Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting Target Panic-WTH

Been hunting for over 45 years and this is something I have never experienced before. Was sitting in a ladder stand when a doe walks out at about 200 yards. Try as I might, I could not get a steady rest for a shot. Finally steadied up a little and started trigger squeeze. All of a sudden, I jerked the trigger involuntarily. Don't know where the shot went, but barely scared the doe. About a half hour later, I decide to go check just to be sure it was a total miss. As I leave the stand, a spike steps out at about 40 yards. Brush between us presents a problem, so I carefully work back to the ladder and climb a couple of steps for a clearer shot. Line up and again, halfway thru the squeeze, a jerk occurs. Hit him poorly, and have to put a finisher in him.

Never experienced anything like this, and can shoot paper all day with no problem. Also, I can dry fire at dogs, cats, cows, etc. and not have this reaction. Any cure?

Must be catching,..my dad has it.

Paper, coyotes, squirrels, no problem.

Only happens when he's lined up on deer.

You point guns and pretend to shoot at peoples pets and live stock?

I've got it so bad with archery equipment that it's damn near impossible to sight in my bow. It sucks HUGE.

Wish I could tell you how to fix it...

There are releases out there that claim to fix "target panic".

My cousin uses one. They feel goofy to me, but might cure your problem...

Subconscious fear of failure.

I've been fighting it with archery gear. I gave up archery for about 4-5 yrs and just now am back to it. I can deal with it but I'm really having to bear down. Just one shot at a time. No excuses. It's working but every shot is a special form of torture.

Each shot being a special form of torture is an apt description. Target panic sucks.

You just described me shooting my flintlock....

Well, my main deer rifle is a flintlock and I manage with it okay. It is nothing compared to the agony of archery. But I do get huge relief and a rush of good feeling from every good shot with a bow. So, I focus on earning that reward and I'm slowly learning to cope with target panic. That's not to say I think it will be a thing of the past. I suspect I'll always say, "My name is Brent and I have Target Panic," but I think I can work with it now.

I don't think there are quick fixes or complete fixes. AT least not for me. I've tried bunches of them. No, all that has worked is to bear down and take 1 perfect shot. and not get too frustrated when that doesn't happen, forget it and move the next as if it will be the only next shot ever.

Brent

The first single cam bow I bought had a solid back wall. Not the cushy feel of the two cams. So I sold my Matthews Outback and picked up a Switchback which has a spongy back wall. Walla...no more target panic with a bow.

I do occasionally blind bale shoot and I think that helps. I also fire my bow while I am actually telling myself to aim carefully because I am not actually going to fire the bow. Sounds stupid but it helps me aim better not thinking about the release.

Years ago I shot every brand of slug through my 11-87 SPD. I ended up with a whopper case of target panic that cost me two trophy bucks in the one year I had it. I more or less shot through it by shooting a lot of varmint rifles and rimfires. I also traded the 11-87 off for a muzzleloader. The difference in felt recoil had a major effect on my ability to avoid target panic. The bottom line is I don't handle recoil well so I shoot guns that have minimum recoil. No more target panic.

ted nugent wrote an article about how he got over his. guess he started so close he couldn't miss and then backed up over time until he got back to normal.

On occasion I will about hyperventilate when a turkey is just about at that spot where I can take a shot.

I still think there is nothing worse than watching something for hours before you can finally get a shot. I love the 'right the [bleep] now moments' much better.

Was wondering the same thing?

At least he never mention PEOPLE and their pets.......

I'm with ya on that. Especially the turkeys.

He must have been going through that phase when he was in town for a concert a few years back. He came out to a local archery club here to christen the new range and sign some autographs. (had him sign my bow actually)

Anyway, his form of christening was to shoot an arrow into one of the new bale targets. It was 3 or 4 square bales high at 20 yards. He pulled that shot so bad the arrow went sailing 5 feet over the top of the target.

Yep. Helps if one can change the frame of mind from "man, I hope I don't miss" to "church is out for that critter"...

Went through a three-year stretch myself. Target in the basement, no bullseye, closed eyes release. Finally feeling like I can schedule a hunt or two centered around archery equipment again.

Scott,

A gobbler coming in is bad enough, but calling in a bull elk can get excruciating--especially when bowhunting.