When a buck like this steps within range, it can be very unnerving. Learning to control our reactions is essential in following through and doing everything right to execute the shot.

When one of my friends was 14, he shot a doe while bowhunting. He was already becoming a good hunter and an excellent shot, so this was not surprising. What was surprising was the fact that he shot every arrow in his quiver. Finally, aiming at the lungs with his last arrow, he hit the deer high in the neck and dropped it dead in its tracks.

My friend was experiencing a good case of doe -- I mean buck -- fever. He let the excitement of the situation distract him from his normal shooting abilities. Although most of us probably don't have such extreme difficulties, many hunters make avoidable mistakes in the presence of big bucks because they get nervous.

Learning to control buck fever can help you capitalize on opportunities that ultimately might help you bring home the buck of a lifetime. My friend learned to control his buck fever, and now he routinely harvests Pope & Young bucks with precision shots. Using the following methods, you, too, will have a better chance of controlling your nerves and harvesting a trophy deer the next time the opportunity arises.

1 FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH THE SITUATION
The more comfortable you feel in a situation, the more relaxed you'll be and the fewer mistakes you'll make. One of my favorite ways to feel more comfortable with big-buck encounters is by watching big-buck videos or DVDs. Viewing them helps me get used to feeling the excitement of the hunt. Through videos, you, too, can experience what it's like to have a big buck in close quarters (even if it is second-hand).

You can learn a buck's behavior and how to read his body language. Big-buck videos also allow you to see a successful hunt ending with a well-placed shot. Watching the video helps to ingrain this image into your head. The next time you are put into a similar situation, you'll feel more comfortable watching the deer come in and you'll be more apt to make a good shot, because your mind will be thinking that is what is supposed to happen.

In the same way you would feel more comfortable driving 30 mph through town after driving 70 mph on the freeway, you'll also feel more relaxed harvesting a 130-class deer after experiencing a 150- or 170-class buck being taken (either first-hand or second-hand). Watching big-buck videos has made me feel more comfortable shooting big bucks and passing on deer that I might otherwise have shot.

2 PRACTICE OFTEN
Practice gives you the confidence in your ability to make the shot. Constantly practicing and watching your arrow hit where you are aiming builds confidence and trust in your ability to make the shot. The first time I shot 90 meters (98 yards, 2 feet) with my bow, my mind didn't believe I could hit the target. Now, after years of practicing at that distance, my mind not only knows I can hit the target, but it also expects my arrows to be in the middle of the target.

The best shot I ever made on a buck I owe to practice and the confidence that practice gave me in my ability to make the shot. Using the bow setup I had at the time, I could hit a 1x2-inch sticker out to 60 yards. One day, after a couple of hours of shooting at and hitting this sticker, I was out hunting and a nice 130-class 8-pointer came by. At his closest point, he stopped at 40 yards as confirmed by my Nikon rangefinder. He was completely covered by brush except for a 4-inch open gap behind his shoulder.

As he stood there, I realized that sending my arrow through this 4-inch gap was much easier than hitting the 1x2-inch sticker that I'd been shooting at several hours earlier. Additionally, I realized that if I for some reason missed, I would hit the brushy cover and not injure the deer. After taking a deep breath and concentrating, I sent the arrow through the gap and made a perfect hit on the deer. Had it not been for my practice, I never would have had the confidence to attempt and make the shot.

Make your practice sessions as close to actual hunting situations as you can. I always practice with my hunting bow while wearing the same warm, bulky clothes I wear in the field. If you anticipate shooting from the sitting position, practice from the sitting position. The closer your practice resembles actual hunting conditions, the more comfortable you'll feel making your shot in the field.

Try to simulate shooting under nervous conditions. Most hunters are completely calm during practice, yet they often get very excited when presented with a shooting opportunity in the field. Many hunters experience increased heart rate and breathing. Simulate these conditions in practice. Run around for a few minutes until you feel your heart rate and breathing increase. Then go pick up your bow and try shooting.

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