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What would you do

I don't think you could've done anything different in that situation. If you had took the gun and killed the deer you would've felt bad for it and he probably would've been happy for you but take a chance of it upsetting him as well.

Hopefully he gets another chance at him.
This^^.... it's his hunt. He gets to enjoy the success or learn from the misses. Hope he sticks with it and does not get discouraged. Respect any parent who leads like you are.
 
I think you did the right thing. Too many dads want their kid to be successful...so they can brag about them. So much so that they do what you were tempted to do. Despite what Dad thinks, that kids knows they didn't do it.
I honestly thinks that contributes to the kid loosing interest later.
As the parent of a special needs child...I understand. But you still did the right thing.
If my son ever kills one...he will be the one that did it!!
 
Absolutely the right thing. Only time I have ever taken over the gun from my daughter is when she knocked one down but he kept picking up his head. I told her to put another one in him but she got flustered about where to hit him and she asked me to finish him off, which I did. Other than that, it's their hunt to either be successful or not, and either way memories are made.
 
So my 13 year old son is high functioning autistic. He finally got interested in hunting last year. I took him some and he never had an opportunity on a buck. He wants to kill a buck for his first deer. I took him during the juvenile hunt and we only saw does. Have taken him a couple times since and same. Finally this afternoon we have a decent ear width buck I try to get him on and the deer never stops where he had a good clear broadside shot that was close enough he felt comfortable. That was early, like 2:30.

I had passed a pretty nice wide buck a couple times with hopes he would get a chance, this afternoon it happened. The deer was just inside 100 yards and he was broadside. My son clicked the safety off took his time and when he took the shot, I immediately thought he missed clean because the deer looked around and then walked a little ways and looked around more. At one point he was walking to us after the shot and i thought he might turn again and give another opportunity so I left the gun in my son's hands on the rail and adjusted it for him and told him when he turns he could take a shot. My son never could get the scope back on him where he thought he had a good shot.

The deer even went down along a brush pile and presented again but it was getting dim fast and he couldn't find him in the scope. I had him in my binoculars and it could have took the gun and shot him, there were several opportunities but i didn't, I kept trying to get him lined up.

Believing it was a clean miss, I think I did the right thing not taking over and shooting him myself, but what would you do in the same situation? This is a nice deer, probably every bit of 21 inch inside spread and fairly tall. If I thought he hit him, I might have taken the gun and put another in him to make sure we don't have a late night tracking. We are going to go back after I get him his supper and check for blood, buy it really don't think we will find any.
My daughter couldn't get on a big 6 once and I let him go then a few minutes later a big 10 came out and she couldn't get on him either and I let them walk. I did try to tell her we will move and go back 2 days later, she said no then I did and got big 6 we seen. I won't shoot if she is with me. My son is autistic but I can't take him, he is 10 and doesn't understand much very functional, vocal smart.

I did shoot a buck out in a field once at just over 100yds he kept running to me after every shot never acting like he was hit. I had open sights only at the time so I kept putting them in him all 4 shots were in a4"circle and he died right in front of my tree at 20yds. That was with my. 270
 
My son is autistic but I can't take him, he is 10 and doesn't understand much very functional, vocal smart.
It is a little challenging. If I didn't have him something to occupy his hands, we couldn't make it 10 minutes in a stand. Also helps the stand I mostly take him to is wrapped in tent canvas, but I do have to remind him that deer can still see in the opening. I take his switch, and he does good playing it for a while. Every so often he puts it down and tells me I am going to look for deer and picks up binoculars, but usually after only a few minutes his hands start fidgeting and he starts kicking his feet.
My daughter couldn't get on a big 6 once and I let him go then a few minutes later a big 10 came out and she couldn't get on him either and I let them walk. I did try to tell her we will move and go back 2 days later, she said no then I did and got big 6 we seen.
I asked him the other day if he would be upset if I shot the deer, I had shown him pictures and the video from my phone from when I had seen him. He said no. I did see him again after that and passed him, but not sure if I see him again now that I will be able to pass again. I will take him with me every chance I get with the right wind though. He was happy that he finally got to see a good buck, he was feeling like he was unlucky.
 
It is a little challenging. If I didn't have him something to occupy his hands, we couldn't make it 10 minutes in a stand. Also helps the stand I mostly take him to is wrapped in tent canvas, but I do have to remind him that deer can still see in the opening. I take his switch, and he does good playing it for a while. Every so often he puts it down and tells me I am going to look for deer and picks up binoculars, but usually after only a few minutes his hands start fidgeting and he starts kicking his feet.

I asked him the other day if he would be upset if I shot the deer, I had shown him pictures and the video from my phone from when I had seen him. He said no. I did see him again after that and passed him, but not sure if I see him again now that I will be able to pass again. I will take him with me every chance I get with the right wind though. He was happy that he finally got to see a good buck, he was feeling like he was unlucky.
He might like just seeing it all happen and he gets his hands on him with you
 
I think you did the right thing. Too many dads want their kid to be successful...so they can brag about them. So much so that they do what you were tempted to do. Despite what Dad thinks, that kids knows they didn't do it.
I honestly thinks that contributes to the kid loosing interest later.

That's right. Even though intentions are well meant, taking the gun away and shooting it for the kid robs them of the incredible sense of accomplishment they'd feel doing it on their own. Last thing we want to do is infer that the kid isn't good enough. That is NOT the lesson we want them taking away from the hunt.
 
You did it right. He would always look at the accomplishment in his mind as something you had to finish off for him I'd bet. There will be more chances and he will get one. As hard as it is sometimes, we have to let our kids see that things don't always work out and mistakes happen. We learn far more in defeat than in victory.
 

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