Bow hunting: Harder than I thunk it...

[Shinesintx]

Last year was my first year to bow hunt. Shot a couple hogs and even killed a bobcat. In the back yard, I slap em and stack em...starting to think I should enter some competitions because I am such an amazing shot. Yes, I'm really that good.

Tuesday evening a nice spike shows up. My place is in an AR county, so I was pretty excited to see him. His rack looks just like last year on the trail cam. I was a little nervous but thought I was able to calm down enough for the shot. I'm in my 40s and have shot many a deer with a rifle, it's not really that big a deal any more. (Edit: not a big deal with a rifle) using a bow is a different story.

Long story short, I shot under the spike and he just walked off like nothing happened. I don't understand why I got so jittery and excited...and the experience was VERY humbling. I am nowhere near as awesome as I thought I was. Nowhere near where I need to be to take a deer. Did I mention how humbling the experience was. It was still awesome, just disappointed in myself.

So, let me have it. What kind of advice do Yall got? I don't know what to do or how to change things. Appreciate yalls help.

[HoustonHunter]

It happens. Try shooting after you've done some sprinting to simulate the experience of breathing heavily and shooting your bow. Time and more experience seeing deer in the field (close to you) will help.

[hoyt21]

When I get nervous if the Nimal comes on comfortable I watch them till I get comfortable to shoot. Then when it's go time I go through all my mechanics in my head and make sure to follow through the shot. It helps me. I got shacky on the first set of hogs I saw the first weekend of the season. Did as said above and made a good shot at 25-27 yards. Missing is a part of the game

[aframecrider]

If hunting/or taking a deer is not that big of a deal anymore to you, then that may be your problem. I think bow hunting is something you have to take seriously, it obviously requires alot of practice, patience, and attention to detail.

[cgny27]

Dontcha just luv it though!!? So Frustrating and thrilling at the same time!! I like to literally go through scenarios when I'm practicing...seeing the deer...the deer looking at me, head down, back up...draw!!

[Shinesintx]

If hunting/or taking a deer is not that big of a deal anymore to you, then that may be your problem. I think bow hunting is something you have to take seriously, it obviously requires alot of practice, patience, and attention to detail.

Maybe I should have been more specific. Not a big deal with a rifle.

[SM-Houston]

It happens. Try shooting after you've done some sprinting to simulate the experience of breathing heavily and shooting your bow.

We used to run drills like this in the Army to simulate shooting in combat. Helped there. Gotta be good for bowhunting. More so, really, because you only have the one shot. Good advice.

[Wiggins]

Were you in an elevated position and only dropped your arms/ upper body to shoot?

[Stoof]

Breath!
I'm the same way after 5 years of bowhunting. It's nothing for me to shoot a deer with a rifle. When I'm bow hunting my heart starts thumping when I see movement. After a few misses I've stop getting in a hurry. Deep breaths until my heart rate slows down. It also gives the deer at the feeder time to settle in. And to tell you the truth, that heart thumping adrenaline rush is why I love to bow hunt!

[Bowhica]

Were you in an elevated position and only dropped your arms/ upper body to shoot?

My thoughts exactly. You dropped your bow when you hit the release to see the shot. You should see the arrow hit the deer thought your pin sight. This will ensure the arrow has left the rest unchanged from when you hit the release.

Last of the Bowhicans

[Shinesintx]

Were you in an elevated position and only dropped your arms/ upper body to shoot?

Yes, I was elevated 18 feet and sitting down. Just dropped my arms. Why?

[jcbryson82]

I did a little experiment one morning, this may sound really dumb to some of you but I want to recreate the exact way I feel everytime I see a deer through my peep. I get very shaky, jittery and my heart rate goes through the roof! So what I did was, don't poke fun just yet... cause it worked like a charm to recreate the scenario. I made a fresh pot of coffee with my regular, milk and sugar. didn't put anything in my stomach and drank the whole half a pot within 30 mins! Of course here come the jitters and shakes and my heart was pounding after a short jog to the stand. got up in the stand and started shooting with my heart rate up and the shakes. Needless to say at 22 yards my shots were not near as tight as they were but learned to get my breathing under control after about 6 arrows. I still get the fever but I know how to control it, atleast well enough to get off what I feel is a comfortable shot. I know it's a lot of work but that's just my two cents.

[bownutone]

I have found the thing that helps me get calm is to go through my normal shot routine focusing on the spot where I expect the arrow to go. Do not look at the entire deer, just where you want to hit it. Kind of hard to explain, but it helps me.

[doeboy11]

What I do is pretend that the deer is a 3d target, shoot then shake so hard from adreline that my back muscles cramp so bad I swear that I am going to break my back. When you stop getting excited about shooting a deer, imo it is time to stop hunting.

[jcbryson82]

What I do is pretend that the deer is a 3d target, shoot then shake so hard from adreline that my back muscles cramp so bad I swear that I am going to break my back. When you stop getting excited about shooting a deer, imo it is time to stop hunting.

yep...