This time of year it's great to see the pictures of son/daughter etc first deer. I've been lucky to experience it with grandson, nephews and great nephews. There are some things I've witnessed enough that I firmly believe. Bullet in right place is the key. Don't use too much gun that the youngster can't shoot it comfortably. If they are flinching, odds not good of bullet being in right place. The notion that a deer is going to run off with it's lungs, liver, or heart or combination thereof missing just escapes me. Even with small cal if you have done that, you need a sharp knife. I've seen enough taken with cup and core bullets like Remington Core Lokt or Winchester Bulk Packed that I think the premium bullets are an unnecessary expense.
After they get their deer, here's some tips for making inexpensive trophies for them. If it's a buck, mount the rack--in the kids eye it's Boone and Crockett. If you saw the rack off from the back of the antlers down towards nose leaving the hair on is the easiest way. Pick out as much flesh as possible and then mix a cup and a half of 20 Mule Team Borax to a gallon of water. Soak the hair part only for 3 days---don't get the antlers into the mixture or it will stain them. I use a coffee can and place the rack where the antler doesn't go into the liquid. After 3 days remove and rinse very thoroughly. The Borax will keep it from stinking is the purpose. Let dry and you're ready to mount them. You can use a small headed screw and attach to the plaque and the hair will hide the screw head. If you have sawed them off without the hair, mount a piece of plywood to the backside--this can be done by using a couple of small nuts and bolts through the skull and plywood---it's going to be covered up. Now take strips of cloth with both edges folded under, staple one end to the plywood and randomly crisscross it across and staple that end to the plywood. Keep doing this until covered. It will be a turbine effect, but it will be tight and wrinkle free--much easier than getting one piece folded under without wrinkles.
If it's a doe you can still make trophies for them. (if a buck they get an added trophies besides the antlers). Take the lower leg and bend into 90 degree at ankle and tie it in that position. Then soak it 3 days in the Borax--rinse thoroughly and let dry. The leg will remain in that bent position as if welded. Saw leg to length you want and mount to a board with hooves pointing up, to make a rack--hats,baseball,gun whatever. To mount, drill through board and from the backside, screw a lag bolt into the hollow of the bone.(takes fairly large lag bolt) Use shoe wax and shine the hooves. You can remove the bone from the deer's tail and soak that in the Borax along with the legs and mount it on the board for extra decoration.

I have cured salmon eggs in Borax. Thanks for the tips.

I have been hoping my younger son (11) would be excited about the kids opener tomorrow but he says he doesnt want to go. Not sure why, but I wont force him. My oldest son (13) got his first deer last year and is very excited to go tomorrow. So I guess its just him and I tomorrow.

I have two grandsons that are brothers and night and day. One loves hunting and the other never would shoot a deer.

This will be my 13 yr old nephews first deer season!! I can't wait till he pulls the trigger on his first deer ever, should be an amazing experience!!

One of my regrets is on my first deer, my dad wasn't there to witness it, but my brothers were. I've more than made it up to my dad for him missing out on my first, as he's been there for the last handful of tags filled

CoyoteKiller--What rifle will your nephew be using? Keep us posted. I was not present for my grandsons first deer (a doe) but was for his first buck. True story. A spike buck came in and was on my side. Rather than me move and my grandson move, he sat on my knees and used my .243 and dropped the spike. Did I mention that in his eyes this was a Boone and Crockett spike?

my grand son 12 shot his first ever white tail this year on 10/13/12 with my 260 rem. And I was sitting right beside him in a buddy stand. those are moments you'll never forget.