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Feb 12th, 2024
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 Fellow bow hunters - need your honest opinions
#3740396
11/09/12 06:43 PM
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 6,369
BAR940
OP
THF Trophy Hunter
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OP
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 6,369 |
Saturday evening was in the stand and a new deer appeared that is a monster, like you see on tv. Mainframe 10 with 4 or 5, 4" to 6" kickers. He's pushing high 160s possibly low 170s.
I never could get a shot at him and to be honest I highly doubt I would have connected. I am 36 and have never been able to manage my buck fever......I don't know how. I was standing up in the stand and I began shaking uncontrollably. My legs began shaking so bad the little hackberry tree my stand is in began to literally tremble itself. I honestly thought I was going to fall out of the stand.
I swore I would never carry a rifle since I started bow hunting. That is until that buck and that episode.
Question for y'all: Is there any tricks or secrets y'all use to manage buck fever? Is there anything wrong with me taking this caliber of animal with a rifle instead of a bow?
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Re: Fellow bow hunters - need your honest opinions
[Re: BAR940]
#3740415
11/09/12 06:48 PM
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Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 883
TX_Hoghunter
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 883 |
Personally I am 100% bow hunting only but that is me and not you. You have to decide what you want to do. On the buck fever it will still kick in even with a rifle. Best I can tell you is to not look at the rack and take some deep breaths. When you get ready to shot pick out a small spot and concentrate on it until the arrow arrives. You just have to control your own body instead of the other way around. Whatever you decide to do good luck.
-john
Time to catch a hog..........
A friend of Ken's
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Re: Fellow bow hunters - need your honest opinions
[Re: TX_Hoghunter]
#3740423
11/09/12 06:51 PM
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 6,358
jshouse
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 6,358 |
try combat breathing, it will slow your heart rate and calm you down.
and sorry, but i lol'd reading your post but i wasnt laughing AT you, i was laughing WITH you....you were laughing at yourself werent you? cuz i would have and probably will if i get to see my target buck.
good luck man
If I send my neighbors a text and ask them to give me feedback on my lawn and plant rye into a giant dong pattern, I'm probably going to get some less than positive feedback. Same goes here.
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Re: Fellow bow hunters - need your honest opinions
[Re: TX_Hoghunter]
#3740436
11/09/12 06:55 PM
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 6,369
BAR940
OP
THF Trophy Hunter
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OP
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 6,369 |
Don't get me wrong Id love to take this deer with a bow. On paper I can stack em all the way out to 60. But this deer would have to be at 25 or less. before I even attempted a shot and then I run the risk of getting busted by other eyes. I just don't have the confidence I would connect. Or worse Id connect, wound him bad or gut shoot him and never find him.
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Re: Fellow bow hunters - need your honest opinions
[Re: BAR940]
#3740446
11/09/12 06:57 PM
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 6,369
BAR940
OP
THF Trophy Hunter
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OP
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 6,369 |
I was actually laughing at myself at how little self control I have.
I've shot hogs, yotes and does and never got that way. Let a nice rack walk into range and I lose it.
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Re: Fellow bow hunters - need your honest opinions
[Re: BAR940]
#3740470
11/09/12 07:03 PM
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 29,609
SapperTitan
Taking Requests
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Taking Requests
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 29,609 |
Close your eyes breathe deeply through your nose hold it in for 3 sec and slowly let it out do this 5 times and it should help u out.
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Re: Fellow bow hunters - need your honest opinions
[Re: SapperTitan]
#3740499
11/09/12 07:13 PM
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,486
Smiling Mallard
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,486 |
"Call 'em up close and shoot 'em in the face" 
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Re: Fellow bow hunters - need your honest opinions
[Re: BAR940]
#3740652
11/09/12 07:55 PM
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Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 348
East Texas Archery & Bait
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 348 |
I was actually laughing at myself at how little self control I have.
Let a nice rack walk into range and I lose it. I get that way with women too. haha. seriously tho The longer I can look at an animal the calmer I get. I still have to breath my self calm sometimes tho. Good luck with what ever method you choose.
East Texas Archery - Bait & Tackle.
Mt.Vernon, TX. 75457
903-588-9200
1001 Texas Hwy 37 S
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Re: Fellow bow hunters - need your honest opinions
[Re: East Texas Archery & Bait]
#3740680
11/09/12 08:07 PM
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 4,359
txhunter1010
Extreme Tracker
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Extreme Tracker
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 4,359 |
no shame in breaking out the gun!! i would on a deal like this. yes you can still miss with a rifle but it is a lot less likely...IMO
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 Re: Fellow bow hunters - need your honest opinions
[Re: East Texas Archery & Bait]
#3740688
11/09/12 08:10 PM
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 114
Aaron12
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 114 |
IM reading this post after nearly droping an arrow on a bucks head from shaking so bad and all I can think is..it still happens to the experienced! Man I feel you! that is the weirdest most addicting feeling I ever felt! but when it takes over you and you cant make the shot because of it, it makes me sick to my stomach  ....
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Re: Fellow bow hunters - need your honest opinions
[Re: East Texas Archery & Bait]
#3740696
11/09/12 08:11 PM
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 2,775
TXW
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 2,775 |
Focus on the process and not the result. If all you are thinking of is how great he will look on the wall, you have put pressure on yourself for fear of failing to put him on the wall. However, if you focus on quiet pull, steady anchor point, good target, and smooth release, you might be able to calm the nerves a little better.
Do you play golf? If so, it is the same process as lining up a 3 ft put for $100 and the match. Focus on the process and try to forget about the result.
Good luck and can't wait to see pics.
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Re: Fellow bow hunters - need your honest opinions
[Re: TXW]
#3740954
11/09/12 09:30 PM
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 6,369
BAR940
OP
THF Trophy Hunter
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OP
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 6,369 |
Thank y'all for the opinions, insights and advice.
Txhunter1010 - you're correct you can miss with a rifle. But I am a lot more confident in my abilities with my 7mag out to 300 yards.
TXW - It was extremely hard for me to concentrate that evening
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Re: Fellow bow hunters - need your honest opinions
[Re: BAR940]
#3741566
11/10/12 01:15 AM
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 19,100
dgilbert
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 19,100 |
Don't be ashamed of picking up a rifle. I love bow hunting, but I will rifle hunt too.
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Re: Fellow bow hunters - need your honest opinions
[Re: dgilbert]
#3741755
11/10/12 02:33 AM
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,229
CHRIS1981
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,229 |
If he is that big i would bust out my rifle in a heart beat no way i let a buck of a life time get away, get the rifle, but as far as the buck fever not much to do other than as previously stated.. Deep breaths, do not look at the rack too much.. I still get nervous when a little buck comes out.. But when i quit getting buck fever I will quit hunting.. My uncle gets it so bad he has missed the same 14 point white tail 2 years in a row.. His prob is he sits there counting points then tries to shoot.. My sayin is I count his points when he is on the ground JACK !!! lol
Last edited by CHRIS81; 11/10/12 02:36 AM.
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Re: Fellow bow hunters - need your honest opinions
[Re: CHRIS1981]
#3741793
11/10/12 02:51 AM
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Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 562
Rockstar.3345
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 562 |
Breathing. Telling myself to stay calm or I'll miss and be pissed/ sick.
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Re: Fellow bow hunters - need your honest opinions
[Re: Rockstar.3345]
#3741891
11/10/12 03:27 AM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 11,741
passthru
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 11,741 |
There's no shame in picking up a rifle to hunt him or any other deer. As for the buck fever I don't know what to tell you. At some point I guess I got to the point where I didnt't have to "talk myself down" so to speak. Now i just make a decision before I hunt what animal or caliber of an animal I'm looking for and if it shows I make the decision and focus only on the shot process. I watch the other animals to pick a good draw time and focus on form and the point on the animal I want to hit. The focus seems to over come the adrenaline and it usually gets the job done. Good luck hunting him.
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Re: Fellow bow hunters - need your honest opinions
[Re: passthru]
#3742093
11/10/12 04:50 AM
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Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 659
Nitro27
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 659 |
Whenever you stop getting buck fever you need to stop hunting.
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Re: Fellow bow hunters - need your honest opinions
[Re: Nitro27]
#3756992
11/15/12 12:19 AM
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 129
Death_By_Broadhead
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 129 |
There is no shame in picking up the rifle for a nice buck. If you are seeing him consistently you might try the bow a little longer if you are confident of his pattern.
As far as buck fever, I try what most have suggested. Typically, I can control myself until after the shot. However, sometimes buck fever strikes me even when I'm about to harvest a doe.
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Re: Fellow bow hunters - need your honest opinions
[Re: Death_By_Broadhead]
#3758753
11/15/12 04:06 PM
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 721
Txnrog
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 721 |
As soon as I decide I am going to shoot the deer, I quit looking at the rack, focus purely on the shoulder, and get into my shot sequence. Focus on controlling your breathing as others have mentioned, and don't attempt to draw until you have yourself under control.
Also, practice using a long hold - IMO buck fever produces the same difficulty shooting as when you hold back too long. In your back yard draw and hold till you start to shake, then try to get yourself in control, push thru it, and execute the shot. Once you get confidence doing that, you'll have more confidence in the tree.
As far as a rifle, that's a personal decision. For me, it wouldn't mean as much to me with a rifle (but I have shot a lot of nice critters with a rifle), so I'd stick with a bow. But if it gets you just as excited, go for it.
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Re: Fellow bow hunters - need your honest opinions
[Re: Txnrog]
#3758866
11/15/12 04:34 PM
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 127
hunter1313
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 127 |
"Stay calm amd pick a spot" that was a sticker that was on one of my old bow when I was younger. Like said above dont look at the rack and focus on the shot placement.If your heart is not going to race when you see a good deer why even bother going anymore.
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Re: Fellow bow hunters - need your honest opinions
[Re: BAR940]
#3758996
11/15/12 05:08 PM
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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,411
Mud Shark
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,411 |
Saturday evening was in the stand and a new deer appeared that is a monster, like you see on tv. Mainframe 10 with 4 or 5, 4" to 6" kickers. He's pushing high 160s possibly low 170s.
I never could get a shot at him and to be honest I highly doubt I would have connected. I am 36 and have never been able to manage my buck fever......I don't know how. I was standing up in the stand and I began shaking uncontrollably. My legs began shaking so bad the little hackberry tree my stand is in began to literally tremble itself. I honestly thought I was going to fall out of the stand.
I swore I would never carry a rifle since I started bow hunting. That is until that buck and that episode.
Question for y'all: Is there any tricks or secrets y'all use to manage buck fever? Is there anything wrong with me taking this caliber of animal with a rifle instead of a bow? As others have said, try to control your breathing. Deep breaths in, hold slightly, slow, quiet deep breaths out. Do this until you can control yourself. As far as the buck fever goes, if I ever lose that feeling I'll stop hunting. I mean, we all love to kill/harvest (I know some people get pissy when you use kill and not harvest, but to me it's just putting lipstick on a pig) deer. It's in the Bible for us to do so. It's fun. It allows us to spend time with our loved one and friends. But that feeling you had comes when you hunt with a rifle or a bow. It's not prejudice. It's a feeling that you cannot explain or duplicate. It's the feeling that puts your [censored] back in stand to sit all day. That feeling is the reason that most of us hunt.
Mud Shark
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Re: Fellow bow hunters - need your honest opinions
[Re: Mud Shark]
#3760208
11/16/12 12:26 AM
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 114
Aaron12
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 114 |
[quote=BAR940]But that feeling you had comes when you hunt with a rifle or a bow. It's not prejudice. It's a feeling that you cannot explain or duplicate. It's the feeling that puts your [censored] back in stand to sit all day. That feeling is the reason that most of us hunt. That makes me want to cry! the words there jus so Beautiful! 
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Re: Fellow bow hunters - need your honest opinions
[Re: Aaron12]
#3760237
11/16/12 12:34 AM
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 35,899
txshntr
T-Rex Arms
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T-Rex Arms
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 35,899 |
I would call your hunt a success. That feeling is the reason I go back over and over. It does seem to get worse when I second guess myself and my confidence waivers. For me, the shakes don't kick in to that extreme until after the shot. I will shake as the buck comes in, but it goes still once I come to full draw. I go through my shot routine and think through the shot instead of the animal. Once I pull the trigger, I fall apart  I would have no problem pulling out the gun on a monster buck, but would prefer to take him with a bow. Good luck 
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Re: Fellow bow hunters - need your honest opinions
[Re: txshntr]
#3765749
11/18/12 05:23 AM
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Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 3
Jthurman
Green Horn
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Green Horn
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 3 |
Trophy Hunter you need to ask Jesus for peace man, he will give it to you! that is what i do and it works every time man, He says the peace He gives the world cannot give. He is amazing and is eager to help us obey His command of using animals for food! Trust me man, Jesus is the answer to the shakes! lol 
Jesus is Lord!
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Re: Fellow bow hunters - need your honest opinions
[Re: Jthurman]
#3768104
11/19/12 03:16 AM
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 577
millerliteliker
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 577 |
I got buck fever just the other night. I rattled a huge 10 point to within 53 yards. My heart was about to come out of my chest. That's why I love bow hunting!
No, I did not try the shot and I could not get him to come in any closer, but that is the challenge of bow hunting.
I have actually been able to make some good shots even while suffering "the fever". You might be surprised at what you can do - just let your instincts take over.
Mathews Z7 Bow for Whitetail and Hogs
Remington R-15 .223 REM for predators
I also like to "hunt" sporting clays with my Benelli SuperSport!
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