Buck Fever

[TimM]

First let me qualify: I am a country boy. I grew up in a small semi-rural community in WV. Not really a working farm but we raised chickens, quail, goats, rabbits and the occasional hog and steer and I have killed and butchered my share of livestock. I started hunting at an early age and trapping even before that. Always had a pellet rifle, .22 or bow with me and killed varmints wherever I went.

I killed my first buck when I was 11 years old and never looked back. Squirrels, rabbits, grouse, fox, snakes, rats.... you name it, when I was young I used to shoot it all.

I never got buck fever until the fifth deer that I killed. I was used to hunting in heavy cover and usually would not see the deer until they were in shooting distance. I would just up and pop them. The fifth deer that I killed I was sixteen and I went with a friend and his father to a different part of the state that had big open stands of oak. I watched that buck come in for a long time before I shot him. It was then that I realized what this 'buck fever' that I had heard about was. My breathing became shallow, I got uncontrollable shakes and basically became useless.

Subsequently for a few years after that, every time I had to watch one come in I would get the shakes. I am past that now... thank God.

After reading the thread and listening to the 911 call of the OK woman that shot the drunk intruder it has me thinking. I believe most SD situations happen quickly and you have little time to think about it, you just need to be vigilant and prepared to act quickly. But, if it takes a long time to develop is that going to create 'buck fever' again?

How do you really control you emotions and the adrenalin? There is no doubt in my mind that I have the resolve but if it does happen how does a person overcome it in a logical and controlled manner?

Side note: I really ain't looking for mall ninja and Rambo/Terminator, if you can't control yourself you don't need to be carrying, type responses.

 

[Fred Fuller]

IMHO the best remedy for adrenalin is exposure. Join your local volunteer fire department. Take the basic EMS class and join your local volunteer rescue squad. Over time and with experience and training, functioning effectively under pressure will become more like normal.

Effective defensive firearms training up to and including force on force is going to induce pressure as well, though nothing like a real-life event. But IMHO it certainly helps.

No one really knows how they might react in a bad situation until they've been through a few of them. There are no guarantees of course, but training and experience helps more than it hurts.

fwiw,

lpl

 

[Rawb77]

+1 about handling adrenalin with exposure. Very well put. In addition, playing first person shooter video games WILL NOT prepare you for the real thing haha.

 

[pittspilot]

This is where I think competition shooting helps. It is shooting under the pressure of being watched by a whole group of people while going up against the clock.

 

[jeffmack]

A few years ago, I had a case of buck fever. I was in a very comfortable position, but I had a chance to watch a deer come in from a distance, just as TimM described. I had quite a bit of time to observe my own reactions. My breath became very rapid, and I even noticed I had some tunnel vision set in.

In my own case, I had enough time to force myself to inhale deeply and concentrate on being calm. If things were happening quickly or if my own life were at stake, however, it might have been a different outcome.

Based on my experience, I am always intrigued by posters on this forum who say, "My single shot slingshot mousegun of caliber insufficient for squirrel is perfectly acceptable as a defense round because all I need is shot placement." At a range such strategy is swell, but if somebody is coming at you with an ax, who knows?

 

[BP Hunter]

I have been in many...too many, occasions of life threatening episodes, where I had to revive nonbreathing babies. I am a pediatrician. When attending these complicated newborn deliveries, my mind is already set for the adrenaline boost and am aware of ifs and buts that amy occur in these incidences. Thank God, my calmness always helps, while student nurses sometimes are uncontrollably panicking. But one thing I just cannot get over is "buck fever". I can't breath, shake like there's no tomorrow and get terrible tunnel vision. I only conquered it after the 3rd buck. I was even good enough to hit one on the second shot after loading my muzzleloader.

 

[tkopp]

My self-defense situation happened far too quickly for that to occur to me. I wasn't even a hundred percent sure I had a home invader until I'd armed myself and charged the living room with a sword. This was well before I owned any firearms and part of why I started picking them up. If he'd been armed I would probably have been in a lot of trouble, but my hand was steady and I didn't end up hurting him.

I know what you mean though. Sometimes happens when I realize I'm about to get laid. There's this transition from 'things are going well' to 'don't mess this up' that has made me shake like hypothermia never has. It's important to control your breathing. Long, deep, even breaths. Forget 'what if.' See the whole event, picture it in your mind from one end to another like a movie. Picture yourself doing things well. Then do your best.

 

[SWDoc]

Tim,

Check out "Sharpening the Warrior's Edge" by Siddle.

It discusses the effects of stress on performance and outlines training techniques to minimize them.

Steve

 

[Quoheleth]

I've been in three car accidents in my life: two, semi-serious (EMS/Fire showed up for the other guy), one, a heavy fender-bender.

The first one was a drunk backing into my car in a parking lot. By the time the cops got there for the report, I was stammering, hands shaking so bad I couldn't sign the paperwork.

Second one, I was driving 55mph and a girl in a Miata pulled out in front of me. Totalled her car; mine incurred $5000 damages and she had no insurance. While I was a bit jittery/shakey afterward, I could give a clear statement and my signature was legible.

Third one, traffic suddenly stopped on the highway and a guy behind me didn't stop; he clipped my rear bumper as he swerved into the ditch. He T-boned the car which was turning into a driveway (why we had to stop in the first place). I was able to give a very clear statement, sign legibly, and before EMS arrived, was providing direction and instructions to others who were stopping to help.

I hope to not have any more accidents. I suspect my actions/reactions improved because I've been through it. I always thought "That will never happen to me." Now I know. I hope and pray I don't have to find out what kind of shakes I'll get from having to use a gun in SD. But, I keep preparing myself as much as I can for that possibility.

Q

 

[mcdonl]

Join your local volunteer fire department. Take the basic EMS class and join your local volunteer rescue squad. Over time and with experience and training, functioning effectively under pressure will become more like normal.

Good advice. I never actually checked to see if I shoot/hunt better but I have seen plenty. Besides, it is good for your town too.

 

[SteveCase]

same thing happened to me. while bowhunting I got a call on my cell from my uncle sayin a big buck is coming down the threw the laurels and to get ready. The minute I saw the deal I got tunnel vision, i was so focused on the dear everything was a blur around him. He never came any closer than 50 yards ( i can do up to 30 yards in a softball size group) but i cant do 50 in the same size. the only shot he presented was a chest shot. never did get that deer rather it be that way then to have shot him and never found him cause I didnt get a clean kill

 

[AKElroy]

+1 to exposure & practice. When it comes to taking the shot, spending quite of bit of time at the bench will create habits that just become part of the act of shooting whether rattled or not.

For me battling the shakes is not always successful, but listening & focusing on my breathing helps. Hopefully with good shooting habits we can still make the shot with the blood pumping.

I still get it occassionally, and I still miss occassionally because of it. That rush is part of what I love about of hunting. (not the missing part)

 

[TimM]

SWDoc, I will check out that book. It sounds very interesting.

I guess the only cure for this would be repeated exposure to identical type situations... something I would prefer not to do... ever. So, for now, I will just keep a strong mindset. If it ever does happen to me hopefully I will be aware enough to recognize it and try and control my reaction.

 

[Ryder]

That could be a concern. My experience with buck fever was from not taking my time though. Being too quick to pull the trigger. As if I was worried the animal was going to get away. I eventually figured out that they can't outrun bullets and waiting meant success.

I don't personally worry about shooting people. Shooting is the ultimate last resort in conflict resolution. I focus on analyzing the potential threat and negotiating it without the use of a firearm. That is my preferred outcome.

I've been verbally assaulted a few times since I began carrying. I just keep my distance and let them work it out of their system

If forced to shoot I'll rely on my training because the only conscious thoughts going through my head when someone wants me dead are how to keep on living.