I think spending time looking at game up close helps. When I started deer hunting you could only shoot 1 buck, so you looked at a lot of does. I would often "count coup" on the deer, unloading the rifle, taking aim, snapping the rifle, watching the deer react to the sound. In fact I did this last week. I've done this with my caplock; pulling the cap and using my glove to protect the nipple. Would be a little harder with a flinter.
The downside to "buck only" was you shot the 1st buck that walked up. Increased bag limits allowed you to be picky about what you shot, but public land almost forced you to shoot because if you didn't the next guy would.
About 8 years ago most counties adopted the "antler rule" where the buck had to have 13" inside spread. Again, good to keep flinching down, as you see lots of non-shooter bucks.
Also, I was raised by a meat hunter; dad always said you cant cook antlers to where they taste good. Meat was much more important to my family than horns.
I've never had a problem getting nervous, buck fever, whatever you want to call it. My brother gets so excited its a little worrisome to be in the woods with him. I chalk it up to time spent in the woods; I'm in the woods most days off, he doesn't.