When possible, act and don't think. It's your mind that makes you nervous. How many times have you heard the following story: A buck suddenly appears out of nowhere in front of a deer hunter. The hunter doesn't have time to think about it. He simply picks up his bow or gun and shoots. Usually he makes a perfect shot. Two minutes later, after everything has had time to sink in, the hunter starts shaking so badly that he can hardly climb out of the tree stand.
Thinking too much can make you nervous. As Nike says, just do it. It's easier not to get nervous than to calm down after you've already gotten nervous. If you are prone to becoming nervous, though, you can calm yourself down. This may mean looking at a situation and realizing how lucky you are to be given this opportunity and trying to make the most of it. It may mean trying to distract your mind and trying to think of something else not so nerve-wracking and then refocusing on your situation. It may mean just taking a few deep breaths and telling yourself to relax. Try to figure out what helps you calm down the fastest and use that knowledge to your advantage.
Buck fever has plagued mankind for ages. I'm confident that by following the steps outlined in this article, you'll be better prepared for your next big-buck encounter. Getting over the ancient illness of buck fever is not as hard as you might think. Then again, if you didn't think, would you really have buck fever?
(Editor's Note: The author is an Olympic silver medalist archer from Illinois who has taken over a dozen trophy whitetails by bow. His dad, Terry Wunderle, contributes often to North American Whitetail. To contact Vic Wunderle about archery lessons or special appearances, visit www.vicwunderle.com.)
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