Elk fever control

[Huntingboys7]

I'm a young hunter and last year when I got in range of a elk I was so shaken that I blew my 40 yard shot. This year I have practiced almost every day so I am very confident in my shooting ability. How can I control my adrenaline? What do you do to control your shots?

[Swede]

Do not look at the elk so much, and never shoot at the elk. Focus almost entirely on what you are doing. The elk will be there when you are ready. Shoot at a very small spot on the elk. After you have seen enough to determine you want the animal, focus on getting ready, and placing an arrow on the bulls eye point you have selected.

[WapitiTalk1]

I always tell guys to practice the siutation while they target practice throughout the year. It's a mind conditioning/emotion stabilizing game.

If at all possible, do your target practice in the woods with your target set up in the trees, brush, etc. Knock an arrow from your knees and visualize an elk moving down through the trees towards your established shooting lane. Talk to yourself as you're doing this drill. "He's coming down the sidehill towards my shooting lane, I'll draw right before he gets to where I want him to stop and be ready to stop him with a nervous/popping grunt or even a loud cow sound, almost there... a bit of pressure on the release and....now". Rise off your knees, drawing at the same time, right before he gets to the opening, and bark out a nervous grunt with a diaphram in your mouth.... 3, 2, 1 touch off the arrow. Yes, in reality you merely shot into your target but if you perform this drill several times each time you practice, it'll help you to condition your mind and stablize your emotions a bit when there is an actual elk coming in or moving by. It's also very important to practice shots from all sorts of positions (standing/ kneeling/leaning around) and shooting in between trees, over low lying brushpiles, shooting uphill/downhill, across small draws, etc.. Adding this type of realism to your practice sessions may help you out when the real deal goes down.

[elkmtngear]

I agree with not looking at the bull too much. Once you establish he is a shooter, all you need to do is focus on the area you want your arrow to enter. Breathe, focus, release! Don't forget to breathe

[Elkduds]

"Don't forget to breathe [/quote]
During practice, inhale during draw, exhale slowly while focusing on target spot, release when fully exhaled. If shaky, breathe again.

[8seconds]

Aim small; miss small!

[ElkNut1]

Jordan, there is no magic wand to remove the high energy adrenaline rush that we all get no matter how long we've hunted, it will take a lot of close encounters & shot opportunities before one can draw in a deep breath & calm himself, there is no secret, it will take time in the woods before you can control your emotions & feel more comfortable as the shot presents itself. I was just like you, I did my darnedest to stare at the spot I wanted to hit on the animal & it still shook me up! God I hope I never lose that feeling, just control it! (grin) Have fun!

ElkNut1

[Swede]

Paul's post reminds me that we really are all different. I have never had uncontrollable shakes/nerves. I get excited, but mostly after the shot. Before the shot I mentally talk to myself, going over what I need to focus on, and what to leave alone. For me, that is sufficient.
I still remember my first tree stand elk kill, It was over 20 years ago, but it is as fresh as yesterday. That day I had a lot to do to make the shot. I was sitting flat on the floor of a squeaky home made stand, that had no seat. I needed to reposition my legs, stand up, get my bow off a nail, take an arrow out of the quiver, nock it and then draw my bow & aim. All of this had to be done with careful, silent, and deliberate movements before I could shoot. It was no problem. I did my part and the 5 point bull did his.
We are all different. Talking in my head helps me. All I have to offer is what I have experienced. I would advise you to draw and aim at every big game critter that you can, prior to the big event. Try to mentally prepare yourself. If you are nervous about drawing on a doe, then have a blunt, rubber/masking tape tipped arrow in your quiver, that you could not hit anything with, but is safe for you and your bow.

[Drawnandpinned]

That adrenaline will always be there just breath thru it and know If ya do this one thing rite everything else should fall in place good luck this year its my first year bowhunting and all my experienced peers say look @ the horns just once then pick a spotand breathe watch that arrow hit thru ur site

[ElkNut1]

Yes, we are all different! But we can be stereotyped into two categories. We have ice water in our veins or we do not! Those that do, congrats, it's a rare thing! I say this because I have hunted with & called for nearly 200 hunters over the years, few have the ice water in their veins. Those that do not have to work through it regardless of your age, there's no sugar coating it. It's something that can be controlled but it will take time, in the meantime enjoy the roller coaster ride! (grin) This doesn't mean you will not kill elk it just means your excited emotions will bring on the shakes, the more this happens the more you will mature & restrain those emotions a little at a time. Elk hunting is challenging & exciting it can bring the strongest to their knees! (grin)

ElkNut1

[twinkieman]

Paul's post reminds me that we really are all different. I have never had uncontrollable shakes/nerves. I get excited, but mostly after the shot. Before the shot I mentally talk to myself, going over what I need to focus on, and what to leave alone. For me, that is sufficient.

X2
After the shot, however, I fall apart like a cheap dollar watch!

[Wapiti]

You ever see the movie Rocky III ?

In that movie Rocky loses his eye of the tiger but gets it back in the scene where he's looking at himself in the mirror and he regains all his focus !! Do the same and use your emotions and focus them down. Squint your eyes and get the eye of the tiger and say to your self this bull is mine !!!! You can do it bud !! Focus

Take a deep breath and draw, aim and release at that little tuff of hair you've picked out straight up his front leg 1/3 the way up his chest !!

Eye of the tiger !!

Good luck

Trav

[Swede]

Eye of the tiger !!

I never thought of it that way, but it is focusing and taking control of yourself. It sure makes sense.

[ElkNut1]

Probably my all time favorite movie! (grin)

ElkNut1

[the weasel]

No elk experience here... (still trying) but on the deer i have taken....
I seen the deer come in, (tree stand) and thought to my self... "ok, he's gonna go home with me today" and just tried my best to stay calm and like stated above just looked at the spot i want to hit. Try not to "look" at the antlers or the cow if this applies... but just the spot behind the shoulder you shoot at every day while practicing. And shoot that spot!!

If you ever get to the point you don't get crazy nervous or breath crazy or feel your chest pounding like you just got kissed by this months centerfold... then my friend.... it's time to take up knitting

My Dad still goes; and has already called and said his hunting and camping gear has been double checked already, in fact today he called and asked about pots an pans for camp!! He is 75 this April and still gets stupid like a school boy about this time of year!

So the nerves will be with you on every animal for as long as you go into the hunting woods!!

[Wapiti]

No elk experience here... (still trying) but on the deer i have taken....
I seen the deer come in, (tree stand) and thought to my self... "ok, he's gonna go home with me today" and just tried my best to stay calm and like stated above just looked at the spot i want to hit. Try not to "look" at the antlers or the cow if this applies... but just the spot behind the shoulder you shoot at every day while practicing. And shoot that spot!!

If you ever get to the point you don't get crazy nervous or breath crazy or feel your chest pounding like you just got kissed by this months centerfold... then my friend.... it's time to take up knitting

My Dad still goes; and has already called and said his hunting and camping gear has been double checked already, in fact today he called and asked about pots an pans for camp!! He is 75 this April and still gets stupid like a school boy about this time of year!

So the nerves will be with you on every animal for as long as you go into the hunting woods!!

Well said my friend !! If you don't get that rush it's time to pack it in !!

[ishy]

Do some serious cardio while practising, sprints, lunges, push ups, burpees, etc...anything that gets your heart to the jump out of your chest point and then attempt to shoot. One of our local shoots did an iron man course that was really good this year. 10 tagets, all up and down hill timed, and with weight on board. Probably the closest most realistic to actual hunting shots I've ever taken due to the through the roof heart rate. Makes you really look at how to settle down to be able to pull off a good shot in the moment.

[Trumkin the Dwarf]

I have ice in the veins when it comes to elk... Big mule deer tend to be a different story. I am always talking through the progression/sequence of technical details that need to happen right through the release, follow through, and then watching the animal out of sight. Only after the animal is dead do I permit myself to entirely let down my emotional blockade. Have a sequence in mind well before the season. Play out different scenarios in your head, and then talk yourself through the moment of truth.

[zpd307]

i am worried about this..... i am able to control myself on deer and turkeys, but i have taken enough so. i have had nothing but elk on the brain for the last 3 years with only one shooting encounter and i screwed that one up.... i know what it takes, but....

[Lefty]

,.... get the eye of the tiger and say to your self this bull is mine !!!! You can do it bud !! Focus

Coach talk
So far none of its worked for me, last hunt last year I was bragging, sent my at work buddy, and wife pics and text the big 5x5 was all but hanging in the shop over the next 2 1/2 hours the bull worked my way ,.. at 21 yards the bull stopped, so did my bragging. I need to enjoy my mess-ups, I have plenty
Ive hunted with a few guys with " ice in their veins", ( in everything they did) they just weren't fun to be around.