Deer season HELP!

[Fisherboy0301 0]

So far I've had one hell of a season. 3 deer, 5 shots, no blood. No meat on the table. Idk what's wrong. I can't hit a deer for nothing. I'm using a '76 Winchester model 94 in 30-30Win with iron sights. It's not the gun I know because I can almost drive nails at 50-75 yds standing free.

 

 

I get really really excited when I see deer, even does, and as hard as I try I haven't been able to pull off a good shot on a deer. Clean missed 5 times on 3 does. Anybody got any tips to just calm down in the stand when deer show up?

[Flat Rock native 0]

Deeeeeeeeeeeeeeep breaths Sllllllllllllllllllllowwwwwwwwww exhales. 2 times Reportedly, it is the sniper way. Can only guarantee it works for broken-down old trial lawyers.

[rstaight 0]

That's what we call here, buck fever. You see a deer your adrenelen gets to going. Like Flat Rock said, deep breaths, slowly exhale. Don't act as if it will be the last look will get. Relax, if you miss, you will see another. Heck, you have already seen 3.

[josephcsylvia 0]

Yep buck fever combined with target panic,

Its common to be nervous before a shot at a deer, the best thing you can do is take a couple deep breaths (time permitting) and tell yourself to calm down.

 

Also instead of trying to "hold" your sight on the deer start at the spine and slowly settle the sights to behind the shoulder, taking the slack out of the trigger as the sights slowly drop.

[ihang10 0]

Time in the stand usually helps.

 

Inhale, exhale, inhale, let half the breath out, squeeze the trigger. Dont anticipate the shot. Range time helps with that part.

[Meeshka 0]

Everyone here has brought up some good points, breathing, squeeze trigger, more time in the field etc. Are you keeping both eyes open while squeezing the trigger? Maybe at the range but I bet not in front of the deer. You have to be the bullet - keep your eyes open and on the target until impact. I have found this to be extremely important especially with open sites.

 

Do you have a range finder? You may want to flag 25, 50, 75, and 100 yard intervals - especially if you have an idea where the deer is going to come into the stand.

 

How high is your stand? A gun sited in at a level range will always shoot high when fired uphill or downhill. Now this really comes into play at longer distances then you stated, but it might be to your benefit to set up paper targets at the 25, 50, 75, and 100 yd mark and shoot from your stand just to see where the bullets are actually grouping.

 

Hope this helps

 

Doug

[FIN-ITE 34 0]

It will all change after you take your first deer.

[ihang10 0]

It will all change after you take your first deer.

Yup. Especially if you have non-resident tags.

[Flat Rock native 0]

Time in the stand usually helps.

Inhale, exhale, inhale, let half the breath out, squeeze the trigger. Dont anticipate the shot. Range time helps with that part.

Yep, my post was incomplete, this is way to go. Must repeat as needed if target moves before trigger finger activated. Betting this kid fills tag, he is student of the "games"

[Fisherboy0301 0]

Thank you all who commented. I've harvested two deer, both with my shotgun, last year and the year before. I'll give your suggestions all a try. My friend and I got in some range time today before the evening hunt. Nothing showed this evening.

 

 

 

I have to say I was even more excited when I missed yesterday be side there was about 15-25 other deer present. I picked the largest doe.

 

 

Today at the range I got to shoot mine and my friend's 30-30s, his .223 AR15, and his uncle's 7.62x39 AR15. It was a good time. Worked on some fundamentals and was able to really drive tacks with all above mentioned. Maybe next time a shot shows itself I can bring home some venison. Happy and safe hunting to all from Southern Georgia!

[Flat Rock native 0]

Thank you all who commented. I've harvested two deer, both with my shotgun, last year and the year before. I'll give your suggestions all a try. My friend and I got in some range time today before the evening hunt. Nothing showed this evening.

I have to say I was even more excited when I missed yesterday be side there was about 15-25 other deer present. I picked the largest doe.

Today at the range I got to shoot mine and my friend's 30-30s, his .223 AR15, and his uncle's 7.62x39 AR15. It was a good time. Worked on some fundamentals and was able to really drive tacks with all above mentioned. Maybe next time a shot shows itself I can bring home some venison. Happy and safe hunting to all from Southern Georgia!

Rest that shoulder and Carry On, I know you gonna fill that tag

[Rocco 0]

Shooting from a bench at paper and shooting at the real thing from a stand can shift your POI -- especially if the rifle is resting on a hard surface -- the stand rail -- instead of a padded rest you use at the bench, or, if you are in bulky cold weather gear in the stand and a light jacket at the bench. Make sure all the potential variables are the same. The"yips" might still be there but at least you will know for sure.

 

Good luck,

 

Rocco.

[Fisherboy0301 0]

Shooting from a bench at paper and shooting at the real thing from a stand can shift your POI -- especially if the rifle is resting on a hard surface -- the stand rail -- instead of a padded rest you use at the bench, or, if you are in bulky cold weather gear in the stand and a light jacket at the bench. Make sure all the potential variables are the same. The"yips" might still be there but at least you will know for sure.

 

Good luck,

 

Rocco.

 

 

I made sure to shoot from a hard surface and from a sitting position and from a free position not resting on the wooden spool we shot on. And was wearing my normal camo jacket I wear in the stand. Once again thank you everyone. Going duck hunting in the AM, and hopefully deer tomorrow evening. I'll keep everyone posted.

[mikechell 0]

This is a "deer hunting 101" comment ... but it's one that is often forgotten.

Where are you aiming, on those deer you're shooting at?

 

I had one friend who complained of missing all his shots at deer. He was half way through the season and hadn't brought down any deer, even though he saw some almost every time out. (This is Florida, and an average deer here is less than 200 pounds)

Then, as he was talking about his latest morning, he mentioned that he can tear the head off a target at the range. I asked him if he was attempting head shots at the deer.

"Sure, it's a definite kill if you hit the brain."

I was laughing ... "So, you're going to go all season without a deer, just to save yourself the tracking time if you DO actually hit one?"

 

The conversation went on from there, but eventually, he realized that a heart shot, even if it misses the heart, will do enough damage to bring the deer down. You might need to go after it, but it'll be down, somewhere near.

 

So, the question, again. You are sighting in on the heart as "center mass", right?

[Fisherboy0301 0]

I'm aiming for the point of the shoulder. A shot that takes out the heart hopefully, both lungs probably, and immobilizes the front shoulders. In theory...