even if a deer walks by that I have no intention of taking a shot at I still get excited. That excitement is why most of us hunt so embrace it and don't be too hard on yourself. A lot of the very experienced guys on here have said they still get the shakes. I think they just learn how to perform with them.