Saturday Mentored Youth Hunt

Couldn't have asked for a better day weather-wise.  Cool, crisp morning and a nice gradual warming.  The deer, however, didn't want to cooperate.  We saw nothing but the cows out in the field from sun up to about 11:40.   My 11 yr old and I were planning on heading back home at noon, so it didn't look promising.   As usually is the case, that changed in a heartbeat. 
 
A lone deer was running across the field.   It was about 300 yards out when I first spotted her coming our way.   I grabbed the .243, chambered a round and handed the gun to my son.  He had not seen the deer at this point as she slowed down in some thick brush about 100 yards out.   I told him that she would be coming up over the rise any second.  And there she was.  Headed right at us.   Around this time I confirmed no horns and whispered in his ear that she was a shooter.   At 40 yards she either winded or saw us and bolted.   3-4 large jumps and she was into the woods to our right and the opportunity was over.   My son put the safety back on and lowered the gun.  
 
Was I upset he didn't shoot?   A little.   I certainly would have fired as I think most would have.   I asked him why he didn't.  Nervous?  Not the right shot?   Not confident in hitting it?   A little of each he thought.   No doubt I would have like to have brought home his first deer, but I'm sort of glad it worked out that way.   I know this much, he was still pretty excited even without a shot.   

We packed things up shortly after and headed out.   No meat, but a great day in the woods with my boy.  
 
And I wish there was a betting line on this sort of thing.  We come home and there is a big fat doe bedded not 30 yards from the edge of my property.   I'm in Allegheny County and there aren't enough woods to hunt back there.