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What is your pre-shot routine?

How you act in the presence of game is the start of the matter and it comes with experience.
That aside, I have shots picked out on every set up before the deer ever arrive.
I shoot both recurves and bought my first compound in 15 years this year. Shot compound for many years.
Long story short as the deer approaches I come to a quarter draw or so getting tension on my string with a fairly set bow arm. I am then ready to stroke the bow at a chosen moment. I draw on target.
Drawing off target and trying to slowly swing too wastes time but can often get you busted or deer freezes you and you can't shoot.

I have only killed around 75 deer mostly in Oneida county where I raised my kids. I can tell you this, we have some savvy deer and the slightest move or sound can cause them to be gone!
Many times it's a game up to the shot. Red light, green light, until your in position.

My heart still beats with every deer and always will but if the scent favors me, I'm an assassin.
 
Ofor, when I was younger I would practice every day with my bow, sometimes for an hour or so. As I have gotten older, I don’t practice as much, but I am a much better hunter. When I get in the saddle and I am sure there are no deers-a-lerking, I will draw my bow very methodically and set up for different shot opportunities. I will focus my pin on a pine cone or leaf and make sure the pin is steady then slowly let my bow down. Performing this several times throughout the hunt will keep your muscles limber and give you drawing experience. Concentrate on drawing quietly and make sure your bow wont contact anything while maneuvering or drawing and make sure your draw is silent. If you are seeing a lot of deer that are on the move, try drawing on the ones you don’t want to shoot, you will not have the same adrenaline rush, but you will likely hone your “Kill Skill”
 
DON'T RUSH the shot!!

Early in my bow hunting life as soon as I got to full draw I would hit the release because I was so worried the deer would get away. Then after the shot I couldn't even remember if I had the right anchor point let alone a good clear sight picture or where I was aiming! It had nothing to do with buck fever or adrenaline, it was purely me rushing the shot because I was afraid that it was the only deer I would ever see and I had to shoot quickly.

Nowadays shooting from the tree during hunting season feels the same as my summertime practice shooting. I go thru the same sequence, smooth steady draw to my anchor point with my finger behind the release trigger, get settled in on my anchor point and feel for contact on the tip of my nose with the bowstring and line up peep to pin and then aim point on target/deer. Once those boxes are checked and I'm comfortable I place my finger on the trigger and verify I'm on the correct pin for the distance and that the ring of the sight is concentric with my peep. Then I focus on only the spot I want the arrow to hit on either the target or the deer and I start putting pressure on the trigger. The last and most important part I pay attention to is keeping my form and maintaining my pose until I see the arrow hit. From the moment I draw until I'm ready to shoot takes maybe 3 - 5 seconds with most of my releases in the next few. Rarely have I had to hold at full draw for longer than 20 seconds.

It also matters what you do before you draw that plays a part in your success. For me, from the moment I see a deer I determine if I'm going to shoot it or not. Once I decide it's go time I play out scenarios in my head of how and where will I draw and shoot if the deer moves one way or another. This is the stage where I shift around the tree to position myself for the expected shot and get ready to draw.

One helpful tip I can give you is once you decide he's the one (if it's a buck) is STOP looking at his headgear! Picture him as a doe and just focus where you want to aim. There will be plenty of time to admire his rack when you field dress him.

So the next time you are there at full draw and have gone through your pre-shot checklist pause for another second and enjoy that glorious moment in time!
 
Something that will also help you a ton I believe is the next time you have a deer coming in, leave the bow hanging. As it is coming in pick the spot where you would want to take your shot. Then watch for all of the really good shot opportunities you have with that encounter. Watch for shot opportunities that may have been better than the one you chose on the front end. Pick your bow up and point at the deer but dont draw. Hang the bow back up. This exercise works best hunting on a food source where the deer will come in and stay for a bit but it will give you a ton of confidence and teach you to slow down and it will start to teach you what you can and can not get away with in the tree.
 
I just kind of get in the zone so I don’t really have a routine. Just keep your cool and be smooth and get into whatever position you need to shoot.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
 
This reminded me of shooting advice I gave a friend who wore glasses.
He came to work bummed out and told he was sitting his blind and two deer came and he missed at 10 yds.
I laughed and told him the next time two deer come in, close one eye and shoot the one that's left! Lol
 
So with deer..its not even a question. Just draw and and execute. Im 51. been bow hunting almost 30 years. I might have one miss and one bad hit. 3D, Broadhaed league.. no problem. winnner winner venison dinner.

Put me on a line, with 20 dudes, shooting at white spots...Im a hot mess. sweating. talking to myself. So my routine is: wipe my brow. Pray to Jesus, Jewish, God, Oprah Winfrey, and Tom Cruise. Raise my bow. Draw, sweat some more at full draw. Freeze below the spot for 12.3 seconds. PUUUSSSSHHH my pin up up up up...and through the bull- RELEASE! Then I grab my arrow from mt neighbors target and go to the bar for a beer. SOMETIMES I change it up and throw in a flinch or two.. just so I dont get into too much of a routine. My shot sequence only gets messed up when I get tied from pulling arrows from the ceiling!
 
slonstdy said:
DON'T RUSH the shot!!

Early in my bow hunting life as soon as I got to full draw I would hit the release because I was so worried the deer would get away. Then after the shot I couldn't even remember if I had the right anchor point let alone a good clear sight picture or where I was aiming! It had nothing to do with buck fever or adrenaline, it was purely me rushing the shot because I was afraid that it was the only deer I would ever see and I had to shoot quickly.

Nowadays shooting from the tree during hunting season feels the same as my summertime practice shooting. I go thru the same sequence, smooth steady draw to my anchor point with my finger behind the release trigger, get settled in on my anchor point and feel for contact on the tip of my nose with the bowstring and line up peep to pin and then aim point on target/deer. Once those boxes are checked and I'm comfortable I place my finger on the trigger and verify I'm on the correct pin for the distance and that the ring of the sight is concentric with my peep. Then I focus on only the spot I want the arrow to hit on either the target or the deer and I start putting pressure on the trigger. The last and most important part I pay attention to is keeping my form and maintaining my pose until I see the arrow hit. From the moment I draw until I'm ready to shoot takes maybe 3 - 5 seconds with most of my releases in the next few. Rarely have I had to hold at full draw for longer than 20 seconds.

It also matters what you do before you draw that plays a part in your success. For me, from the moment I see a deer I determine if I'm going to shoot it or not. Once I decide it's go time I play out scenarios in my head of how and where will I draw and shoot if the deer moves one way or another. This is the stage where I shift around the tree to position myself for the expected shot and get ready to draw.

One helpful tip I can give you is once you decide he's the one (if it's a buck) is STOP looking at his headgear! Picture him as a doe and just focus where you want to aim. There will be plenty of time to admire his rack when you field dress him.

So the next time you are there at full draw and have gone through your pre-shot checklist pause for another second and enjoy that glorious moment in time!
Click to expand...

Lots of good thoughts here. I tend to not look at the antlers. I’m not a horn hunter and don’t care for the taste of them so I never worry about how big they are. I’m nowhere near enough of a killer to worry about that either way.
 
I've had the archery deer monkey on my back for four seasons now. Last two deer have been killed with my muzzleloader. Shot a buck last season but never found him. Have also botched a couple of chip shots. I think I just tend to rush the shot. Also believe I have misjudged holdovers with my single pin. So I picked up a used Trophy Ridge React V5 to try. Has the clear sight picture of a single pin but I won't have to adjust anything out to 60 yards. One less thing to think about when a deer comes in. All a preference though. Wife got me a Silverback back tension release for Christmas. So I will practice with that in the off-season to improve my shot routine hopefully.
 
Pre shot routine for me is first determine if its a shooter or not. Once that decision is made I plan the shot, which way is it moving, where do I expect it to go/be, remind myself not to stair at the rack, determine where the deer will be when I draw... usually when they step behind a tree/brush etc. Determine what lane will provide the best shot. Remind myself again not to stair at the rack. Ready myself and get in position, deep breath, draw, close eyes and settle into my anchor points open eyes, spot deer level out wait for them to walk into bow sight, close eyes again with another breath to calm the nerves open settle in, stop them with a "meh" if needed and let it fly.

Now things can go wrong and change everything up, deer changes path from prediction, stops in wrong spot etc and you have to adapt. NEVER rush a shot because a deer did something unexpected... lesson learned this season... missed a monster early this season... everything was going as predicted until he stopped between 2 trees I was going to let him walk past to get a slight quartering away shot... after waiting for what seemed an eternity I said screw it Ill take the broadside pivoted over and failed to close eye deep breath settle in let fly and have follow through... complete breakdown of standard procedure for me. Looked like I had a pass through... so I thought... ended up dropping on shot execution and had poor anchor point alignment and shot under him. But had I stuck with my plan and just waited... Id have meat in the freezer and a deer at the taxidermist.

Moral of the story... find what works for you, develop a plan and stick to it. Sure you may have to adapt slightly if they go left insted of right... but just reset and dont rush it.
 
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