Tuesday, June 13, 2006
Tips On Beating Buck Fever
Archery deer season is still over three months away and it’s four-and-a-half months until the firearm deer season opener, but it’s not too early to prepare for the hunt. And, for many sportsmen, buck fever is a problem that can only be solved by you and the many hours you put into preparation before the hunting season begins.
No one likes to admit having had buck fever. It’s like admitting to some dreadful communicable disease that people discuss only behind closed doors.
Have I had buck fever? Well ... uh, yeah, I had a touch of it once about 40 years ago when I couldn’t draw my bow on a big December 8-pointer. I blamed the missed opportunity on very cold weather, tensed muscles and heavy clothing that kept me from coming to full draw.
But it was buck fever. My mind did a number on my muscles, and the result was a sudden lack of strength needed to bring my bow back to full draw. The buck stood, quartering-away at 15 yards, and my muscles had lost their zip. I let down on the bow, took two more deep breaths, and tried to grunt the bow back. It still didn’t work, and the buck walked off through the snow without knowing he had been in a life-or-death situation.
People afflicted with buck fever try to explain their actions away by making assorted excuses. But they seldom will read ways to cure this problem that most often strikes bear and deer hunters. It’s not macho to admit having a problem.
What is buck fever? What causes it, and how can it be cured. Whom does it affect?
The best answer is to start with the last question and work backwards. Buck fever can affect anyone, anytime, anywhere. You, me, the year-after-year big-buck guy down the street or any beginning hunter can suffer from it.
A lack of experience isn’t necessary, but it helps, as does a fear of failure. I’ve taken many deer over a long stint of hunting whitetails—with bow and rifle in Michigan and around North America. I’ve just learned how to deal with it.
Buck fever (and some may call it target panic) is based on a fear of failure—a failure to kill cleanly, a failure to hit the animal, or failure in the eyes of hunting companions. Other hunters can place heavy pressure on friends and instill buck fever without meaning to.
“Hey, I just took a big buck,” a hunter says to another. “ What’s the matter with you? Can’t you hit them, or do you freeze when a buck gets close? I’ll bet you’d miss a nice buck standing at 20 yard with a bow. Probably choke up, huh?â??
That’s the scene setter. Pressure builds within the hunter as he questions his ability. He will choke unless he steels himself to do everything right. It requires an immense amount of concentration and some way to control your nerves.
We’ve heard all the buck-fever horror stories. A hunter racks five cartridges out onto the ground, and claims a miss on every shot until a friend points out the five live rounds in the grass. Another hunter suddenly feels listless with muscles incapable of supporting a bow or firearm at the first sign of game. Still another sportsman hyperventilates while anticipating a shot, and becomes so jumpy he can’t hit a barn wall at 20 feet.
Fear of failure feeds off itself. So, year after year, as the hunter continues to miss, the fear builds. Soon, just handling a bow or firearm, or suddenly seeing a deer can induce muscular tremors and heavy breathing.
Curing buck fever and removing its symptoms is relatively simple if the hunter does everything right. Remember: Familiarity with a bow or firearm, and success, can conquer fear if you follow these rules.
*Learn to recognize the problem and how to cope with it under pressure. Develop an action plan when game is seen. Go to areas where deer are numerous and visible, and learn what they look like. Become familiar with deer, and become accustomed to seeing them at close range. Learn to pick a specific target rather than shooting at the whole deer.
*Practice constantly with bow or a firearm at different distances. Become intimately familiar with hunting gear, and learn what it can or cannot do. A hunter must know he can hit what he/she shoots at, time and again.
*Increase confidence by studying deer and by shooting. Learn to judge distances: if you know what your bow or firearm can and will do at those distances, you’ll cure some of the reasons for buck fever.
*Learn to take deep breaths, to put as much oxygen in your system as possible. This reduces adrenaline flow, slows the heartbeat and makes it easier to get on target with your first shot. Always concentrate on a specific spot on the animal, and learn to place the first shot there. Once you know the buck has antlers, forget about them, and focus on picking the proper location and then making a killing shot.
*Develop a routine and learn it by rote. Each time you prepare to shoot, follow this advice: Take two or three deep breaths, exhale, raise the bow or rifle, center the sights on the heart-lung area, take another deep breath, exhale, concentrate on the sight picture of the heart and lungs, let off the safety and s-q-u-e-e-z-e the trigger or make a smooth arrow release. Deep concentration is the key to success!
*I’m a firm believer that people who have buck fever should shoot single-shot rifles. Knowing only one shot is available forces hunters to concentrate on the shot. One shot forces intense concentration on the hunter, and forces sportsmen to wait for the ideal shot. Shoot only at perfect opportunities and never rush a shot.
*Confidence and concentration will erase the buck-fever syndrome that afflict many hunters. Be confident in your ability to shoot, and know how to cure the pre-shot jitters. Don’t listen to the good-natured jibes of friends, but concentrate on doing what has to be done in a logical and methodical sequence.
Follow these tips, practice shooting a bow or rifle and watch deer at every opportunity, and it’s possible to chase the buck-fever blues away. So now, if you’ll excuse me, my bow and I have a date on a target range.