Updated March 2023
Every bowhunter knows the feeling of trembling hands and rapid breathing as a big buck is slowly approaching. You feel as if all of your body is shaking uncontrollably and your emotions are getting the best of you. These wide array of emotions and reactions are classic symptoms of buck fever. Buck fever is a normal emotion that hunters experience that is due to the excitement of a deer drawing near. Buck fever isn’t always a bad thing but can become a hinderance when it impedes on your shot execution during the moment of truth.
What is Buck Fever?
Buck fever is described as the nervousness a hunter feels when he or she sees a deer while hunting. Common signs of buck fever are increased heart rate, shaking or sweaty hands, tight or churning stomach and even full body trembling. All of these reactions are caused by adrenaline. Adrenaline is a hormone released by the body in response to someone feeling extreme emotions. Adrenaline is a fight or flight stress response that is meant to increase heart rate and elevate blood pressure, causing you to have more energy and awareness.
Tips to Overcome Buck Fever
If you’re like most hunters, it’s very hard not to feel excited or nervous when you see a deer approaching. In order to manage buck fever, you must first manage your emotions. As hunters, we owe it to the deer to make an accurate and ethical shot. Similar to a speaker giving a presentation to a large audience, there are techniques and different practices you can apply beforehand to be better prepared. Below are seven tips for managing buck fever:
1. Shoot 3D Targets
Shooting at 3D targets is a great way to simulate real-life hunting scenarios. By practicing with a 3D deer target instead of a normal bag or block target, you are able to better visualize shooting at a real deer. This trains your brain to get used to shooting at the correct spot on an animal. This also creates muscle memory so your subconscious knows automatically what to do when a big buck is approaching. To make your practice even more effective, try shooting from an elevated platform or treestand, or position your 3D target at different angles to simulate quartering shots.
One aspect that is important to concentrate on when practicing, is your shot routine. Having a proper shot routine consisting of a solid anchor point allows you to not have to think about aiming basics when preparing for a shot. Also, shooting at different ranges will make you more proficient overall as an archer. Another helpful practice technique for simulating a real-life situation is to practice shooting your bow with an increased heart rate. This can be done while working out or doing pushups or another activity just before shooting.
2. Visualization
The mental aspect of performance is very important in all sports. Visualizing how you will act and what you will do leading up to a shot can work wonders. By using visualization techniques, you are training your brain to experience a situation prior to the real scenario. When you get settled into your hunting spot, close your eyes and visualize yourself drawing back your bow, settling your pin behind the shoulder of a big buck and releasing an arrow as you watch it disappear into the vitals. By imaging a perfect shot sequence, you train yourself to become more comfortable when the moment of truth arrives.
3. Deep Breathing
The effects of buck fever caused by adrenaline result in short and quick breaths. To combat this, try taking slow and deep breaths, holding in the air for a few moments, then breathing out slowly. By doing this, you will feel your heart rate start to return to normal and your hands will stop shaking. Deep breathing is known to create a state of calmness and relax muscles. The key to keeping your cool as a big buck is approaching is to remain calm under the pressure.
4. Take Your Time
One of the biggest mistakes bowhunters make when suffering from buck fever is rushing the shot. They become nervous and think they need to take a shot at the soonest opportunity, even though it may not be the best time. Instead, try to remain calm and let the deer present a good shot angle. Then take your time by picking a spot on the deer, settle your pin and release an arrow.
5. Close Your Eyes
This may sound counterintuitive, but it is a proven technique that works. If the deer is still far away, try closing your eyes for 10-20 seconds while taking a few deep breaths and think about something else for a moment. This well help you reset and focus on making the shot when it presents itself. You can even talk (quietly) yourself through the situation by staying positive and thinking positive thoughts.
6. Don’t Look at Antlers
One of the main causes of buck fever is antlers. Instead of staring at the buck’s rack, focus on his body. Keep your eyes on the crease along the back of the buck’s shoulder over the vitals. This will keep your focus on making an accurate shot until you release your arrow.
7. Experience
The #1 way overcome buck fever is to simply shoot more deer. Gaining experience is the best way to become more comfortable and build confidence. Spending more time in the woods and watching deer are excellent ways to gain bowhunting experience. Also, taking the time to learn, read and educate yourself on deer will only help. Watching hunting videos is another alternative to getting yourself more comfortable with seeing big bucks. By gaining more experience taking deer, you begin to desensitize yourself enough to remain calm and make a good shot.
At the end of the day, you never want to totally get over buck fever as this would take the fun out of everything. Emotions are a part of why we hunt. The key is managing the emotions that contribute to buck fever, so they don’t get in the way of your success.
