Overcoming Target Panic - 4 Ways to keep your cool
Target panic is essentially an archer’s worst nightmare. It’s defined as anxiety when your pin is on target and can manifest itself in many different ways, including hovering your pin above or below your target, smacking the trigger right when your pin gets on target, or flinching when releasing an arrow.
The biggest problem with target panic is that it produces inconsistent results that only get worse when you draw back on an animal. One day, you’ll be dialed in and almost “robinhood” each arrow you shoot and the next day you’ll be all over the place.
I was stuck in target panic for about three years. During this time, I missed well over 15 deer with my bow without any success. If you’re in the same boat as I was, I have good news: everyone can overcome target panic with consistent practice. As counter-intuitive as it sounds, target panic is just a trick your mind is playing on you because you’re actually afraid to hit the target and be successful. If you practice consistently and focus on your mental game, you can become a consistent bowhunter or target archer.
Shot Process
Instead of simply drawing back, aiming, and shooting, the best bowhunters that I know have a shot process that they go through in their head every time they release an arrow. This allows you to attain more control over your thoughts and anxiety when shooting and can ground you when the real pressure is on.
When I was really struggling with target panic, I would miss an animal and say to myself, “what was I thinking?” until I came to the profound realization that I wasn’t thinking. I was allowing myself to be overcome by the adrenaline of drawing back on an animal, or in this case simply putting my pin on the target. Creating a shot process that is unique to you can revolutionize your archery game and allow you to eventually be cool, calm, and collected when you draw back on an animal.
For example, my shot process goes like this (my actual thoughts in italics): I relax my grip and raise my bow and place my pin on the target before drawing back- hit, I draw back- cool and calm, I hover my pin on target and take two breaths before slowly applying back tension- hover and pull.
Over time and with practice, you will find the words and phrases to say to yourself before each shot. Keep in mind that you want to actively be thinking these words and phrases each time you shoot. When the pressure is on, it will allow you to be more grounded, collected, and ultimately calmer.
Shooting Proud
Scientific studies have proven that posture affects confidence in your own thoughts. If you pay attention to your posture while you shoot, you can increase confidence in yourself and decrease anxiety when the bow is drawn back.
I define perfect posture as proud posture. Feet shoulder width apart, back straight, shoulders down, and chest lifted up. Posture is as much of a mental game as it is physical. If you practice proud posture, you’re also likely practicing close to perfect archery form.
Back Tension
Most bowhunters, especially new bowhunters, use a trigger style release. In terms of perfect archery form, the trigger style release without applying back tension is the worst release money can buy for both accuracy and consistency.
With that being said, there are some people who are incredibly accurate and consistent with a trigger release, but they are the exception. You even see some television hosts and social media hunters/archers smacking the trigger on every shot they take. I certainly applaud archery success no matter the form you have, the bow you shoot, the arrow you use, or the release you shoot. What works, works.
However, I have a feeling that if you’re reading this article, that doesn’t work for you. I was in the exact same boat, but my archery game completely changed when I switched to a handheld, back tension release.
A back tension release is so effective because it almost guarantees a surprise shot, which minimizes the possibility of ducking or raising the bow right before your shot, or flinching before the release. A surprise shot is one of the big keys to consistent accuracy.
The release works by only firing once a certain amount of tension, or weight, is applied to the back wall at full draw. The release will have a safety that you will hold down when drawing to make sure it doesn’t fire when pulling your bow back. It will take some time to dial in the exact amount of tension or weight you will like your bow to fire on the tension screw of the release. Once properly set and a surprise shot is achieved by smoothly pulling through the shot, errors in your form like a raised shoulder or inconsistent anchoring position will quickly reveal themselves.
In terms of releases, I recommend the Carter Evolution or the Nock On Backstrap. If you’re on a budget and can’t afford another release yet (most quality ones are around $200), you can wrap your index finger around the trigger (instead of placing the tip of your finger on the trigger), keep your finger stationary, and apply back tension until the bow fires.
(The NockOn Backstrap (left) can be an excellent back tension option for those that want a release on their wrist. The Carter Evolution (right) is a good option for a more traditional back tension release)
Breathing
I noticed that when I was struggling with target panic, I was holding my breath in full draw. This not only increased my target panic, but it made me think that I have to shoot as fast as possible.
Being relaxed in full draw is another key component to overcoming target panic. Just like long range shooting, taking a couple deep breaths while in full draw and then slowly exhaling while applying back tension can dramatically decrease anxiety and increase your stability in your holding position.
If you’re having really bad target panic and can’t seem to get the pin to the target without smacking the trigger, try a drill that I like to call the “breathe and hold drill”. Draw back and put your pin as close to the target before you feel the need to shoot. Then, focus your entire mental energy on your breath, breathing 6 seconds in and 6 seconds out. Work your pin towards the target. When you feel the need to shoot, let down and repeat.
Shot process, back tension, and your breath should help tremendously in your target panic. Target panic isn’t cured overnight, and it’s normal to experience some sort of anxiety while in full draw, especially on an animal.
About the Author
Turner Rowland (right) was born in Key West, Florida and has an avid passion for Inshore and offshore fishing. After moving to Tennessee early in life, he began a life-long fascination with wildlife, hunting, and fishing that has taken him around the world to places like Bolivia, Christmas Island, Alberta, South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Zambeze. He currently resides in Bozeman, MT where he is passionate about elk, deer, turkey, duck, antelope, and bear hunting after cutting his teeth as a wilderness elk hunting guide.
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