Bowtech_archer07 Posted December 4, 2007 Report Share Posted December 4, 2007 Well, this gun season I have missed 4 deer, 3 due to jerking the trigger, i'm almost positive, and one due to shooting some tree limbs. I need some advice and help on how to cure jerking the trigger. I've tried taking a .22 out and just shooting, doesn't work cause I still jerk the trigger, I've tried shooting blanks, doesn't work, i've tried having someone else load the gun at the range w/ 2 live rounds and 1 blank, just to make sure I am jerking the trigger. I am willing to any suggestions y'all have that might help me. I haven't shot this badly ever during a gun season.. I don't know why I started now. The deer that I have missed are 2 does, and 2 bucks, both bucks being decent. I'm just sick of missing.... HELP PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:confused: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texan_Til_I_Die Posted December 4, 2007 Report Share Posted December 4, 2007 Find someone at your local range with experience as a shooting coach and ask them for help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Airman312 Posted December 4, 2007 Report Share Posted December 4, 2007 Well, this gun season I have missed 4 deer, 3 due to jerking the trigger, i'm almost positive, and one due to shooting some tree limbs. I need some advice and help on how to cure jerking the trigger. I've tried taking a .22 out and just shooting, doesn't work cause I still jerk the trigger, I've tried shooting blanks, doesn't work, i've tried having someone else load the gun at the range w/ 2 live rounds and 1 blank, just to make sure I am jerking the trigger. I am willing to any suggestions y'all have that might help me. I haven't shot this badly ever during a gun season.. I don't know why I started now. The deer that I have missed are 2 does, and 2 bucks, both bucks being decent. I'm just sick of missing.... HELP PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:confused: A couple of questions for you 1- Is hunting season the only time you shoot? If so, maybe just not enough shooting:) 2- when you practice, do you shoot a ton of rounds? Could be your hurting and getting gun shy? 3- Do you know for sure the problem is you or could it be the gun;) hope this helps!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bowtech_archer07 Posted December 4, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 4, 2007 I shoot a little bit, but maybe not shooting enough is the problem. I don't shoot a ton of rounds on the range. I know the problem is me b/c I've had my dad and other's shoot my gun and they shoot fine with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JasonLester Posted December 4, 2007 Report Share Posted December 4, 2007 First I hope your 100% sure you missed. I've talked with people who "missed" only to find the deer was hit but ran off. I'm not saying you did this I'm just bringing up the possibility. Even gunshot deer run sometimes. Probably not the case in your situation. But I figured I'd mention it. So my question is how do you do when target practicing? are you consistant? If not you need to get that way before going out. If you are consistant I think it may be more of a "buck fever" thing. The reason I say this is that you said one time you shot some tree limbs or something. You should take your time for your first shot at a deer. If you have to rush a shot you need to pass on the shot. Slow down and breath. A shot at an animal gets you blood going and you just want to make the shot. However, you still have to MAKE the shot. So take your time relax and do it just like at the range. Even it you have to visualize a target on the animal. Then squeeze the trigger. If it is a matter of flinching you can do one of several things. loading a blank round is a good practice to see if your having a problem. But you have to continualy do it to work through it. The other problem may be your hurting and flinching before the shot. This is common if you gun kicks hard and your not used to it. Practice helps but you may have to go with lighter loads etc. What gun are you using? BTW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bowtech_archer07 Posted December 4, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 4, 2007 I did check on every shot and I found no blood, and the reaction of the deer was not one of a deer being hit. But I did look for blood. I shoot pretty consistently on the range, maybe it is just a buck fever thing. I dunno, like I said, I need to get it figured out. I shoot a Mossberg 12 ga. The hurting thing is not what bothers me, I rarely if ever feel the shot on the range and never feel it in the field. So I know that isn't it.... I guess I do kinda rush the shot though in the field, that probably is it. It was just early on in my hunting career, I rarely missed and in the last 3 or 4 years, I've missed 6 or so... some does, some bucks. I used to rush my shot bowhunting, and I missed some absolute monster bucks, but this year I laid the smackdown on a doe with my bow, b/c I concentrated and made the shot, pretty much just like you said. I guess I've kinda answered my own question... thanks alot! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnf Posted December 4, 2007 Report Share Posted December 4, 2007 Here's two things that I do/ have done to keep me from jerking. I hold my breath when shooting. I had my trigger pull dropped to 3lbs. When I'm taking a shot hunting the adrenaline in me fools me into thinking that I'm not squeezing hard. The gun always goes off before I think it will. Just make sure your on your spot before you put a finger on the trigger. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dubie Posted December 5, 2007 Report Share Posted December 5, 2007 Sounds like buck fever to me . All you need to do is slow down, line up your shot, take a nice breath, let it out a little, and concentrate on feeling every little 1/1000th of an inch of trigger creep until your gun just goes off. It'll supprise you every time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RICK Posted December 5, 2007 Report Share Posted December 5, 2007 right before you pull the trigger,, go to your happy place Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dubie Posted December 5, 2007 Report Share Posted December 5, 2007 Most hunters are in thier happy place long before the trigger needs squeezing... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JasonLester Posted December 5, 2007 Report Share Posted December 5, 2007 Bowtech, It is easy to get excited. I think your on to it though. Slow down and force yourself not to rush the shot. Even a shot that has to be done fairly quickly doesn't have to be rushed. Check my avatar. That buck I shot with a fairly quick shot but the actual shot I took my time. What I mean is I had to get the gun over and sight in on him fast (you usualy don't have alot of time with BIG bucks) but then I settled in and shot. It was an unsupported 70-80 yard shot. I did shoot high an broke his back. But if I had rushed the shot I could have missed him totaly. I guess you have to kind of figure out a way to focus so your not nervous during the shot. Afterwards its fine to be a wreck. LOL I know I was after I knew my buck was down for good. Same thing with a bow. Good luck and go get 'em Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LifeNRA Posted December 5, 2007 Report Share Posted December 5, 2007 Sounds like buck fever to me . All you need to do is slow down, line up your shot, take a nice breath, let it out a little, and concentrate on feeling every little 1/1000th of an inch of trigger creep until your gun just goes off. It'll supprise you every time. Thats how I shoot, dad thought me that way. Let the gun surprise you, but make sure your on target first!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoosierhunter Posted December 5, 2007 Report Share Posted December 5, 2007 I shoot with a towel under my shirt to take the "bite" away from the gun. Try having enought padding to where it doesn't hurt. The biggest reason for people punching the trigger is b/c they are getting sore from the kick. It's also in your head. I would say just shoot more to get your body conditioned to shooting and you will be fine...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bowtech_archer07 Posted December 5, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 5, 2007 Thanks for all the tips.. I am a wreck after I shoot every deer, not just big deer. I just need to calm down and make the shot count.. there is late winter season in January, maybe I can get a doe in that since our full season tags carry over to that season here in IL. Hopefully I can calm down and just make a good shot. Again.. thanks alot! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shockwave Posted December 5, 2007 Report Share Posted December 5, 2007 Try shooting varmints, groundhogs, prarie dogs etc. Theres nothing better to get over jerking the trigger than practice at live game.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted December 5, 2007 Report Share Posted December 5, 2007 I guess I do kinda rush the shot though in the field, that probably is it. Might try to visualize your deer as a target and when at practice visualize your target as a deer in a crunch time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LETMGROW Posted December 7, 2007 Report Share Posted December 7, 2007 A lot of good advice above. The key here is practice. I like to do a count as I am squeezing the trigger. This seems to keep the rythum up as well as the jerking down. We have all done the wrong thing before. You recognizing you have a problem is a very big step in correcting it. Practice at the range, squeeeeeze the trigger, and you will overcome your problem before you know it. P.S., did I say practice? [ besides, it's fun ] Lynn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toddyboman Posted December 7, 2007 Report Share Posted December 7, 2007 sounds like a combo of buck fever and you rushing your shots... You have generally a lot more time to take a shot than you realize....take your time and make it count. and take deep breaths to calm yourself. Good Luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.