Dealing with stress

[Northofspokane]

I want to broach the topic that will be the number one nemesis for bow hunters for eternity.  How to deal with very high stress situations while also having to draw a killing weight bow and take the life of an animal.  I have some thoughts on this topic after killing a whole bunch of animals and going through highs and lows of confidence.  I also train people to deal with high stress situations in a professional setting and there are definitely parallels. A ton of research has been conducted on both high stress situations and the act of killing.  Many books have been written about both of these subjects and I would encourage anyone who is attempting to hunt with the traditional bow to do a deep dive into the subject.  I want to start with why I have started this thread, I just watched a video on YouTube by Robert Carter he is someone I love to watch and I think he is very entertaining and insightful.  But he does not shoot 3d tournaments and in his last video he went shooting at a club shoot and basically fell apart (I mean no ill will or I am not criticizing him this is a very common occurrence).  The information I am going to relay in the next couple of sentences will be concise and to the point and will be relatable to you when you have an issue with your confidence, or target panic. 
1 If you have target panic or poor form you MUST fix this first.
2 Fix these problems in a controlled environment and gain confidence.
3 once these problems are resolved in a controlled environment you MUST put yourself under stress and make sure your system works if not go back to steps 1 and 2 (I believe that even if you are not interested in 3D target shooting they are the best way to ratchet up your stress levels).  But you have to find a way to elevate your stress levels.
4 learn controlled breathing techniques
5 Utilize visualization techniques and deliberate practice to reinforce your form and lock in your picking a spot on the animal.
6 If you loose confidence or experience target panic when hunting get creative to figure out what is happening and make corrections.
I would encourage all of you that are interested in this thread to go to YouTube and watch Fred Bear shooting his brown bear and pay attention to his movements as he is preparing for the shot he is jerky and hesitant his “thinking brain” is screaming that this is a horrible idea but he has practiced this shot in his mind and instincts take over.  I humbly submit that this is where we should strive for.  It is and will ever be a constant battle, for research tells us past performance is not a perfect predictor of future performance.  It is the struggle that we all must overcome.
Respectfully
Chris B

[Northofspokane]

I shot my grizzly by myself with the only backup my 44. On my hip which I unsnapped the holster just before I shot.  I had already pictured the arrows flight and when he stepped out of the giant Birch he had walked behind the arrow was on its way just as I had imagined it…….I then shit my pants as he did three 360s bitting at the hickory shaft and I  threw my self bow to the ground and drew my pistol hoping that his trajectory after the spin would not be in my direction.  I can still recall the smell of the fresh day and his odor as I walked up to him breathing his last breath.  I can still see the three yellow fletchings flying through the air as the shaft hit the spot I had imagined.  I would not have been able to pull that off if I had any doubt in myself or my equipment.  Life is grand and god is great don’t waste a moment.
Respectfully
Chris B

[Mint]

It's one of the reason I still compete in 3D shoots at my club and want to overcome the stress of competing. Since i hunt very pressured deer I was constantly getting picked off when i was drawing for a shot and that added tremendously to the stress, whether I would even be able to get a shot off or not. Now i make a conscious effort to make sure my stand in among branches and has adequate back cover and I try to let the deer pass before drawing. Now I hardly ever get picked off and that has brought that element of the stress cycle down considerably.

[Kirkll]

I also train people to deal with high stress situations in a professional setting and there are definitely parallels.

So what is your profession?

Stress is a matter of mind....If you don't mind, it don't matter.... I think folks have a tendency to over think things, and get themselves all worked up over nothing.  If ya can't handle the heat, get  out of the kitchen.

Hunting and competition archery are just not for everyone.....Take a deep breath, and relax... Lower your heart rate, and become one with the arrow....It's as simple as that.

[rastaman]

There are several excellent books, videos, you-tube, etc on target panic.  Jay Kidwell (who used to be a member here i think) had an excellent book on the subject several years ago. He has a PhD in psychology and worked primarily with some world class archers who had that problem. Here is a quote from him that pretty much simplifies the problem..
"Basically, target panic can be identified by the symptoms.  Either you experience a premature release or a premature hold.  A premature release is most common with instinctive shooters and a premature hold is most common with sight or gap shooters.  Often, the premature hold is followed by a push toward the target and a sometimes violent release or plucking in an effort to release the arrow in the direction of the bullseye." There are several good resources for overcoming TP.  I had a case of it a few years ago that took me a few months to work through it with some of those resources.

[M60gunner]

Part about the act of “killing” is a reason I see for wounded animals. Or as Gunny Hartman said, “ the moment of truth”. That slight hesitation, many do, most don’t after a few kills. We may not admit it, may not be conscious of it, but it happens.

[JR Chambers]

Any pics?

[Northofspokane]

I train airline Pilots.  Both in the simulator and the airplane.

[Camp Creek]

LtCol Dave Grossman has some very interesting books on this subject as it relates to combat.

[Roger Norris]

I train and compete in various action shooting disciplines. I have trained folks to react to crisis with a firearm (such as private security teams).

I have never been in a gunfight, and I am counting on training taking over if that unfortunate event happens.

NOTHING like that exists for bowhunting. 3D courses, target shooting.....none of that simulates the adreniline dump of going from the peaceful calm of the treestand to "Oh my God thats the buck of a lifetime!!"

I think all we can do is on the job training.....shoot animals. I always tell new bowhunters to shoot the first couple legal deer they have an opportunity at.

This will be my 50th bowseason coming up. I stiil get the shakes

[McDave]

Anything you can do to keep your mind in the present moment helps.  I think most, if not all of the problems we have with not performing our best under stress are due to the anticipation of something, usually something bad, that might happen in the very near future.  Even the anticipation of something favorable is not helpful, because we can't hit anything in the future, only in the present moment.  They say that visualization helps, but I think that means long term visualization of the path you would like your life to take, not visualizing an arrow sticking out of a deer while it is still sitting in your bow.  The only thing that is helpful in that moment is focusing on the specific steps that need to happen to shoot the arrow correctly, as they are happening.

I think I’ve made the mistake at times of wanting a stressful experience, like shooting a buck or shooting a winning shot in a tournament, to be the same as shooting a shot when I'm wandering around the course with my dog, where I can shoot as well as I’m capable of shooting without thinking about anything.  Maybe some people can make their minds a complete blank in stressful situations, but I certainly can't.  If I try to make my mind all peaceful and blank in a stressful situation, it's just an invitation for all kinds of stressful anticipatory thoughts to rush in.  The only thing I have found to be successful is Joel Turner's method of focusing on exactly what I’m doing loudly enough to override all the distructive thoughts that might otherwise fill up that space.

[Roy from Pa]

  The only thing I have found to be successful is Joel Turner's method of focusing on exactly what I’m doing loudly enough to override all the distructive thoughts that might otherwise fill up that space.

David, I like that theory..

[Flingblade]

What McDave said X2.  I took Joel's class, and it helped me immensely.  The conscious mind can only concentrate on one thing at a time so make it concentrate on the task at hand.  The use of a mantra helps drown everything else out.  When I follow Joel's shot process, I shoot pretty good, but when I get lazy and don't follow it things fall apart quickly. 

[Northofspokane]

Each person is different for sure.  I personally get more stress from competition shooting than I do when hunting. But I have hunted much more than I have had the opportunity to participate in actual competition. 
Respectfully
Chris B

[Jegs.mich]

My mind tends to go a hundred miles an hour in a high pressure situations. After listening to Joel turner and a few other's, what I do know is think about my drawing arm as a hinge. Draw about 1/2-3/4 full draw rotate the elbow around and come to anchor. I don't think there's one answer for everyone.

[Roy from Pa]

Rastaman said earlier,  Jay Kidwell's book is a good read and it really helped me deal with target panic.

[Kirkll]

Each person is different for sure.  I personally get more stress from competition shooting than I do when hunting. But I have hunted much more than I have had the opportunity to participate in actual competition. 
Respectfully
Chris B

Years ago when I did a lot of 3D competition, I found the best way to deal with totally focusing on your spot, and your shooting around others was joining an indoor league during  the winter months, and shooting on a line with guys on both sides of you 3’ apart.

I wasn’t really into the whole indoor thing at all, and actually didn’t really enjoy it all that much. But it forced me to not be distracted and focus totally on my own shooting.

The thing I found most helpful was concentrating on my breathing much like you do with long range shooting with a rifle. Breath in during the draw…. And learn to let the release happen as you let your breath out and relax….its really quite amazing how well that works….  You never even think about the time of release, or anchor point, or anything else, it just happens exactly at the same time….   Kirk

[Northofspokane]

I wish I had an indoor league near me but I live way  out in the country..I originally planned my pole barn with an archery range in the upstairs and a bow building shop in the down stairs.  Then life happened and I got too busy with the kids and work. I am not complaining I am very fortunate to live where I do. Ten target 3d course set up on the property every summer but I live so far out it is tough to get people to drive out to shoot.
Respectfully
Chris B

[Gordon Jabben]

Thanks for posting.

[Bowguy67]

It’s really simple and something I always tell my students. Stress train. You don’t need a long drawn out reason or theory towards that