calm down, slow down, and DON'T over think the shot. Just shoot like you know you can. take a walk and shoot some stumps, start with easy shots to build your confidence. and lastly, from the words of Jimmy V "don't give up, don't give up, don't ever give up"

be sure to post the hero picture that is coming, you will nail the next one!

Ken I'm pulling for you, I have one miss and no deer so far. Hang in there and good luck!!

When I pick a spot, I hit what I am aiming at. When I don't, I miss. Simple as that.
I imagine that most misses with traditional equipment boil down to not concentrating on a spot. It is so easy to shoot at the whole animal, almost always with a bad result. Trust me, I know from experience.

A lot of us have been exactly where you are now. Just keep practicing in your regular way to stay sharp in your form. The main thing I would recommend is to be sure you are picking a spot. We tend to look up at the time of release sometimes, causing us to see the entire deer, not necessarily the exact spot we need to hit. On the bright side, you are getting shot opportunities, so hang in there and let it happen. And it will happen.

I'm going to go against the grain here. My target and live animal shooting has greatly improved by not wasting any time or energy trying to concentrate harder picking a spot. Your brain in very good at taking care of that. I find my sight picture and anchor, hold it on target (even moving), and focus solely on pulling to whatever trigger. Feather to nose etc.

It is against everything we have been taught but is very effective.

Joel Turner explains a lot better than I can in his DVD.

I was told that the human eye likes to pick out straight lines, so if you don't pick a spot and just look at the whole animal, then your eye will settle on the top line/ straight line and miss or hit high. And also like said above bend your torso! Good luck!

Kinda seeing a theme here.  You have been practicing, your form is set.  Now, pick a small spot on that deer, make sure you get the draw all the way back to your normal anchor, then just do it.

I think I am a sick puppy, but I have taken to picking out the spot on nearly any animal I see.  Certainly at Gander Mt, Cabela's and Bass Pro Shop, at their panorama's I sit and imagine, block out the other folks, and pick the critter apart, where is the kill zone,  where are the bones, how is that animal facing,  where do I aim.  You get kinda used to doing that too after a time.

I think it helps.  Course, you shouldn't do that to your neighbor even if his dog did just visit your lawn.

ChuckC

I've been hearing a lot about this "Joel Turner". I may have to get his DVD. Where does one find it?

imagine this...one day you wake up and somethings not right.  You go see the friendly doc.   He says, son I don't know, you're to young for this, your test come back clean, but its obvious somethings not right...so go try these tests....

days go by and symptoms get worse.   You're winded washing dishes.   Try zinging a dozen arrows...it wipes you out enough you sleep for 16 hours. Another doc visit, more positive results, no answers in site, things keep getting worse.

Tests come back with only more tests in site.   no answers, no solutions.      

At some point, just going becomes 'getting it done'.  keep getting it!  when the ride stops, there's no conductor asking your for your punch card!

I missed the same pig 3 times in a row: over, under, you name it! After the third shot I yelled at him to run away and went and collected my arrows.
When I close my eyes I can still see him laughing and pointing at me to this day!  

Sounds like my first two seasons many years ago........pick a spot, pick a spot, pick a spot.....learned to just stare at a few hairs till I got off the shot and it made a big difference..........

Hope you connect Ken.  Be thinking of you as I hunt this weekend.  Good luck!

Relax and pick a spot