Yips

AceKS

AceKS

Member
I swear I got the yips somehow. Tuesday and Wednesday I was 5 shells for 5 roosters. Today I have shot an unbelievable 16 shells and have 1 rooster. My dog has put up 9 birds within 20 yards. Pretty pathetic on my part. Putting my stuff up for the rest of the day and resting the dog for tomorrow. I didn’t even take feathers off or wound any birds. Just perfect misses.
 
Another gun, too many clothes, not getting gun to shoulder, joints stiffening with age, not mentally watching dog or ready for flush.
Lots of reasons. Practice throwing gun up every 5-10 minutes to avoid muscle fatigue. I HAVE to do this exercise to combat osteoarthritis.
Try it. Your cheek might resist a cold stock. Little things add up.
 
Dog found but one phez in a new, large, beautiful (habitat-wise) walk-in in NW KS. Tall cover so belled the dog. Bell stopped tinkling so I hustled to the dog. Perfectly held point. Flushed four feet away. I missed. That was my hunt yesterday.
 
We all have days like that. Unfortunately, as I age I seem to have more of those days. I use to be an excellent shot on pheasants and guys I hunted with would often say "Don't you ever miss?" Well, my shooting ability as certainly waned in the last several years. It's not the gun, the choke or the shells. It's the gunner! Lately I can't hit the broad side of a barn. The other day my dog was on a solid point. I try to move her but she wouldn't budge so I knew the bird was right there. I kicked the weeds right in front of her nose and up came a big rooster. Flew dead straight away. I took two shots and never drew a feather. Guess this is another drawback of being 78. :)
 
AceKS said:
I swear I got the yips somehow. Tuesday and Wednesday I was 5 shells for 5 roosters. Today I have shot an unbelievable 16 shells and have 1 rooster. My dog has put up 9 birds within 20 yards. Pretty pathetic on my part. Putting my stuff up for the rest of the day and resting the dog for tomorrow. I didn’t even take feathers off or wound any birds. Just perfect misses.
Click to expand...
It's better to miss altogether imo.
 
Back on track. Didn't change a thing other than my attitude. You guys are awesome I enjoy this community. The next hunt I was 1/1 on the first covey of quail and knocked down 2 roosters shortly after. I called that my limit and headed home to my wife to enjoy the rest of the day.
 
Well, I read this thread a few weeks ago and thought to myself that it had been a while since I felt like I had the "yips". I have missed plenty of birds in my life and have several birds that required the "second" bell tone, but for the most part, if the bird was in range, I felt confident it was going down. When I first read this, I even thought to myself that I am a much better shooter than in the past and "could I be immune to the 'yips'"?
Fast forward to last Saturday...I shot 16 times, downed 3 birds, and I am pretty sure that all 3 of them where on the 2nd bell as well. I was shooting the same O/U 20 gauge that I carry 95% of the time and have for the past 20+ years.
I am telling this forum, it isn't if, it's when the "yips" will strike you. Plant your feet, slow down and shoot through them. Eventually, your confidence returns and you can start shooting the birds from the hip again! :):ROFLMAO:
 
I try to always look for the red eyepatch on phez. If I do not see it, I will miss most of the time. If that bird & I make eye contact, its a bonus, I am gonna crush it!
 
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