Lookin for some good advice, thought about this while reading a different topic. The problem is I get the shakes (not cause i need a drink) something awful, I mean really bad, not with deer, well not as much, but man i cant keep the barrel still when an old tom comes struttin in. Most of the time people say it aint really as bad as you think, but i actually had the gun on 3 longbeards last year and was sitting right next to my buddy who actually asked me if i was alright, needles to say i missed at 15 yards, real nice pattern did some damage to a pine though, and i have shot many not 10, but the number right below it , turkeys on the second shot, after "getting there head up with that first shot", Anyways you get the point, the question is what can i do? any advice appreciated.
thanks TW

What I do is just simply "walk" myself through it. I'll be watching one coming in, reminding myself to stay relaxed, head down, and squeeze the trigger.

I understand where you're coming from though. I guess I've had enough of them at close ranges, doing all sorts of things, that I can at least stay collected enough to not spook them.

Hope this helps... there's no known medical cure for it... that I know of anyway.

I was actually talking w. someone who gets the same way this eve. I have never really gotten "buck fever " as its called. I have gotten the shakes after a particularly intense moment but not during even when i was young. I am plenty excited though. I can attribute it to just what turkenator said , I talk myself through the moment from the time he gets in range till I take the shot. Just like a third person,"let him come, when he goes behind that tree adjust aim , now, line him up,he's just looking let him clear the limb, take him right there! BAAM
Another thing is have confidence in your camo , If you stay still he will not see you, so relax , talk to yourself (most people think we're nuts to get up at 0 dark thirty any way) and squeeze him off! Good luck!

Concentrate on where your going to aim. I would recommend aiming at the base of the neck where it joins the body and not focus on the head of the gobbler. Much like getting the shakes while while looking at a nice bucks horns, concentrate on where you are going to aim your shot. Aim small hit small. If you can concentrate on where you are aiming the shakes will go away.

Concentrate on breathing so you don't hypervenilate......keep your back braced firmly against a tree and the gun braced firmly on your knee.

I like what Bird Dog said, "talk yourself thru it", helps put you in "control" of the situation.
Oh yeah, BREATHE!!!


barry

I agree with Tut on this one. Aim small, miss small. If your are intent on concentrating on a small area on the birds head it may take your mind off of all the rest. On the other hand, it sure is fun to get the fever!!

I agree with all of the above, try and settle down and focus on the task at hand.
Keep em Gobblin!
Struttinbird

I guess when I stop getting the shakes I will stop chasing these things.

Great question. I still get the shakes and like others have said, I tend to focus on the spot on want to hit. Cheek to stock, aiming point clear, background ok, slow pull of the trigger....

The goal is not to totally rid yourself of the shakes but to condense them down to a good adrenaline rush. I still get that feeling, hope I always will.

barry

...what GN said...ALL CAPS...UNDERLINED!

I try to concentrate on my breathing . . . and to do it quietly!! A rifle-shooter's trick is to take a nice deep breath, hold it, then slowly let it out while gently increasing pressure on the trigger. Focusing on breathing, focusing on that tiny point of aim, focusing on gently adding pressure to the trigg--BAM!! If you're intently focusing on those 3 things, the shot should actually surprise you. Great advice--from a guy who's missed the only turkey I've shot at!!!

I agree with GN also.......but like turkenator said, I like to talk myself through it...I find it helps to tell myself to relax and ENJOY THE SIGHT!! but it always reminds me of the 9 year old boy sitting beside my dad, legs shaking watching a gobbler come in for the first time.

On my first spring gobbler I was shaking so bad that Freddy thought I was going to spook the turkey and not get a shot. I actually had to move the gun off of my knee and to the left. I had to basically brace my elbow on my hip...that did the trick and I got my first gobbler.
I still get REALLY nervous and have to concentrate on not hyperventilating and have finally figured out that my knees are doing more shaking than support. I like to setup with my gun on my knee but when Ol' Three Toes is heading my way, I usually try to hold my gun up just off my knee (that way if I still need the support I can have it without moving alot).
Good Luck! And like everyone else has said, talk yourself thru your shot and that way your brain is busy making sure your shot is right and not just going crazy looking at that big puffy turkey at 35 yards!