I have been shooting for about 2 years now and am starting to become a decent shot, however I've been noticing I'm gettin a little paniky lookin at the bullseye of a regular paper target. Can anyone lend some advice on what to do to help cure me of the bowhunting curse?

Alot of target panic comes as so many young archers go through it i did .Another thang some new people do is they start to look and see the target instead of there pins i guess you are shooting pins .Aperson that was teaching me at the time went and got a large pease of cardboard and some what drew a deer on it with no spots and had me shoot where the kill zone would be .It helped me Cant keep that pin on that spot .Just dont get into the habit of looking where the arrowhits the target that will drive you nuts to .Good luck and good hunting and let us know how our sejestion work out for you .

If you use a release you can try to make the release timing more of a surprise . They actually make releases for this "target panic" problem . I myself switch to my finger laying between the second and third bend on my finger (less sensitive) , or flex my shoulder blade back . That one works best when you have that going on as you just focus , flex and it just goes with out pulling .

The method holly pointed out of shooting at a deer sized cardboard cut out works well for most people. From what I've seen at least.

I had buddy that went through it because off a bad hit on a deer, he got to the point where he would freeze up and couldn't shoot. He got over it by going to a person that taught archery classes and she worked him through it, never had a problem since.

hey been there done that fer sure, the deer target thing werked fer me , and if u can get a female archery instructor that will werk too , watchin them draw cured my snap shot . lol . good luc!!!!!!!!!!

Many years ago, I shot almost every day. I would also shoot leagues and tournaments including early 3d---I started getting a case of target panic---I decided to quit so much shooting,  It worked for me---Now I pick up my bow around the first of August, practice a little during season. then put bow away until next August.  This works for me.

Try to think less about shooting and more about the impact. Watch your arrows after you shoot. I use a 3 count after I release. It is kind of like a follow through. You focus more on what happens after you shoot & it removes some of the pressure of shooting. If you focus on the "after shot" you tend to not be so surprised by the release. Its the same thing with shooting firearms. 3d shoots really help too. Remember, its in your head.

Was the cardboard deer life size or smaller??

Life size

Life sized here as well, and I sure aint an artist but I make my own just out of old boxes draw something that looks close then cut it out and tie it to my block target, I got all kinds of choices, rabbit, bear, javilina, deer, speed goat, and coyote, lots of variety. All free. Sure they aren't pretty but it works for me, and its nice to change things up a bit.

Shoot at 10 yards with your eyes closed. Learn to feel the shot instead of anticipating it and where it will hit. Get that muscle memory working for you and not knowing when the shot will go off (don't punch the trigger). Move back as far as possible (I move to 60 yards and it really makes me concentrate on control because the slightest movement at that distance will throw me off a foot or two). Once I learn control at that distance, it makes 30- 40 yard shots seem effortless.

try aiming without your finger on the trigger and i bet you will be able to aim at the center of the target easier and hold longer on target as well. if you find this to be true then i would recommend that you practice aiming with finger behind trigger for several weeks without shooting. some people say 30 days to retrain your brain to except that your pin is sitting nicely in the center of the target without panicking it could concievably take longer.now at some point you'll want to start shooting arrows again so you can test yourself to see if your more relaxed than you were before you started this theropy!! from time to time you may have to revert back to this method if you get that bad feeling again.good luck!!

The main problem i have is i punch the release i can get my finger on the trigger but as soon as i do i pull it.

consider a different style of release, maybe a thumb release

Holly pointed out the shot/release should be more of a suprise, than an action. Watch your sights those are what put you on target, your sights should be clear in focus, while your target is just a little out of focus, you can not focus on both. As you get your pin on target, gently squeeze until the release, if you anticipate the release think about pulling the triger, you will move,ie push or twist or drop the bow down at or before the arrow is actualy released, then follow through without moving til the arrow stricks the target.

A cardboard deer target or a 3-D target is great for practicing your aiming point. Concentrate on drawing, finding your target, releasing your arrow, following your arrow flight to the target (with just your eyes) and then impact of the arrow into the target. Slowing down the thought process should make you aware of your actions. With repetition during practice this will become automatic in the woods if and when your game presents itself. The use of a cut-out of a deer or a 3-D target will also help with deer fever in the woods, in your mind it will be just a target helping you focus on the placement of your arrow. Hope this helps.

Sauter, I shoot traditioanl so when it comes time for a shot I have to be laser focused and that does not allow me to think of anything else except that dime sized spot on my prey. In addition, when I first see my target I mentally tell myself to calm down and not look at the whole animal. over and over I tell myself to focus and it works , try it. BY talking yourself through the shot will help reduce if not eliminate your panic.