buck fever

American  

noun

1. nervous excitement of an inexperienced hunter upon the approach of game.

2. any nervous excitement preceding a new experience.

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buck fever British  

noun

1. nervous excitement felt by inexperienced hunters at the approach of game

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Etymology

Origin of buck fever

An Americanism dating back to 1835–45

Example Sentences

He writes, “ … it’s not that I fear buck fever, it’s that I can’t seem to work up a decent feeling of enmity toward a deer.”

From Seattle Times

The hunter, who had remained calm up until then, got a delayed case of “buck fever” and even had to sit down when his knees began to shake.

From Washington Times

The bullet struck within about six inches of where I was aiming, which showed that I was influenced by what is called “buck fever.”

From Project Gutenberg

Often during my life I had heard people speak of "buck fever."

From Project Gutenberg

I never saw but one place that I did not get the buck fever when deer hunting and that was in Trinity and Humboldt counties, California.

From Project Gutenberg