I suspect that almost every deer hunter, at one time or another, have experienced the symptoms of buck fever. Those symptoms include sweaty palms, increased heart rate, elevated blood pressure, and tunnel vision when a nice deer is spotted coming in range. And, in my experience, the larger the antlers on the buck, the worse the buck fever hits. Let’s take a look at ten ways to reduce buck fever.
What is Buck Fever?
Buck fever is an unofficial term used to describe the adrenaline rush of excitement a deer hunter can experience when a deer steps into view or approaches during hunting season. The level of buck fever can vary from hunter to hunter, from a mild case up to severe cases that impede the ability to shoot accurately.
Factors that play a role in the level of buck fever:
- Level of hunting experience
- Size of deer antlers
- Shooting Distances (especially up close)
Let’s take a closer look at each factor:
Level of Hunting Experience
While buck fever is usually more associated with new deer hunters trying to harvest their first deer or first trophy deer, it also affects experienced hunters.
I am an experienced deer hunter and have harvested several excellent, mature whitetail deer over the years. However, my buck fever issues are more prevalent during bow season and most definitely are affected by the size or quality of a buck’s rack. A terrible case of buck fever cost me a mature buck that would have been my personal best with a bow and largest buck to date (but that’s a story for another time).
Size of the Deer Antlers
If you are an antler hunter first and a meat hunter second, you probably understand precisely what I’m talking about. Even experienced and normally calm hunters may get a case of buck fever when a trophy deer shows up. I’m no different than most hunters and still get the occasional buck fever jitters when a big, mature buck comes into view.
Shooting Distances (especially up close)
Most hunters find that the level and symptoms of buck fever increase as the animal gets closer or get into shooting range. As mentioned before, I find that I have less anxiety or jitters when rifle hunting but more when bow hunting, especially when the deer comes in range and I’m holding for a good shot.
Most bow hunters would rather take a 15-yard archery shot at a trophy deer versus a 30-yard archery shot, but those same bow hunters also find that the buck fever is worse at 15 yards than 30 yards. I’m sure why this occurs, but it also happens to me.
Since the excitement and passion are one of the reasons that most of us hunt deer, the buck fever symptoms sort of come with the hunting experience.
10 Ways to Cope with Buck Fever
Several potential solutions or approaches exist to reduce or cope with buck fever. Here are my favorite strategies:
#1 – Try to see as many deer as possible in the field
For hunters who don’t see any deer until deer season, the sight of the season’s first shootable deer can trigger extreme examples of deer fever.
While it’s nearly impossible to eliminate buck fever symptoms, one possible way to reduce the issues (I hesitate to call them “symptoms”) associated with buck fever is to get out in the field and see as many deer as possible.
The idea behind this approach is to desensitize yourself a bit to the presence of deer. This way, when a nice deer comes along under your tree stand, you’re better prepared to deal with the excitement.
#2 – Practice Your Shooting Under Hunting Conditions
If possible, spend some time practicing your shooting (be it rifle, bow, or crossbow) and try to mimic the normal conditions of your hunts. For example, if you usually bow hunt from a tree stand, try practicing your archery shooting from a tree stand or elevated position.
Most hunters’ idea of practicing their shooting is to either shoot off a bench during rifle sight-in or practice with a bow in a standing position. However, if you really want to be prepared for the next deer hunting season, try to duplicate the hunting conditions and practice your shooting accordingly.
Let’s use me as an example. My bow hunting buddies say that I shoot a bow fairly accurately during practice. However, I find that shooting out of a tree stand or hanging off a tree stand is a very different type of archery compared to the traditional bow shooting practice I do in the backyard.
If you are not able or interested in trying to duplicate your typical hunting position for practice, try to practice as much as possible. Practice leads to confidence, which reduces anxiety during a shooting situation.
When I went to college, I didn’t have the opportunity to practice with my bow much before bow season started. As a result, my shooting confidence went down to the point where I was only comfortable taking shots in the 15 to 20-yard range. I passed on several nice deer in college because I lacked the confidence to shoot at any deer past 20 yards accurately.
#3 – Practice Breathing
I know that sounds like an obvious “no kidding” answer, but it’s worth mentioning. Some hunters hold their breath as deer approach in an attempt to limit their movement or as they prep to take a shot. Some hunters even hold their breath without even consciously thinking about it. One of those people was me.
While having a buddy along in a tree stand to help me film a hunt, he commented that I seemed to be holding my breath when the bow was pulled to full draw and held for more than a few seconds at full draw. When I took a second to really pay attention, it turned out that I was holding my breath when I went to full draw and trying to keep it while a full draw was held.
Honestly, I had no idea I was doing that, so I started making a conscious effort to breathe slowly during practice. I also worked on breathing calmly and normally at full draw.
I found that my shooting accuracy improved and my ability to comfortably hold the bow at full draw for more extended periods.
#4 – Focus on the Shot and Not the Rack
Obviously, this advice can be easier said than done. There have been times when I struggled to focus on shot placement as my eyes continually drifted to the rack, especially with really trophy animals or potential personal bests. And the more you look at the rack of a possible trophy deer, the more excited you become.
However, I find that intentionally focusing on the aiming point (where it’s a rifle or bow) also forces me to focus on the shot mechanics and follow-through versus evaluating the antlers.
#5 – Visualization
When I talk about visualization, I’m talking about a type of mental practice where you run through a successful shot in your mind. For example, when I get into a stand, I try to visualize the entire process of prepping for a shot, shot placement, and shot follow through.
By going through repeated visualizations, you’re preparing your mind to process the various stages of the visualization with as little secondary thought as possible. In a sense, visualization trains your mind to process specific steps of the process at a nearly subconscious level.
While it may sound like a bunch of psycho-babble, I find visualization a big help in remaining calm when buck fever begins to take hold.
#6 – Physical Fitness Matters
Start talking to a group of deer hunters about physical fitness and its importance in the hunting world, and you’ll be amazed how quickly the conversation grinds to a halt.
My point with physical fitness is this: you’ll physically and mentally perform better while hunting if you’re in decent shape. An improvement in muscle strength and tone might be the difference between running an arrow through the biggest stud deer you’ve ever seen or repeatedly telling your hunting friends about the “wall hanger I missed.”
When I say physical fitness, I’m not talking about running six hours a day. Instead, I’m talking about maintaining a fitness level that lets you walk several miles without struggling, hold your rifle on target offhand for several minutes, or keep your compound bow at full draw without your arms starting to shake.
Being in decent physical condition adds to your hunting confidence, which helps combat buck fever.
#7 – Hunt Small Game During the Offseason
Where legal, consider hunting small game species during the offseason. The basic mechanics of hunting still exist with small game species and so do the basic shot mechanics (with a rifle or bow).
Hunting small game species before or after deer season allows you to continue practicing your hunting and shooting skills.
I have a bowhunting friend who hunts coyotes with a bow after deer season ends. He isn’t particularly in love with coyote hunting, but it gives him the chance to keep his bowhunting skills sharp.
#8 – Understand the Difference Between the Perfect Shot and a Good Shot
While shot placement is vitally essential for ethical Whitetail hunting, there’s a difference between the “perfect” shot and a well-placed, humane shot.
Some deer hunters will hold out for a picture-perfect shot on that trophy buck. However, the longer you wait for that clear shot, the more anticipation and excitement build. As that excitement continues, the physical manifestations of buck fever may continue to grow.
Instead of waiting for the picture-perfect shot, consider taking a clean, humane shot that will take the animal down ethically.
#9 – Focus on the Distance to the Animal
Another trick that I picked up from a hunting buddy is to focus on the distance to the deer or the shot distance.
When I first sit down in the stand, I take a range finder and start ranging the distance to certain trees that I’m using as distance markers.
If and when a deer comes in range, I use the distance marker trees as a means to evaluate the potential shot distance without moving.
Focusing on the distance to target keeps my mind occupied as the deer approaches, and reduces the deer jitters.
#10 – Understand Buck Fever
By taking the time to recognize and understand buck or deer fever, you can take steps to reduce its impact on you. At the end of the day, buck fever is just another form of excitement over a specific type of hunting.
As a hardcore deer hunter, I deal with buck fever just like any other hunter. However, by employing some of the suggestions above, I’ve reduced the effects, which has increased my hunting success rate.
Hopefully, you find some of these suggestions helpful in combating the excitement of buck fever.
Born and raised in Indiana, Brantley spent his youth chasing deer and turkey and, along the way, developed a passion for bowhunting. Although he still enjoys other types of hunting, his true passion is bowhunting, and he has or will author most all the bowhunting content on this site. Outside of work, Brantley is married and the father of two beautiful little girls. Brantley has worked in the hunting industry, with an emphasis on archery and bowhunting, for more than ten years.
