whats up with me

[rebel_bowhunter]

its funny the only thing ive been able to hit with my bow is a rabbit at 10 yards but i have missed 2 deer and a hog ranging from 20-30 yards

[Heath]

practice?

[cfortner]

Stage Fright?

I've spent the past couple of weekends shooting 3D and have noticed a pattern. I don't shoot worth a crap at the 20-30 yard targets but give me a 40+ yard target and it's a guaranteed X ring... Whats up with that?

[huntresss]

You always hear about "buck fever", but when's the last time you heard anyone talk about "bunny fever"? You more then likely got a little bit rattled over the deer and hog, while the rabbit wasn't quite enough to get your heart pumpin. You may be experiencing target panic.
-Cheryl

[Rat]

I agree. Sounds like 'buck fever', basically a meltdown.

First, your shooting shouyld be automatic byt he time you draw on an animal; you shouldn't have to think about your anchor, follow through, grip or anything, that stuff shold be automatic. If it's, not you need more time in front of the bag.

If you are shooting well and the above doesn't apply to you it could be you just need more time shooting at live animals. Taking a life has a much more powerfull effect on us than pounding the target. The best way to cure this is to hunt small game, rabbits, squirrels and the like. Not only will it help you in judging yardage, stalking, and making the shot but it will build your confidence when shooting at big game as well.

Practice doesn't make perfect, perfect practice makes perfect!

[Dually]

Just picture the live deer as a very realistic 3-D target. Don't think, just shoot. If you think, you die(Top Gun).

[one-shot]

My problem is seeing a deer to shoot at. Pic a spot and don't forget to aim. The first two deer i shot at i missed because i rushed the shot and didn't aim carefully.

[topherstrux]

you gots the shakes

[kornsqueezer]

Can You say "Buck Fever"

[KSHogman]

buck fever

[slayer]

Buck FEVER!

[stryker93]

Last year was the first year for me to bowhunt exclusively. I missed 2 nice bucks. Heck, I even missed one twice. Towards the end of the season, I finally drilled a nice pig. The difference was I took the time to pick a spot and settle down. I took a doe during extended season and tried to do the same thing. I decided that I did not want that to happen again so I practicied as much as I could. The thing that helped me the most was extending my practice range. The farthest I would practice was 30, but I spent most of my time shooting at 20. Now I shoot out to 50 every time I practice. My range on animals is 30 but the long distance practice really helps to make it feel like anything under 30 is a "chip shot." This year I was 3 for 3 on my shots on deer.

Shane

[Mister Bubba's bulletman]

Practice for success. Like Rat said, it need to be automatic. Rote memory. Do it in you sleep.

One of my buds says he like to "burn a hole" on one specific hair on the deers hide.

Another says "no hair no shoot".

Both are saying that they will not pull the trigger until they have put themselves on target and have stayed on target and are ready to shoot.

They don't think about the rack, the pork chop, the back strap.

One thing I like to do is visualize my shot while I'm sitting in the stand. You don't have to have have a deer in front of you to do this.

Just imagine you're shooting a monster buck. In your mind go through the shooting process. See the arrow passing through the kill zone and sticking into the ground.

Nothing happens without your mind visualizing it.

While you were reading what I just wrote you visualized yourself sitting in your stand shooting a big buck.

Start visualizing shooting game.

It helps you deal with nerve when the time comes.

Memphis should have visualized shooting freethrows when the game was on the line.

They experienced a form of buck fever. Cost them a national championship.

[AndyWayOutWest]

pic a small tiny spot out in the animal's kill zone. Don't just put your pin behind the shoulder and let it rip. If can pick out a tiny spot, it makes your errors smaller. Aim small, miss small. If your hunting hogs, if the hog is muddy or nasty, pick a little muddy spot on his kill zone or different colored spot or something.

[Target-panic]

aim small, miss small........perfect practice makes perfect.........

a Yogieism -- 90% percent of shooting is 50% Mental