I’ll be the first to admit I get buck fever on a regular basis. (Basically any game animal)

Haven’t missed a shot in a while but my crosshairs are all over the place.

Basically just squeeze the 1lb. trigger like a shotgun when the crosshairs pass over the vitals.

Not sure if going to a lighter caliber would reduce the shakes.

My logic was, since I’m such a gitty shooter, I need a big gun so even a marginal shot will kill the animal.

Anyone else had this issue?

Try dry firing or have someone else load the rifle and you don’t know if it’s loaded or not. If you have a flinch it will be obvious.

What are you considering a large caliber? It doesn’t take a cannon to kill a deer, but shot placement is always important. You know if the recoil bothers you, by making this post I’m assuming it dose. I’d try more practice, a brake or suppressor managed recoil ammo, or a smaller cartridge or some combination there off if the recoil is too much for you.

It’s really not the force of the recoil, just the surprise of it.

I’m capable of making good shots but once the adrenaline starts pumping it’s a whole different ballgame.

Have a 7 mag suppressed and it kicks no harder than a 243.

My brother and I were talking about it and he said head shot deer with his 17 hmr for that same reason.

^^^^^

Not legal to use rimfire on Deer in Texas, so please don't go that route.

Unless you hunt where longer shots are required (300+ yards) then 7mag is way more cartridge than is necessary for Whitetail Deer (IMO).

You could drop back to 7mm-08 (use the same suppressor) and have a very mild recoiling rifle with plenty of energy and reach for medium size to large game. That would take care of any issues of being 'recoil sensitive'....if that is a factor for you at all.

But I am uncertain from your post if the problem (you describe as a 'flinch') which is generally recoil or sound related is your problem or just Adrenalin dump (uncontrollable shaking)?

Both can be tough to deal with (one more than the other).

Sounds like target panic and dumping the trigger. It’s mental. Try glassing game you’re not going to shoot with your scope while thinking about how steady you are and how easy it would be to squeeze the trigger.

Reasonable men will use logic to make themselves sound silly. We have an old secret which has really helped our family - it's called practice.

I think a lot of this could be solved with:

1. Making sure you have good earpro so you aren't flinching from anticipation of the muzzle blast
2. Practicing shooting - I think a lot of hunters never take the time to actually get good enough at shooting where they can really execute the fundamentals of shooting when the adrenaline is going, or understand how to kind of calm the crosshairs
3. A better shooting rest - Use sandbags or a tripod to minimize your impact on the rifle.

Buck fever is manageable, start talking to that little bird in your head everytime it happens and talk yourself out of it. Tell yourself it's just a deer and settle down.
What other situations in life put you in this same feelings, it's the same thing.
Concentration and focus.

Just focus on shot placement the whole time through your scope, that’s it focus on the spot you want the bullet to go…..while finger on trigger still concentrating on the visual placement and the trigger squeeze should make the “boom” shock you, like you didn’t mean for the rifle to fire. Almost every time I am in complete shock the rifle went off like that.

As said earlier, focus concentrate and boom.

I sympathize as I still suffer from the adrenaline dump on game. The best I can offer is wait it out if the animal gives you the opportunity. Don’t take the shot if you can get it somewhat under control. The Magnums are great but not for the reason you describe. I once wounded and tracked, then had to make a second shot because of buck fever (trophy aoudad) while shooting a 375 H&H. That rifle did not make me flinch but that animal sure did. I probably take less shots these days but track far fewer animals. Good luck.

Flinching is the product of multiple thought processes being linked together in the mind. The shot and rifle blast are anticipated as a result. Trigger squeeze and holding aim should be separate in focus much like the old kids game where pat your head and rub your stomach at the same time. While dry firing while aiming at a point on a wall is a good way to practice at home, it doesn’t replace the best practice that only happens at the range. Buck Fever is best minimized by focusing on the spot on the animal we want to hit with the bullet. In fact, if you practice enough at the range, your mind will almost paint an imaginary an bullseye on the animal.

Finally, while it may sound crazy, dry firing at deer seen on a TV screen while watching one of those hunting shows can work much like a flight simulator for a pilot. The mind is presented with an image and experience that emulates what will be seen in the field.

It is this simple.

THIS is a great idea. I do it all the time.

I did the same thing you do. I think most people shoot game this way. I have to leave my finger off the trigger till I settle the crosshairs. then breath and squeeze. One reason I like having a light trigger, others milage may vary, don't do what I do.

When I have a flincher here, I usually just get them to use another finger (middle finger) to pull the trigger. Makes it hard to anticipate when the rifle will fire. Of course, that’s just a short term solution.

Only use the very tip of the finger

When I first started having people in my sights, I would get the shakes. It's just the brain releasing adrenalin, cortisol and other chemicals. After hours and hours of crosshairs or open sights on a human, the shakes went away.

I do this all the time when I see deer while hog hunting during the off season, along with a lot of practice at the range. And then once the season comes along and you can actually fire a shot at the animal, there's a sense of confidence mixed with some excitement.

IMHO, Buck Fever is made worse when the rifle doesn't feel completely familiar to the mind and body. A rifle should feel as natural and familiar to a hunter as a hammer does to a carpenter where it creates a sense of confidence in the mind of the user. And that seldom happens when the rifle is only handled briefly before the season opener just to "check the zero".

Some very successful target competition shooters get target panic when it is game and not a target. I have seen that with gun and bow. Shooting more game or even going through the motions like described above can help. I usually get excited after the shooting is over. Crosshairs are not always steady on that single hair I want to hit but as long as the crosshairs or sights are not wavering off the vitals I do not worry about it at all that i am not perfectly solid. Lung/heart shots give a pretty big killzone and as long as the sights are in that zone when you shoot and follow through with the shot you will have your critter. if you are not calm down or wait for another chance.

Some forget to breath which is not good either if holding too long can increase the wobbles.

Sometimes when a hog appears I think to myself "this is just like shooting a jackrabbit." I don't know how many jackrabbits I've shot but I'm sure it numbers well over a thousand...there was a period of time when I still lived in El Paso that jackrabbit hunting was about all I did.

That really does take the edge off when I remember to do it.

a whole other level here

Look up Joel Turner with ShotIQ - really helped me a ton with archery. Definitely mental, not your equipment

Ain't that the truth. Went on a hunt with one guy in the top ten nationally in one shooting event and another who was 2nd in the world championship. Didn't get my 300 out until I saw one miss a huge living target on the go at 75 yards and then saw them combine 9 shots to put another down. Good guys both, but hair is a lil' different target.