I've been having terrible target panic lately and I need some advice! I am practicing for a muskox hunt in March and need to be comfortable out to 40 or 50. Right now I am only comfortable at 20 and even from that distance I find myself freaking out and jerking the shot significantly. Anyone have any suggestions or ideas to solve the problem?

U have time. take a break for a little while. Worry too much about something like this or the yips in golf can just make it worse.

have ya got wrist ban on bow, try lostening your grip best wishes

Thanks for the advice! When I was trying to figure out the problem the other day I actually noticed that I wasn't relaxing my trigger hand all the way, which is causing me to jerk once I pull the trigger. I tried to fix it and am doing a little better with that, but I'm still panicking really badly. I draw back and come down to the bullseye and am pulling the trigger before I am actually settled on the bullseye a lot of times, so it causes me to shoot high. Not sure how to fix that.

Youtube back tension. Basically you pull back on the release and let your finger pull into the trigger to release it. Might help.

I'll do that right now, thank you!

keep practicing, eventualy will come natural.

You are probably jerking at 20, but it doesn't show up as badly as at 40 or 50.

This is one of those trips of a lifetime sorts of deals, yes? This is a special trip - one that you want to remember fondly, yes?

If you are going on a muskox hunt and are having this much trouble at such short distances, you would be best served to pay the money and have a professional work with you for a day or two. You are spending big money for a muskox hunt (probably $4-10K), so why screw it up by being improperly skilled? Drop another $200-300 for a day or two of proper shooting instruction.

I am not a great shot with a bow, but I have a few suggestions that might help, they certainly helped me.
1. Shoot at a smaller target at 20 (nickel size). It makes you concentrate more.
2. Instead of pulling the bow above the target and moving down, pull the bow below the target and move up.

Ease up on the poundage on your bow. Most people set the bow too high and you end up concentrating on holding back too high a weight.
Set it down a few pounds where it seems easy, and then just concentrate on a smooth release and follow through!

Good advice! Also, when you are gripping the bow with your off hand, change it to only the web between your thumb and forefinger. Will take repeated practice but will reduce any tendency to jerk. Normal practice for me is about 20 field tips a day to get technique correct, then at least 5-8 hunting arrows. Make darn sure you are shooting from a position that you will be hunting from. I agree with a couple of pro lessons. Has helped me a bunch. Good luck!

when I feel the panic coming on i use a back tension release also seems to help, also pull out the recurve and start playing around.

I have a friend that went Muskox hunting a couple years ago, shot his at under 20 yards. Said the cold was the worst thing. I guess they tend to "ball up" when approached. Relax and try the things the above fellas have mentioned.

Has been along time since I shot a bow every day, but I do remember having to some times take breaks for a few days. Or try using poker cards set as targets and play solitaire, that will make you focus totally on the shot.

Video yourself shooting from a couple of different angles and then watch and critique your fundamentals and do it again.