Your vision will not focus, you start to shake, or maybe you find it hard to catch your breath.

No, it’s not about the flu or the beginning of COVID-19, but it’s an equally deadly illness, at least when it comes to hunting.

You have buck fever.

There is no pill you can take, not a shot that will keep it at bay. So, how do you battle one of the biggest killers of successful hunting seasons?

One of my favorite parts of hunting is the rush — the adrenaline rush felt when a big buck comes into sight, or even a nice doe stops within range and doesn’t know I’m yards away. But for some hunters, that rush and adrenaline dump doesn’t just add to the excitement; it takes over. When this happens, the rush turns to panic. The shakes make it impossible to keep sight of the target, and sometimes, you even freeze, unable to pull the trigger. You have buck fever.

Having some rush and excitement is healthy. It’s why we hunt, and it keeps you on your toes. The goal is to keep it at bay or under control enough to maintain your ability to focus and get the job done. Here are some widely accepted tips to help you do just that.

Practice is the key to any successful hunt. Not only does it make you a better, safer shooter, but it also builds your confidence. For many sufferers of buck fever, the cause is a lack of confidence. This causes self-doubt, and that doubt causes hesitation. Increased practice from multiple positions, the ground, the stand, and at different distances will allow you to go into autopilot when it’s time to take the shot, not allowing doubt to get a foothold.

Part of proper practice also means practicing the basics, including breathing. It is usual for your breathing to quicken when a trophy buck or a buck you’ve been following all season finally comes into sight. Inhale deeply, exhale shallowly, relax, and pull the trigger. Do this enough, and it will become second nature, allowing you to do so when it counts. Again, muscle memory takes over, and buck fever is kept at bay.

Make the shot before it happens. While not seeing deer, imagine the biggest buck you’ve ever seen walking out from various trails. What shot will you have? What is the distance? What path will he take? Work the problem and develop solutions that end with a big buck down. When it happens, there will be fewer surprises because, as far as your brain is concerned, you’ve been there and done that.

Of course, no practice scenario or imagined scene is 100% accurate. Nothing compares to a real-world chance to pull the trigger, so get more trigger time. Not everyone can travel the country hunting multiple seasons, but you can hunt other species at home. It does not matter if it is a small game, ducks or turkey. The more time behind the trigger and the more times you have a live target in front of you, the less likely buck fever becomes.

There is no guarantee that buck fever will not strike, but hopefully, a little preparation will let you fight through and overcome it before it can take over and ruin your hunt of a lifetime.

Good luck and good hunting.