Aldeer.com Forums Alabama Deer Talk Aldeer General Forum Need advice.

My sister has been hunting all her life. She has killed several deer not many.. maybe 5.. Well she has recently started going a lot. Hunting harder than she ever has. I am not sure why but I love it. However she has been missing every time she shoots. she wants to give up hunting now. She missed a doe the other day FOUR times It would not leave the plot

Tonight she missed a 6 point well not sure if she missed but we are going back to look tomorrow. No blood etc. What should I do. I know the gun is not off. I have shot it. But she almost starts hyperventilating when she pulls up on a deer. I know everyone gets nervous but its a different story with her. She is 29 BTW any advice would be helpful. I hope we locate her deer tomorrow.

Trigger time at the range. Or squirrel hunting with a 22..

There isn't much you can do about "buck" fever. She's not picking a spot on the deer to shoot. I have it so bad with a bow in my hand that I've pretty much given up bow hunting until I can work through it.

Maybe she could practice dry firing on deer.

...video her...show her what shes doing...
Do the old thing were you load or NOT load for her see if shes flinching...
How big of a gun is she shooting? Trigger?
Optics...NONE of us fall out of the womb knowing how to shoot...

She is shooting a 270 with a good scope, Not sure of the brand right off hand. I think she may be flinching. The not loading the gun trick may be my next move.

If she is shooting from a shooting house install a rest with sand bags and take the shaking out of the equation.

Have not thought of that. Thanks

Also has she shot the gun on the range. I know it sounds weird but your on and her on may be different.

Trigger time at the range. Controlled breathing.

She can hit a target at 100 yards.

Have her run up and down that range then try to shoot directly afterward at a deer target. That will simulate the buck fever and help her learn to slow everything back down to make a good shot.

If the gun is not off, then its up to her to learn to control her breathing.

Have her try this. Control breathing in nose and out mouth and squeeze the trigger at the bottom of the exhale or the natural pause. Next is make sure she is getting the same site picture. Then check her trigger squeeze make sure she is squeezing the trigger with the tip of her finger and not pulling it. As mentioned above have her get her heart rate up and then try this.

Have you been sitting with her? If not, I'd go sit with her, and the next time walk her through it, make her take her time. Practice squeezing off on the deer with the safety on. then take it off and have her repeat.

Maybe try running her around in circles at the range, until she is out of breath, then telling her to sit down, and giving her 10 seconds to make a shot. Repeat until she is comfortable.


I know a lot of people that have the tendencies to throw the gun up and start blasting, as soon as they see a deer. Heck, I'm one of those people.

Good rest and lots of off season trigger time with a .22 and whatever she shoots. Another option would be buck shot and keep shots close.

First thing she needs to know is EVERYBODY misses.
Then, breathing and squeezing the trigger. If she has the option to shoot from a supported position,like the window of a shooting house, let her try pulling the trigger without "holding" the gun up. I find it so much better for me to prop the gun on its sling on the window sill and holding the butt of my rifle with my left hand and squeezing the trigger with my right hand at rest and not gripping the gun. It works for me,but may not be the right thing for her. Don't let her give up!

Thanks for all the input guys.

I ordered these earlier in the year, along with a $5 bag of bird seed, and you have a good set up for a shooting house.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00162QGCW/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I just emailed that to her. I am sure she will purchase it.
Thanks.

Maybe sit with her and watch what she's doing. If the scope is zeroed (and I'd shoot 3 rounds at the range not just one), then either she's flinching and anticipating the recoil or just not steadying the gun.

Dr. B