Make it more interesting. Mess with your mind. Pretend you have just been presented with the buck of your dreams and this is the only shot you'll ever have at him. Now take your practice shot. If you can learn to successfully hit your mark under these conditions, you'll have the confidence to get the job done from your tree stand when it really counts.

3 USE MENTAL IMAGERY
It's the trick the pros use to help win tournaments, and it's the trick you can use to help bag your buck. When you first get into your tree stand, identify the likely paths a buck could come sauntering down. Now that you don't have much else to do for the next couple of hours, picture your buck walking in, running in, sneaking in, walking down your main path, from the right, from the left, in front of you, behind you, by himself or following a doe. In other words, try to picture every conceivable scenario.

Then picture yourself doing whatever it takes to make the shot in each scenario. Visualize where the deer will be standing when you draw and when you make the shot. Every situation may be different, but the ending is always the same: making that perfect shot!

4 STAY IN THE PRESENT
This is what Ed Eliason, former Green Beret and U.S. archery team member, used to tell me. "Wherever you are, be all there." Don't just be there physically. Be there mentally as well. When you are trying to shoot your deer, don't be thinking about how he is going to look hanging on your wall. Forget about the past and don't think about the future. Focus on the task at hand.

As the deer approaches, pay attention to its movements and try to anticipate where the deer will be standing when it presents you with the best shot. Now start preparing for that shot. Get your feet and shoulders lined up and in position to shoot. This is the foundation of your shot. Getting in a comfortable shooting position will enhance your chances of making a good shot when the time comes.

Consider the speed of the approaching deer and the size of the opening you have to shoot the deer in. This will help you determine if it will be necessary to make a noise to try to stop the deer. Remember that sometimes a faster-moving deer may still take a couple of steps before stopping, so be sure to plan accordingly. If you make a noise too early and accidentally stop the deer just before your opening, don't panic.

If the deer has not identified you, it may relax soon and continue moving forward down the path, giving you a second chance. If the deer is moving slowly and you are not rushed, take three seconds to visualize yourself shooting at the deer with good form and technique. When the time finally comes, focus on making a well-placed shot just as you have done so many times in practice. By focusing on the details of the task at hand, you will be better prepared to capitalize on the opportunity and your mind does not have as much time to let negative and distracting thoughts rattle your nerves.

5 LEARN TO CONTROL YOUR NERVES
It's OK to get nervous. It's not OK to let your nerves hinder you from completing the task at hand. I have heard an Olympic gold medalist comment that he was exceptionally nervous during his gold medal finals. Even though he was nervous, he didn't let it stop him from accomplishing his goal of performing better than anyone else. Likewise, you should not let being nervous keep you from harvesting your deer.

Remember the basketball coach who made his team measure the court they were going to play their championship finals on just to show them it was the same length and width as their court at home? Do the same thing he did to help his team: rationalize a winning shot.

You are breathing heavier and your heart is pounding. This is just the same as you practiced when shooting after running at home. The deer is 20 yards away. You are good enough to shoot a deer at 30 yards. A 20-yard shot is easy for you. Get the idea?

You can start to learn to control your nerves by realizing what causes you to become nervous. The deer does nothing to you to cause you to get nervous. You do it to yourself. It's the anticipation of shooting this deer that causes you to put pressure on yourself. This is why beginners who don't know any better often achieve success. They have no expectations. They don't realize the significance of the situation they find themselves in and therefore have little or no anticipation. So they are totally relaxed when it comes time to make the shot.

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