Game Panic

[knobby]

Clint, I have exactly the same problem. If I wasn't having so much fun getting to that point,I would have quit a long time ago. But that's not a good option.
   After years of fighting and frustration, I swallowed my pride and put a single sight pin on my bow. I think it helps because it mandates coming to full draw before the aiming process begins. I reach full draw every time now. Yes, a good shot still has to be executed, but you WILL be at full draw. Did you ever short draw with your compound? Probably not. The pin would also put you back in a "comfort zone" that you were familiar with when hunting with your compound. That is, "draw, anchor, aim and THEN release".
   It's certainly not a cure-all for missing, 'cause that can still occur for other reasons, but I honestly believe that the single pin will get you where you want to be...at full draw. After that, the rest is still up to you. I highly recommend it, because I know what you're going through. It's no fun.
   Good luck, and keep us posted.
                                 knobby

[Daddy Bear]

Do you have opportunities to hunt small game with your trad tackle? If so, do you suffer buck fever on small game as well??

It's been many years ago for me, but my dad and Grand dad had me hunting small game with a longbow for many years before they allowed me to loose an arrow on a deer. It worked for me as I arrowed my first deer at age 12 and by that time I had arrowed countless small game animals. I found the deer far easier to hit as it was a much larger target:) I understand today that all of that small game hunting I had experienced prior to the deer worked in my favor to reduce any game panic felt. I'm using this same method on my daughter and will have her hunting small game a couple of years before I let her arrow a deer.

later,

Daddy Bear

[Clint T]

Just this season I have killed 2 squirrels, 2 racoons, and 1 wood duck while deer hunting. Small game does not have near the effect on me as a deer. Now sometimes I do still get the "yips" or flinch at a small game shot but never just a complete meltdown. Its the same thing everytime, as I try to draw and hit anchor and aquire the aiming spot on a deer I suddenly just let go of the string well before I have hit form. Just a loss of control. As the sight picture begins to come into place I am so in a state of anticipation that I lose control!?!? The only time I have fully achieved anchor and proper form on a deer is if it is a deer I clearly do not want to take, then I can let down.

[Mo. Huntin]

This might sound weird but maybe you should enjoy that adrenaline a little bit.  I have found that now days I don't usually get near as shook up as I used to and now some of the excitement is gone.  I do feel your pain though I have definately payed my dues.  Please don't think I am being arrogant I am not a killing machine.  I am just saying enjoy the ride.  just a different point of view

[tarponnut]

Clint,
I have very similar symptoms to yours.
For me, it comes and goes. I also have trouble reaching full draw on game at times. Hunting hogs here in Florida year-round has helped me some because you get a lot of shot opportunities,but I still miss an "easy shot" once in a while.
On a recent hunt, I missed a hog at 12 yards high. The next morning I shot a squirrel at 18 yards, go figure.
I just keep practicing, enjoy my hunts, and keep my shots close or not at all.

[Clint T]

Thanks. I have had several people tell me the same. I just wish it would subside enough where I could execute! People always say "you need to get something you can hit with"!! I am quick to tell them I can hit with my stick, I just can't shoot it under pressure!?!? Which leads to another question, I thought adrenaline makes you strong???? The first thing I notice as I go to draw (on a deer that is) is a feeling of weekness?!! Is that typical or normal. I dont understand how the adrenaline rush really works other than the end result which is NO VENISON ON MY TABLE!!! I watch the guys on TV like Byron ferguson and that other young guy named Byron (something) and they shoot animals with such ease and perfect form/control). That is what I admire about them the most is how they are in complete CONTROL of their shooting. I can do that in practice on many days but not on deer. Not yet anyway.

[Mo. Huntin]

I am to lazy to read all the comments on here but I would suggest a clicker.  I hate problems of the mind.  My dad never understood target panic when I suffered early on, he shot compound and just got it out a month before season.  I think shooting to much can be a bad thing but I used to get target panic on targets.  I don't want to think about it much or it might come back.  I always have to tell my self when an animal aproaches my part is not done until the arrow is in the animal and their aint no do overs.

[Mo. Huntin]

I also feel a weekness in my arms and legs.  My legs used to shake uncontrolably.  I have had to put my finger on my arrow to keep it from dinking on my rest.  One time I got so shook up on a couple of bucks I thought I might literaly have a stroke and I started belching.  I am not kidding I got down and left so there was no chance they might come back.  It scarred me.

[overbo]

May sound weird but I talk myself into a state of anger at my target.As if it was a threat of some sort.When I feel that uncontrolable state of mind coming on,I start cursing and threatening the animal as if I where to get in a fight w/ it.

[KSdan]

If you were to see the few 155-165" deer I have missed like this, YOU would cry for me!! 12 yards over the back. . . story of my trad hunting career.

This has been my ordeal.  The only thing that has worked for me (though still always in progress) is an understanding from Jay Kidwell's book called "stimulus confusion."  His remedies really helped me. . .

I no longer "pick a spot."  It just does not work for me.  Instead, I practice all year shooting nothing but a small black dot the size of a silver dollar.  (I acutally put one on everything I shoot)  When I shoot at an animal- I am still shooting at nothing but a black dot.  My mind rarely knows the difference.  Its called the "button method."  Jay uses a button and carries it around with him.  I have a friend that uses a washer- it also worked for him.

This is a brain issue guys- it can't be solved by more physical practice.  It is mental skills we have to learn.  I have friends who are world-class athletes who have to practice similar skills. . . it is a different skill-set that must be learned and practiced.    

I see few hunters/bowhunters ever address it.  

Good shooting
Dan

[Clint T]

Couldnt agree with you more! I am just surprised that as many people that struggle with this in some shape or form and as much study as I am sure has been done, that there is not an accepted set method of cure for it that works for at least most people. Seems like everyone has some technique they have tried or are trying and having some degree of success but there does not seem to be a "rock solid" step by step procedure for a cure. If the issue was just something physical then practice and more practice would be the simple answer. I remember when I first started shooting I was horrible but week after week and month after month things came around till I couldnt be more satified with my backyard shooting now. Just about all the little "demons" have disappeared (at least for the most part)But then out steps that deer and "POOF" there goes all my ability right out the window. I really thought that the cure would be to see deer and be around deer all the time to decensative myself to them so that shooting at one is no big deal. I live in the country with lots of deer around my property so I set feeders up in my yard where I see them all the time, year round. I will watch them from inside the house and even while mowing in the summer. It is no surprise to see a deer at all for me.Doesnt really seem to help though. Hunted for 23 years with a compound till that just became "killing". Was no longer a thrill of any kind. In my opinion, todays compound bows have very few differences than an open site rifle. I guess I just got so used to the compound "doing all the work" for me that it will take some time to get used to executing on a deer with trad equipment. I would much rather deal with a physical handicap than a mental one.I have a friend of mine who met a bowyer in Ozona Tx. Though he is good at hunting animals with a bow now, he said he missed the first 55 deer he shot at before he brought one home. Said he would "panick" everytime. When I first heard that story I laughed and thought no-way!!! Well, I aint at 55 but I can assure you I AINT LAUGHING no more either! Hard for me to imagine watching video of accomplished trad hunters make a steady draw, anchor and a good release (when they want to release) on a deer and seem to be so calm. Like an incredible GIFT. When a deer comes in on me and gives me a good close shot I feel inside like I am about as capable of making that shot as I would be juggling dominoes while falling out of a plane!! Body gets week, mind goes haywire!!! Hopefully with time some of this will subside. I love shooting the bow to much to quit!

[Paul J.]

My name is Paul and I have the same problem. man,
I feel like I am at an A.A. meeting. I have killed quite a few animals over the years, but for some reason this year I have hit the same wall
that you are describing. I will readily admit that I still get excited when I know that I am
about to shoot!! my problem is that I worry about
the animal seeing me draw and I release prematurily. Never had this problem until this year, and have missed more animals than I care to
admit.
                     Paul J.

[tradtusker]

i its interesting i have this problem every now and then! depends on the animal depends on the situation. what i found was i was shooting to much just for the sake of shooting, releasing  when i was close instead of "on" target. found i was doing it on small game also just to excited to get the shot away. my brain was trying to make things happen to quickly and i went from draw-anchor-aim-release on targets to draw-release on game if i was not focusing enough.

 i decided to put a clicker on my bow that made a big difference, you can tell when you cheat a full draw as it wont click. it ads a sequence to the shot that your brain can not mistake "the click at full draw"

so if you have a problem getting to full draw a clicker is worth trying out.

[Clint T]

Well, I do want to say thanks to all of you for your comments/suggestions. It was a rough season dealing with this game panic. I did arrow me an average 8pt on dec 30th. Made a perfect double lung hit at 15 yds. My form was not perfect as again I did not settle into anchor, everything was kind of "rushed" as always. Something I have yet to get control of. That gives me a doe and a buck for the season which would not sound so bad if it werent for all the melt downs in the mix. Some how some way I have got to learn to make every practice session just like a real hunting situation with the same amount of pressure. We all know that, that, is not possible though. Just curious about something though for any of you veterans out there. When you actually shoot at a deer does anyone actually get to perfect form, know your at perfect form, and release totally when you want to under absolute control??? It all just seems to happen on its on for me without any kind of actual thought process going on. This is what seems to be killing me the most.

[amicus]

Thanks for posting Clint. I was thinking I was the only one that was having problems. I have missed 3 nice bucks this season. I missed the same one twice. I know its a lack of focus but I also feel rushed. I have until this weekend to redeem myself.  Thanks again.

Gilbert

[jrchambers]

you show me a guy that says they have never had this issue ill show you a liar.  this is the reason we got into trad hunting, I dont get jitters with the gun anymore but i hope they dont go away with the bow,  when you can have that much adrenaline and not even having shot a arow,  thats what its all about.

[joe skipp]

Everyone suffered through this one time or another. Its all concentration and focus. We call it the "Zombie" effect.

Once you determine your going to get the shot off, you totally focus on the spot you want to hit and become oblivious to your surroundings. Just like in the movie, Night of the Living Dead..people walking around staring straight ahead, eyes wide open...

Same principle applied to the vitals on the animal you want to kill.