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What would you do

backyardtndeer

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West Tennessee
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.
 
Sounds like a miss and you did the right thing if you still want him to kill a deer.

Hate that he missed. Can you talk him into shooting a doe or a small buck to try to get some practice in?
I don't know your son and how autism is, so your situation is unique.

When i was coming up, it's always been earn your stripes and get good at killing any deer before trying to move up.

Hopefully y'all get another chance and he doesn't get discouraged.

I think you did the right thing in your situation, It would have taken a lot of restraint for me there. If the deer isn't wounded you shouldn't have shot out from under your son. Good job and keep us posted!
 
We went back and looked, and didn't find any sign he hit him. Hopefully he comes back around.
Can you talk him into shooting a doe or a small buck to try to get some practice in?
He was going to shoot the buck we had seen earlier, but didn't really get a good opportunity, the deer was either walking or at a bad angle, I tried several times unsuccessfully with a loud "meh" and it didn't phase him. He is not great with emotions, part of autism, but he says he thinks it might make him sad to shoot a girl deer and it might make him not want to hunt, I am not going to push on that.

I am just thankful he finally took an interest, and the plan actually came together. My restraint almost paid off hugely, he is just going to have to do better at executing next time.

This is the buck that he missed.
1732672110588.webp
 
You did the right thing.

My son missed a buck on Sunday and I knew right away that he missed. Another buck came out 30 seconds later but I didn't let him shoot. Instead we went and looked for his deer to set a good example of what you do after you shoot.

I told him he only gets one buck per day and if he did hit the first one, it wouldn't be legal or ethical to shoot at the 2nd one.

He was bummed but I would have really kicked myself if I let him shoot the 2nd deer without confirming the first was actually a miss.
 
Sounds like it was exciting enough for him to want to go again. And that's all you can ask for. Good job on your part.
Very exciting, my nerves were about shot by the time we got down. He wasn't upset at all, but he was very eager to go back and look for blood.

Probably going to get him to shoot a couple times this morning, and maybe will be able to get him out this afternoon.
 

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