I have been there, maybe not a 180 but one of the biggest bucks I had ever seen was taking my youngest hunting his first deer. We were on the ground about 60 yards out.

My boy has the shakes bad. Im telling him to breath and all the things a shooting coach does. He squeeses the trigger and nothing. He had a starburst wrapper in the breech. It's december and he is sweating. So to make a long story longer he shot twice and missed both times. No blood spilled but the next year he drilled an lil ol 8 with the sks. I felt I had to give him the attempt. The next deer was drt'd. Its a learning thing.

I would let my unexperienced youth (most likely son) shoot one hick of a deer. Then I would paid from the mount.

No question about this . My son would take the shot . I have always been prouder of what my kids shot than anything I have taken .

4YRS ago my daughter killed her first deer. It was a little 5pt and she droped it with one shot from her 243 and i was the proudest dad in the world. Since that time ar rules took over and she hasnt seen a legal buck to take and doesnt want to go anymore because she cant legally kill any of the bucks she has seen. My answer to this thread is yes, would love for my kid to get a big ol buck but i feel that has been robbed from me because of ar rules and unless i win the lottery my daughter and i wont ever get that chance. I know this isnt a ar thread and dont want any opinions on how she is gonna get the chance now that the magical ar rules are in effect. If ya dont see any big deer after 4 yrs of new rules its a pretty good indicater you aint gonna! Sorry for the long rant but truly feel that part of my life has been robbed from me.

Be honest, if they need an adult with them I seriously doubt that any young kid could be "effective with such a big buck" as you put it. If being effective means hitting the deer, then even an experienced hunter can miss a deer. If being effective means not getting excited, a rising pulse rate and getting nervious before taking the shot, then I would bet most of us aren`t "effective for such a big buck". The only place I know to train a youth how to shoot at a nice deer is by giving them the opportunity in the field. This was my grandsons 3rd deer to shoot to shoot at and the first one to miss. I know grown men that aren`t that effective. By the way, 5 minutes after missing the big buck a nice 9 point came out in the field and he dropped him in his tracks. I guess you would say he learns quick.

Okay, I don't have a kid, but here is the one problem with letting the kid shoot the deer. If it is one of their first bucks, it could ruin them for life on shooting deer! I'd probably let the kid shoot it too, but think about how it would affect his or her hunting from then on.

I would let the kid shoot it for sure. Anyone that chooses to shoot it themselves and then think that a kid can keep a secret is loonier than a bedbug. Nothing worse than a kid lying to someone to save a parent.

i think it might be easier for a kid to take a 180 class buck than an adult sometimes. Think about it, an adult has been hunting all his/her life looking for "THAT" buck. a child that is just starting out had only seen whats shown on TV as a reference to a live, walking in the woods buck.(for the most part) Most of them are 170-200 class bucks so it's normal for them. They don't really know that they are taking a shot at a world class buck.
my point is that kids watch hunting on TV and they kinda think all hunting is that way untill they spend a few yrs in the woods.

I get more excited now about seeing my wife or kid shoot a good deer. I've been hunting a lot of years now and enjoy seeing their joy.

Nothing more exciting than being with and seeing your child harvest a deer. I wouldn't think twice about letting my kids shoot the deer. It helps that I know they can shoot lights out. If it were a long shot or something I was not comfortable with them taking then I would wait and have them try again.

X2

I'll man up (or man down) and say it would depend.

I don't have kids, but if I did and they were old enough to really understand what a 180 buck is, then yes, I'd let them shoot it.

If not, the deer is mine. Tagged by junior, of course.

Let the kid shoot and then it would be off to the taxidermist.

I do have kids and they are still young so I have this to look forward to. Since the scenario presented is youth weekend then I would let my kid take the shot b/c I am not going to break the law and ask my son/daughter to lie for me. However they must fully understand the circumstances. Like mentioned above I would not shoot it but I may let it walk if I think they are too young to appreciate the quality of animal they are trying to harvest.

If the scenario wasn't youth weekend then it would make for a tough decision based on the factors I mentioned above.

If i had a kid, which one day i hope i do, i would let them shoot it in a heart beat. I would have to watch over them to make sure it's a clean shot. i would hate to wound a great deer.

Let the little one take it, but have nightmares about it later!

Take pictures?

Is the deer old enough?

You would engaged in an illegal act in front of your child? Shoot a deer that is only for the Youth Season and then have the youth tag the deer? What kind of message or act would you be teaching your child? How to be a poacher and doing something illegally.

omg, you are right.

I'd also kill puppies infront of him and beat on his mother while he watched.

Thank you for setting me strait.

0f course the kid takes the deer, fool

Absolutely I will let my daughter shoot, and better yet I hope it happens

My daughter would be all gins that day.

Dont have kids but i would let them shoot it, if i knew they were experienced enough to shoot it. I would not take them to the stand with the intention of them shooting and possibly wounding a doe, much less a 180" buck. I understand accidents happen but he/she would be as prepared as i am before every season. If i felt they couldnt successfully take the shot then we let the deer walk and take a picture.

I know too many people who would pick A, thats why I do not agree with early youth season.

Let the youth hunter take it. A trophy would have no value to me if it was taken illegal.