What do you tell yourself?

I wish I could say " I just pull and shoot just like always"

I do the whole routine...arch wrist, wrap index, keep anchor hand still (have a habit of waving to the crowd) follow through..

Stay calm, You have been here before, pick a spot!  It seems I always mentaly "talk to myself" when I feel a shot oppurtunity coming on!

I practice my shot sequence all year and generally just rip back the string and let one fly over his back to start out the season! Talking myself through the shot has been beneficial but when I'm really "on" my focus is fully on the spot I want to hit and the shot sequence comes natural.

Whether I follow the sequence or not, it seems as though if I am focussed enough on the spot I want to hit that everything falls in place. The sequence of steps in my shot is so in-grained from pre-season shooting that it happens naturally as long as I take the time to pick a spot to actually hit.

While I'm in stand I pull back 2 or 3 times going through my sequence as well visualizing as I sit. I also like to practice putting my entire focus on a spot on the forest floor.  Of course once an animal comes by all bets are off!   :confused:

The only thing I think of is focusing on a spot, the shot just happens.

Glad to see people are talking about a sequence, it's the best way to be consistant.  That being said, when I see an animal, I remember to start the sequence, but where it goes from there - I don't know.  I must get to the end, because there's dead animals where I'm shooting.

Bowmania

I just pick a spot.  If you pick a spot, your practice will pay off.

i tell myself "pick a spot pick a spot, thank you god" and release my arrow

I think about normal everyday stuff right up until I release the arrow.  I found that thoughts of expectations and overthinking my shot usually resulted in failure for me, so I don't really concentrate until the last nanosecond.

The last hog i killed I remember being at full draw, just touching my anchor...and I was thinking about how my bowling ball needed to be resurfaced before league play begins.

I think that if I think about a shot sequence while under pressure, I've commited myself to screwing up. When I'm shooting my 3d target out back, I'm thinking about wether I want beans or okra with my fried crappie, or wondering if I paid my cell phone bill.  I used to get yelled at by people because I overthought simple things...so I stopped. Now I look at killing with an arrow as basically 3d shooting with a target that I can eat afterward.  As long as my form is consistent and the animal isn't aware of my presence, everything kinda takes care of itself.

Preplanning shot situations helps me pull the trigger at the most opportune time. What ifs; wind, direction, routes, stops, starts, speed, distance, etc. from every direction.

pick a spot, pick a spot, pick a ......*Swish*  

I remind myself: "Just like the deck, anchor, aim, thumb to the shoulder."

I wish sometimes I would take time especially when I miss. I practice so much everything happens on auto pilot. I look, pull and let it fly. I am working on slowing down just a touch. I am the archer you see who can put 12 arrows down range and wait 2-3 min for everyone else to call clear. It works for me but I miss more than I like at times.

Sure do, i pray for god to guide the arrow everytime, worked great so far!!

From the time the deer is in range, I tell my self to "pick a spot".  Especially after the 1st two deer that I shot at was right over their backs.  Looking back, I shot at the deer, not a spot on the deer.  Aim small, miss small!

Bowwild that thumb to the shoulder statement is right on, especially in the treestand where you're bending and the back shoulder is now up. I'm sure at times because that shoulder is angled up I've unconsciously not gotten my elbow up where it needs to be and therefore allignment suffers resulting in a high shot.

All the time -
WAIT for the proper angle - no eyeball contact - constantly picking the far front leg as a point to aim at - calm - heads behind cover - only draw when I can complete the draw unseen (unless the deer is walking slowly and unalarmed) - Full draw aiming before the draw - Release. Nock another arrow immediately!
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Gosh, I have blown shots more times than I care to remember.

I do, however, recall what was going on when successfully making a nice shot.

1. Start picking a spot well be fore the animal is within bow range.

2. Temporarily placing my mind into target mode and shutting out the fact that it is a live animal.

3. Focus on controlled deep breathing

4. If at all possible, strictly adhere to my form focused practise routine. Think relax especially at anchor.

5. Focusing intently on the spot and virtually blocking out the rest of the animal.

6. Believe in your form and your bow, then allow the release to occurr naturally and complete follow thru.

7. Watch intently and listen for direction animal derparted.

8. Now it is time to fall apart.

good advice Vanilla, "just a 3d target that I can eat afterwards!" I gotta try thinking that thought next shot I get.