When does the fever hit you? (Buck fever)

[SaskHunter]

I never get "out of control" but definitely get excited and the shakes before a bow shot.

 

[adoc65]

I used to shake like a dog pooping a peach seed. The older I get, the better it’s getting. I didn’t hunt this year, but I’m ready to go this year.

 

[Stocker]

Mostly after. If I get a long drawn out encounter where I know I’m gonna shoot but it’s gonna take a while sometimes I’ll get a little fever during the shot but I’m usually cognizant of it and get it under control:


After the shot if I’m in a treestand I absolutely have to sit down or after the adrenaline dump I might fall. I’ve had a quick bout of the shakes a couple times. Seems to be when I know it was a good shot and the animal is 100% down, if I think there’s a chance that there is a possibility of a follow up shot or something like that I usually stay under control.

 

[ccc23454]

The worst is after the shot when your already freezing cold and then you get the adrenaline shakes.

 

[Bowhuntrben]

Sadly, I don't feel like I get it that often anymore.

The times I do tend to get it the most now are if I am actually wanting to shoot a doe. It isn't very often when I want to shoot one, so when I actually do, I tend to get pretty excited before the shot and can shake. Big bucks for some reason don't get me as excited as this scenario.

Having my boys with me has changed things a bit. This year with them with me, I feel I may have rushed my shot on a good buck. Ended up OK, but could've done things differently. Didn't get shaking before the shot, just maybe not the same decision I would've made if I were alone.
After the shot, however, I was shaking uncontrollably for a while. It was my fifth year of trying to get a buck with the boys with me, so it was pretty exciting to finally have it come together.

When I'm by myself, it's not nearly as exciting. If I do shake, it will most likely be after the shot. I'd say most of the time, things happen so fast, that I don't have time to shake before the shot.

I wish I could bring back the excitement and shakes from my earlier years.

My oldest son will be starting "real hunting" this year, so I have a feeling I might do some shaking in excitement while watching one come in for him to shoot.

 

[Nuts]

The worst is after the shot when your already freezing cold and then you get the adrenaline shakes.

100%. If in a climber trying to pack up, climb down and pack up becomes highly difficult when fingers and coordination no longer works. I look like a caveman with webbed hands trying to use a beaner or zipper for the 1st time.