I've only been deer hunting about 10 years now and am 63 years old (late bloomer I know).
When I even SEE a deer I start to get the shakes... even the binos are rockin' when I look though them. Trying to keep the scope steady is a real chore. I mean its not just being nervous, I'm literally shaking sometime, almost like I'm cold. Once I decide that I'm not going to shoot I do calm down some but still stay overly excited.

Is this normal? I know everyone gets excited but this seems a bit extreme

I've tried the whole breathing and talking to myself like my buddies say to do but that has little effect.

I would say it is normal. I have been deer hunting 45 years and I still get the shakes

Practice makes perfect....almost. Just keep at it and the more encounters you have with them the more you will settle down. The adrenaline rush is why we do it.

By the way, where are you at in Fla.?

I'm in Oviedo Mark, but hunt in SE AL.

Man I'm the same way. This is my 3rd season, and I shake like crazy, and I've only seen does! Especially when bow hunting, because they get so close.

I guess I'm lucky. I get the shakes but only after the shot

Man I wish Rocket.
Jono, forget about bow hunting, I about fall out of the tree lol. Glad I always wear my harness.

I have been hunting for over 25 years, and I wouldn't say that I have stopped "shaking" but I would say I have learned to control it. The day I go hunting and don't get excited will probably be my last.

there's some things you can do to practice shooting when like that. I always walk back from the hundred yard target quickly, but i guess you could do jumping jacks or what not to get your breathing up. Then get on your scope and just work on settling yourself before the shot. You dont even have to shoot at first, just get use to looking down range so that when it happens in real life, you dont get as nervous when you get to that point, cause it can have a snowball effect. Just figure out what works for you. For me its a breathing technique i use. You'll eventually find what works for you.

Normal, yes. Everyone's different.

I saw a buck two weeks ago in Kansas that I honestly don't believe I could have drawn the bow if he'd come into range. He cut a doe's trail and went the other way but had me shaking like it was 30-below with a north wind.

About 10 years ago I quit deer hunting for a few years after sitting in a blind reading a book, seeing a nice buck in the plot, shooting it with my rifle and going back to reading my book like I'd swatted a fly. I knew it was time to stop for a while, and maybe get the fire stoked again down the road.

I think one thing that helps is hunting as much as possible for whatever - deer, hogs, coyotes, etc. You'll still get excited, but the more you get dialed in to being quiet, stalking, sitting, focusing on the shot, placement, etc., it helps. And, breathing when you get excited! Good luck, SC53!

I love the shakes only if I have a gun prop. It sucks shooting free handed with the shakes. Best rush is when you see that lead doe come out of the wood line and you know dang good well you're about to lay her down.

Wife got a case of the shakes this morning ended up missing and hitting a harmless sumac bush in the background .... She said well at least I got the adrenaline rush !!! I'd say when u stop getting that rush, take up something like golf . Iv never heard of anybody getting the shakes when they are chasing them little white golf eggs around .

Oviedo is just north east of Tampa isn't it? That's a pretty good trek to hunt bama. I still get the shakes and i love it more than getting high on crack cocaine!

I just dont get excited like i did when i was a kid. But i still enjoy the hunt. Pulling the trigger is the worst part

I lose control of all bodily function when I see a shooter buck.Yesterday afternoon there was a tall 4 point come out couple hundred yards across the clearcut.Soon as I seen the horns I started shaking a bit but then an 8 point stepped out right behind him.That's when I lost my chit but was able to keep calm enough to watch him through the binos and see he wasn't a shooter.Been hunting 25 years or so and I still can't control it much.That feeling is what keeps me going back year after year.

We were sitting around the fire talking about this one night. About 15 guys there. Four or five of them talking about shaking so bad before the shot. I thought I was just being funny when I asked them if they shook before they pulled the trigger on a squirrel. To a man they confessed to not have ever shot one with a .22. Seems to me and most of my hunting buddies we don't get that excited till we see the flop. It's just a mental thing with me going over in my head steps to making a good shot. Its something I don't even think about any more but it all started in the squirrel woods. I just go in rifleman killer mode.

Bow hunting is definitely worse because of the wait between seeing the deer and shooting it. With a rifle its usually after the shot for me because it can happen really fast. Then again there are situations where you may have to wait with a rifle too.

All business before shot. After shot I have to tighten harness cause my knees start shaking so bad

Same here. I'm stone solid until after the shot, then I get the shakes. My daughter shot her first deer last week and about 30 min after, she was still shaking a little and she said, "Dad, I'm still shaking I'm so excited. This is awesome! Now I see why you like to hunt so much!"

That's a good thing. When you stop getting exited it's time to quit.