Ask The Biologist

Even your friendly deer biologist is susceptible to buck fever.

QUESTION: This question is more about human biology than deer biology. How can I control my buck fever, and in my case, deer fever? I’ve been hunting for over 30 years now and have harvested hundreds of deer (mostly does, with one buck per year in Indiana), but I still get deer fever with every deer I see and decide to harvest.

Here’s what happens to me every time I see deer coming my way and sometimes even with just a sound of something in the leaves behind me (darn squirrels). First, my heart rate goes way up and my breathing gets heavy. I get shaky, my vision narrows (tunnel vision) and then I start to drool. I’ve got it bad!

Here’s an example. This season while stalking to my stand in the afternoon, a 10-pointer stood up 80 yards away. I raised my gun and was unable to hold the crosshairs on him. There was a happy ending to this story because he ended up coming back in before dark and I was able to harvest him. But the whole time I sat in the treestand kicking myself because I was unable to hold steady with such a perfect opportunity. The rush and excitement is what keeps me going. I don’t want a cure, just a way to control it better. — Brandon

ANSWER: That’s a better question for a psychologist than a deer biologist, but it does open a whole new realm of possibilities: “Bob Humphrey, deer hunting psychologist.” The only problem is that I suffer with the same affliction. That excitement is the reason we hunt, and I know it’s a trite expression, but if we don’t feel it we shouldn’t be out there.

Having said all that, there are a few things that might help. One is experience. The more time you spend around deer, during and outside the season, the calmer you’ll be around them in a tense situation. The same holds true for the more you harvest, although it sounds like you’ve had plenty of experience there.

Another thing that might help you is changing your mindset. A deer might offer only a quick opportunity, and we hunters have programmed ourselves to take advantage of it when it happens. After suffering an injury that resulted in the loss of sight in my right eye, I changed my mindset to only take chip shots. When bowhunting, if a deer comes in and stands broadside at 15 yards I’ll shoot. If it doesn’t, I’ll enjoy the experience of having seen the deer. It has made me much more relaxed.

Even when gun hunting, take an extra second or two to compose yourself. Close your eyes if you have to. Wait until you’re more relaxed. Then, be very conscientious about your point of aim. Don’t just try to hit the vitals; try to hit a specific spot on the vitals. Any and all of the above might help with the racing heart and the tunnel vision. As for the drooling, you’re on your own.

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