Posted: 11/14/2008 3:27:31 PM EDT
| I don't get it... can someone explain this phenomenon? |
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Adrenaline dump without incoming fire. yup. ETA: think about the last time you just got in a fistfight. Strike that. Remember the time where you thought you were going to have to fight that guy who was gonna kick your ass... but you were gonna fight him anyhow? But for whatever reason... it didn't happen? Remember how your mouth tasted like you had $1/2 in pennies, and your hands shook? Your hands are shaking so badly that it is hard to light a cigarette? And nothing happened. That is buck fever... but as the progression is so slow... it comes before the shot. The adrenaline dump comes way before, and starts to fade by the time that the shot becomes available. |
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You have to be out in the woods during deer season to understand it.
The damn squirrels can drive you to madness, sometimes they sound just like the big buck that you think is slipping up on you right as you are barely able to see. You might see a monster buck that you know is several years old, yet nobody has ever seen him before. Our firearm season is only 7 days long, and that is split into a 3 day then a 4 day weekend, so its not something you get to do all the time. |
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A couple more things:
1. they can seem like the smartest or the dumbest animals on earth. Superb athletes. I've seen one jump BETWEEN a section of fence that couldn't have been more than 24" vertically between strands, at a full sprint. 2. they can be ghosts, especially big bucks. Master escape artists. |
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You have to be out in the woods during deer season to understand it. The damn squirrels can drive you to madness, sometimes they sound just like the big buck that you think is slipping up on you right as you are barely able to see. You might see a monster buck that you know is several years old, yet nobody has ever seen him before. Our firearm season is only 7 days long, and that is split into a 3 day then a 4 day weekend, so its not something you get to do all the time. Yeah, its the culmination of a year's waiting for just a few days' hunting time. You might hunt for hours or days before you see a deer... if you see one. The adrenaline rush is what its' all about! I have killed upwards of 50 deer in my life and I still get the shakes everytime I get a chance to shoot at one! If I ever stopped getting buck fever I would probably take up knitting. No freezing my ass off sitting in a freaking tree! lol |
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Adrenaline dump without incoming fire. yup. ETA: think about the last time you just got in a fistfight. Strike that. Remember the time where you thought you were going to have to fight that guy who was gonna kick your ass... but you were gonna fight him anyhow? But for whatever reason... it didn't happen? Remember how your mouth tasted like you had $1/2 in pennies, and your hands shook? Your hands are shaking so badly that it is hard to light a cigarette? And nothing happened. That is buck fever... but as the progression is so slow... it comes before the shot. The adrenaline dump comes way before, and starts to fade by the time that the shot becomes available. This, These... Kinda like when someone runs a stop sign in front of you, or you almost just got in an accident? As you are driving away, hands and leggs shaking. Hard to explain, you would have to be in the situation. |
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agree with above posts. it's funny because when you target shoot
with a deer rifle the gun blast hurts your ears if you don't wear hearing protection. yet when im hunting and shoot a deer i don't even notice the gun blast and it doesn't hurt my ears. i think that's a good example of buck fever. anyone else experience this? |
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The day I stop getting buck fever is the day I stop hunting. It's a feeling that cannot be described. I went hunting for many years before I finally bagged my first deer. After I killed him, I was just kind of like "oh thats it" I think Ive only been back out in the woods once since then, and that was really just an excuse to walk around with a rifle.... Im thinking about going out this weekend. Not for the hunt, just because I like venison... |
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I've heard some goofy stories about people blowing the real opportunity when a big buck did show because of buck fever. Some were probably real, some were BS.
The two that come to mind that are entertaining but probably BS are: 1. Guy sees big buck, he's so primed he throws his rifle at it. 2. Guy sees big buck after a long day, drops rifle and runs at the deer instead. I've never had a serious case of buck fever, I try not to take it that seriously. I get into it if I'm on the trail of a big one, just took a shot at a big one, but I try not to go nuts like some. |
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I guess I should have been more clear... I'm an older guy, have hunted for many years and have taken all kinds of game (no brag intended). I've been on foot, in a treestand, in a boat, a blind, you name it. Never once have I ever experienced anything like the descriptions I hear of Buck Fever.
Now, I will admit that I have never hunted dangerous game... and if I was hunting something like a grizzly or a lion while on foot, I could understand the phenomenon. |
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agree with above posts. it's funny because when you target shoot with a deer rifle the gun blast hurts your ears if you don't wear hearing protection. yet when im hunting and shoot a deer i don't even notice the gun blast and it doesn't hurt my ears. i think that's a good example of buck fever. anyone else experience this? Yep, I've noticed that. On the range or plinking, I remember after the first shot if I've forgotten to use ear plugs. While hunting, deer or birds, I never even notice. |
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I've heard some goofy stories about people blowing the real opportunity when a big buck did show because of buck fever. Some were probably real, some were BS. The two that come to mind that are entertaining but probably BS are: 1. Guy sees big buck, he's so primed he throws his rifle at it. 2. French Guy sees big buck after a long day, drops rifle and runs at the away from the deer instead and surrenders. I've never had a serious case of buck fever, I try not to take it that seriously. I get into it if I'm on the trail of a big one, just took a shot at a big one, but I try not to go nuts like some. I fixed it for you 
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Evidently you folks have never overheard conversations where people are saying " And I shot in the bushes a couple of times, because I just knew it had to be a big buck"
Or never watched the news where someone got shot because the "looked like a big buck" to the shooter. "Buck Fever" causes some people to get so obsessed with killing the big one, they loose their rationality. |
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I watched one guy empty his bolt rifle at a large buck (he never pulled the trigger once).
I get buck fever and would not have it any other way, the key is to keep it under control. I have taken many deer in my time and I always get the shakes after the shot is done. |
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I have all ready killed 7 deer this year. Every time I see a deer the adrenalin kicks in.Still got 2 weeks till gun season. Goin out tomorrow bow huntin  We're tied on count, but I had to shoot all mine with a rifle. I don't have the patience for bowhunting... 
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agree with above posts. it's funny because when you target shoot with a deer rifle the gun blast hurts your ears if you don't wear hearing protection. yet when im hunting and shoot a deer i don't even notice the gun blast and it doesn't hurt my ears. i think that's a good example of buck fever. anyone else experience this? +1000000 I don't feel recoil when shooting at a deer either! |
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The day I stop getting buck fever is the day I stop hunting. It's a feeling that cannot be described. I ponder and fantasize about deer season all year long. Once November arrives I delve right in - soaking up the invaluable solitude, humbleness, serenity, and atmosphere. I get dirty, wet, bruised, and worn out. I hike miles upon miles. I wear blaze orange most days of the week. I get up an hour before the crack of dawn without an alarm. I laugh out loud triumphantly when it snows. I track. I stalk. I pass. I wait. I watch. I climb trees. I nap. A lot. I share stories with my hunter buds. I disappear for a week to go way up north to live in a remote cabin. I hunt the backyard. If I tag out I hunt partridge. I hunt every single moment I can. On the last day, I've had my fill and am so spent on hunting I'm more than ready to hang up the rifle for a year. 48 hours later, I'm already jonsing for to next season. This exhilarating moment - the very instant when you realize just how MUCH you'd rather be there than anywhere....is "Buck Fever." |
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Evidently you folks have never overheard conversations where people are saying " And I shot in the bushes a couple of times, because I just knew it had to be a big buck" Or never watched the news where someone got shot because the "looked like a big buck" to the shooter. "Buck Fever" causes some people to get so obsessed with killing the big one, they loose their rationality. So are you saying we should all quit hunting just because a tiny percentage of hunters are morons or shitbags? Responsible hunters get buck fever when they see DEER, not shadows or bushes moving... |
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Evidently you folks have never overheard conversations where people are saying " And I shot in the bushes a couple of times, because I just knew it had to be a big buck" Or never watched the news where someone got shot because the "looked like a big buck" to the shooter. "Buck Fever" causes some people to get so obsessed with killing the big one, they loose their rationality. So are you saying we should all quit hunting just because a tiny percentage of hunters are morons or shitbags? Responsible hunters get buck fever when they see DEER, not shadows or bushes moving... No, I am saying this so called "Buck Fever" ,is the leading cause of hunters being shot by other hunters. People get all excited and shoot at targets without identifying them, or what is behind the target. |
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It's a good reason to stay out of the woods. Idiots with "Buck Fever" shooting at anything that moves. 
never been hunting, nor in the woods I wager. I came busting out through some brush, to find a fellow hunter sighted down his shotgun on my head... shaking like a leaf. If there is a bad guy shooting folks in the mall, do you open fire on the food court? Same thing applies. Your post insults me. |
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Evidently you folks have never overheard conversations where people are saying " And I shot in the bushes a couple of times, because I just knew it had to be a big buck" Or never watched the news where someone got shot because the "looked like a big buck" to the shooter. "Buck Fever" causes some people to get so obsessed with killing the big one, they loose their rationality. So are you saying we should all quit hunting just because a tiny percentage of hunters are morons or shitbags? Responsible hunters get buck fever when they see DEER, not shadows or bushes moving... No, I am saying this so called "Buck Fever" ,is the leading cause of hunters being shot by other hunters. People get all excited and shoot at targets without identifying them, or what is behind the target. There's a good chance this isn't your thread. |
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It's a good reason to stay out of the woods. Idiots with "Buck Fever" shooting at anything that moves. Congratulations on making the dumbest post of the day. See my "Jumping the Gun on Gun Season" thread. MFers are shooting the evening prior to the season coming in, |
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I never understood it either. I feel elation / relief / gratitude when I put my hands on the animal.
I never got the hyperventilating, can't concentrate, lack of awareness thing with any animal from turkey, deer, hog, bear, or elk; whether it be with a gun or bow, and no matter how close the encounter. I guess either you get it or you don't. |
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I thought it was being unable to pull the trigger when finnaly getting to??  It does also mean that. OK........I thought that was the only meaning of it. I fail
As far as the rapid heart pounding addrenaline pumping heart attack feeling........I get that when I know I hit one. Im pretty calm and collected when I see one......and can usually get a decent shot off. But after his ass bucks up in the air and either drops or staggers and drops......thats when I have to staedy myself . I get weak in the knees and my heart is about to blow out of my chest like a mortar. I usually have to sit down and have a smoke .......kinda like just after sex almost.......before I can stagger over to the kill. Its a frackin rush for sure........although Ive never had an opportunity at a huge racked monster. Im sure its gotta be even more intense.
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| I've seen it plenty of times. It's very strange. Some people get all worked up when they see a deer. I've seen people get the shakes, freeze, and do all kinds of stupid shit. I don't get it either. Shooting a big buck isn't any different than shooting anything else. Aim and squeeze. |
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Evidently you folks have never overheard conversations where people are saying " And I shot in the bushes a couple of times, because I just knew it had to be a big buck" Or never watched the news where someone got shot because the "looked like a big buck" to the shooter. "Buck Fever" causes some people to get so obsessed with killing the big one, they loose their rationality. So are you saying we should all quit hunting just because a tiny percentage of hunters are morons or shitbags? Responsible hunters get buck fever when they see DEER, not shadows or bushes moving... No, I am saying this so called "Buck Fever" ,is the leading cause of hunters being shot by other hunters. People get all excited and shoot at targets without identifying them, or what is behind the target. You are not defining it correctly. That is not buck fever. That's why you were awarded "dumbest post of the day" earlier. |