BUCK FEVER

Bannanaclip · Feb 21, 2022

Has anyone else suffered from this ?? I have had the fever 3 times in my hunting career , once on a blacktail deer hunt on Mt Higgins , TWICE in the Teanaway , first case in Teanaway was horrible , absolutely terrible ,

ridgetops · Feb 21, 2022

It seems like "buck fever" can have a different meaning to a lot of different people. If the time comes that I don't have any type of up tick in adrenaline after a shot is taken at a big buck, then that's probably the time I decide to hang it up.

littlebighorn · Feb 21, 2022

Only once and it was on a spike buck. I was young and mostly a meat hunter. Everyone in our group had already filled their tags on opening day. I'd killed many bucks before including some much bigger than this one, but on that day I got the shakes trying to hold the crosshairs on his chest. I ended up killing him, but it really pizzed me off that I lost it so bad on a dink buck.

GLEDEASY · Feb 21, 2022

Only once that I recall and I hadn't even snuck up on him yet.

I first found this buck in the summer on a general unit.

Had a dedicated hunter tag, so it was him or bust. Passed some good bucks with my bow, including this one at 15 yards.

Then opening day of muzzleloader season came. The hills were littered with people. It was about 9am and there had been no sign of any deer. I debated on leaving as everyone else did, but elected to stay. All of a sudden here comes the bachelor heard of bucks over the hill. I got a quick picture before he bedded.

At this point is when I experienced the fever. I was shivering/shaking uncontrollably for quite some time. Knowing he was bedded I took the 15-20 minutes to contain myself before beginning the stalk.

Only time I remember something like that happening to me... Wish I could say it ended as I had hoped. Was 80 yards from him and never even shot. Last time I saw him.

MountainSqwabler · Feb 22, 2022

I have "buck fever" at almost every animal in shot at. 2021 season I missed a buck muley at 280 yards partly due to the fever. Not sure If you archery hunt or not but that can be worse. If drawn back on an animal and been shaking so bad that I could have probably shaken a bolt loose. It's part of hunting.

JPickett · Feb 22, 2022

Never have had it on a big game animal, even as far back as my first bucks Freakin little coyotes coming in get me all out of sorts sometimes though. It’s actually kind a funny. I’ve killed bulls screaming at 15 yards like I had ice water in my veins but little bushy dog about to get my wind on a set and I get a case of the misses. Think it’s why I love hunting them so much

AB16 · Feb 22, 2022

Usually after the shot

12pointer · Feb 23, 2022

JPickett said:
Never have had it on a big game animal, even as far back as my first bucks Freakin little coyotes coming in get me all out of sorts sometimes though. It’s actually kind a funny. I’ve killed bulls screaming at 15 yards like I had ice water in my veins but little bushy dog about to get my wind on a set and I get a case of the misses. Think it’s why I love hunting them so much

I'm the same way, I get shook a little at a big buck or bull but when a coyote comes to the call I look like I got a bad case of parkinson's.

azhunteraz · Feb 23, 2022

EVERY TIME!!!!

BroadHead · Feb 23, 2022

My first archery buck. Never got a chance to let my arrow fly. I got up to 20 yards of his bedding spot and waited. After about 20 minutes, he winded me, stood up and started to sniff around.

I had all the time in the world to draw but I froze and before I realized I was out there to hunt versus standing there and doing my best impersonation of a statue, he ran off.

eelgrass · Feb 23, 2022

Worse than buck fever is when a cold front moves in right before a shot. It can be 90 degrees and within a few seconds it drops down to 30 degrees. My knees start shaking, and I can't breathe.

Phantom Hunter · Feb 23, 2022

I should have killed my largest whitetail to date this year but got so excited and did not control the Adrenalin rush when suddenly appeared. Muffed the shot completely ?

devobrodie · Feb 23, 2022

I have an over-the-top adrenaline response, always have, I get it so bad that one time I thought I was going to die! My heart rate and blood pressure went up so high I could hear my valve in my neck clanking like a check valve, I was about 15 yards from a bedded buck with my bow, I thought for sure he could have heard it, sometimes I dump so much adrenaline that after a shot my kidneys feel like someone shoved a knife in, it's not fun, and kind of scary! It happened when I was younger a lot more and it also happened if I got into an altercation back in my younger days.

COPLAINSHNTR · Feb 24, 2022

This year it almost got me bad!!! When we first seen this buck after looking for him for 4 days I was completely shaken. My oldest son was making fun of me because I couldn't even keep my binoculars steady. I got within range of him, got the crosshairs on him, and JERKED the trigger so hard that it surprised me it wasn't bent!! Thank god for safety's, after that I had a long conversation with myself (about 45 seconds) about calming down and squeezing the trigger. I apparently am a decent coach for myself. The rest is history.

BrowningRage · Feb 24, 2022

After I killed my first deer at age 14, I remember walking over to the little 3 point laying on the ground. As I stood over him, my leg was shaking from the adrenaline I had been experiencing. I am just glad I made the shot..!

rmanwill · Feb 24, 2022

I've had the fever a couple times on firsts, really nice ones, ect.

Don't get the fever very often, but when the excitement goes away it will be time to hang it up. Always exciting on a great animal or with a family member. Also after the shot things tend to increase a bit!!!

Zeke · Feb 24, 2022

I've never lost an opportunity to the "fever" but I get a good touch of it every single time!

Especially when I whack something with my bow and once the tracking job is completed (all while holding the emotions inside), I usually lose it. More times than not I throw-up because of the prolonged adrenaline spike. It's all good!

Yes, called coyotes can turn us inside out and make fools of the best of us.

Yep, at 68 I still have the fever bad but have learned how to control it until after the fact.

Zeke

nontypical · Feb 25, 2022

I suppose it depends on your definition of "buck fever".

To me, it's the adrenalin rush that you get when you're ready to shoot or fling an arrow. I can't think of anything else that gets me like that! That fleeting moment that we all live for but never happens often enough!

Yeah, I get it every time. Luckily, I've learned to control it and concentrate on the shot.

Archery is so much more intense!