You have target panic! There are two types of archers�those that have it and those that will get it in one of its various forms. By the way....one you get it, it is like a great piece of luggage�you will never get rid of it, but you can control it. After shooting for years I developed the same problem you now have, and after reading and reading and talking to several coaches I began experimenting with different things I had learned. I put together a compilation of different things I had learned and developed a system that I laughingly call the "afflicted method" that helps me and has helped others that I have worked with. Some people will recommend switching releases, and maybe even switching to a back-tension release, but that only covers up the underlying cause, which is a mental breakdown of a fear of missing and leads to major confidence problems that only increases the problem. Here is what I do.
First thing is to RELAX!!!!! Next thing....forget practicing as you normally do for at least a couple of weeks�this didn't happen all of a sudden and cannot be corrected immediately either. With this exercise you will not be firing an arrow, and you must tell your brain this. Stand 5 feet in front a target and draw the bow back, with your finger behind the trigger where it will remain, and then bring the pin down or up to the target�you may have to force it there, but do it anyway�your not firing an arrow. It make take a little effort, but move the pin around to various other targets and then let down�DO NOT fire the arrow. Do this for several minutes while standing right in front of the target and then your done. Do this everyday for an entire week, and never fire the arrow. This exercise re-establishes confidence in your brain that you can put and hold the pin anywhere you want at will�it is remarkably easy to do this when you and your brain realize that a shot will not be going off. After a week continue the same exercise, but at the end of the session add 10 or so "blind bale" shots while standing 5-6 feet in front of the target and do both of them for another week. Blind bale shooting is a neccessary part of this because it takes away the brain's ability to aim/focus on a target and re-establishes feeling between your finger and the firing mechanism.
Now two weeks have passed and your ready to fire a "real" shot...kinda. Start your practice with the draw, aim at several spots and let down method (always start every practice session with this�no matter the yardage), followed up with a few blind bale shots and then your finally ready to launch an arrow. Start at 5 yards, draw back and aim and then bring your finger in front of the trigger and then count to five(this is important because it momentarily takes the focus of the brain off of the target and places it on the count allowing you time to "reset") and then fire by squeezing the trigger. Do this several days and then when you are having no problems move back 5 yards. You will be moving back 5 yards at a time, as long as your not having any trouble, and if you are having problems move back up 10 yards and repeat the process. I would not shoot anything over 20 yards, once you work up to it for awhile, and also I would every now and then walk up and pop-off a 10 yard shot just to make yourself feel good. I will very strongly, highly recommend not taking a 40+ yard shoot for at least awhile because you want to raise your confidence and ability at the same speed and level.
You have plenty of time to get this under control before deer season, so don't rush it. I also must add that I have never had, even at it's worst, a problem with this when aiming at a deer�only targets....I don't know why, but I know that it is something mental. One more thing that I do and have recommended to others is to switch fingers for a trigger purposes. It felt really goofy at first, but I switched from my index finger to my middle finger and also dramatically shorted the release where the trigger is in the 2nd knuckle of my middle finger�both changes dramatically helps with feel and lessens the ability to become a "punch princess" due to how deep the trigger is in the finger.
I must add that everyone is different because of our individual characteristics, but target panic comes from the same roots in each of us�the fear of missing causing a mental breakdown and that fear is what you have to conquer. By doing so much "up close" work at the target you are rebuilding confidence/retraining you brain due to widened margin of error of such up close work. Also, keep your sessions brief�when your tired and/or weak, take a break and come back later after you have recovered. I hope some, or all of this helps, as I feel your pain and I know exactly how high the level of frustration that you are dealing with is.
