Adrenaline

[cnelk]

How do you control it when the \'time\' comes?
Does it affect you?

 

[Deertick]

Geez, Brad, has my wife been talking to you?

(stop laughing) ... seriously, this is an issue. I missed an opportunity at a bull last year at about 10 yards and I swear it was because I could not control my breathing.

My plan this year is to shoot a few antelope prior to the season ... I really want to shoot one from the ground, but a blind may be needed, too. Either way, there\'s nothing like a bull to make my catecholamines spike.

 

[elkmtngear]

Sometimes I can hear my heart pounding in my ears when a bull is approaching. :shock:

Once I ascertain he is a shooter, my focus is on the shot opportunity, so I\'m looking at \"the spot\".

I always breathe in, breathe out, and hold my breath out when I release.

Sometimes I shake like Miley Cyrus after the shot :haha:

If I ever lose that adrenaline rush...I quit!

 

[cnelk]

I like doing cold calling setups.
Why?
Because of the adrenaline rush I get when an elk flashes into view.
I get this \'wave\' of feeling that comes over me and down my back.
Its over in an instant, but holy cow, it is powerful!

I dont do drugs, but I can only imagine that this feeling is why Im addicted to elk hunting. :angle:

 

[Colorado_Lew]

For me the rush comes after the shot.
I can stay pretty composed until the release, then it takes me several minutes to get under control!

 

[ORelksniper]

I like doing cold calling setups.
Why?
Because of the adrenaline rush I get when an elk flashes into view.
I get this \'wave\' of feeling that comes over me and down my back.
Its over in an instant, but holy cow, it is powerful! :angle:

That\'s IT, exactly.

 

[bnsafe]

im like co lew, i dont fall apart until after the shot. then its on tho

 

[elky McElkerson]

i\'m bad. really bad. but it is not consistent either. sometimes it is big rush..sometimes it is moderate..but it is there. i think it is the anticipation. if i dont anticipate much, the adrenalin is lessened.

even an approaching turkey will load up my system. i hear that WHOOSH WHOOSH WHOOSH of the blood-flow in my ears. and this happens instantly. zero to 60 in nothing flat.

what helps if the target animal approaches slowly..i can ramp it down. i do however notice that my bow pin is usually rock solid. i can focus that thing and hold super still. the trigger pull, that is a disaster.

it\'s all part of the fun package for me. i love it.

 

[Msd]

For me the rush comes after the shot.
I can stay pretty composed until the release, then it takes me several minutes to get under control!

I\'m the exact same way. It\'s like my blood runs cold and I get tunnel vision when I get an animal approaching. Once the arrow leaves the string, though, I usually need to take a seat for a few mins and let the knees stop knocking.

 

[WW]

Adrenaline is something that is hard for me to understand. I\'m just sort of laid back I guess. I had a good friend and hunting buddy (Ole Blue) that ran a little archery and taxidermy shop. He has departed and I hope he is scouting out heaven for our next big adventure together. Any how, getting back to the adrenaline thing, we were standing outside Blue\'s shop one day swapping lies and I can still hear his words to this day.

He looked me square in the eye and said, \"Damn Willard, don\'t you ever get excited ? You\'re just a cold blooded/pre meditated SOB\"!

I suppose he was pretty close to figuring me out. When it comes to hunting, I just never get worked up before or after the shot. But I still love to hunt and the probably the biggest thrill to me is knowing that I beat an animal at his own game on his home turf.

 

[mainebrdr]

Betablockers!!!!!!! :shh:

 

[Buglemaster]

I\'m solid as a rock. Ice in the veins. A pure cold blooded killer. At the shot, we have a major ice break up & I\'m reduced to a rattling pile of cubes... :lol:

 

[Bob Frapples]

Sometimes I shake like Miley Cyrus after the shot :haha:

Now that\'s funny; now the next time I unfortunately see Miley Cyrus I\'ll envision her doin her thang with a slip system in hand.

As for me I\'ll be darn if I can figure it out, some times I\'m calm and rock steady breathing normally the next time my hearts pounding in my ears? After the shot I\'m usually down and don\'t get excited jumping up and down or celebrating. I just thank The Lord and give a log silent moment for the life I just extinguished.

 

[Swede]

Buck Fever has not been much of a problem for me. I focus on what I am doing and let the animal do what it will. When the time is right, I draw, aim and shoot. Then I get nervous.

 

[cohunter14]

I have had different reactions with hunting...first, no matter when I see an animal, I get an instant adrenaline rush and my heart races. This happens if I jump a deer or even a rabbit when in the woods hunting. That quick flash, no matter what it is, gets my blood pumping. However, if it turns out that it is an elk (or anything I am hunting at the time), something weird comes over me and I go into \'slow-mo\' mood. An athlete would probably describe this as \'the zone.\' Everything moves a little slower, my thoughts, although they are rushing, are very clear, and I am somehow able to get myself prepared to make a shot. I have been amazed, after taking a shot, at how quick I was able to shoulder my rifle, remove the safety, and get a good, quality shot off all without thinking about it. I don\'t know how to explain it, but I think it is just the natural reaction that occurs when you get that much adrenaline going.

 

[Deertick]

I will say that adrenaline is a good reason to NOT shoot from a treestand.

After I shot my bull in 2011, I darn near shook myself right out of that tree.

Like others have said, though ... at the shot, I was calm. Afterward ... severe shakes.

 

[OldMan]

I got nervous as a kid, but not anymore. There\'s still excitement, but not to the point of effecting the shot.

 

[Anonymous]

I still feel it...especially if I think about it and that\'s all I think about. But if I am constantly thinking about and planning for the shot and all of the factors leading up to the shot, I am okay.