My son killed this young buck with a well placed shot. The opportunity for that shot came from a couple months of scouting leading up to a three (two for us since we won't hunt on Sunday) day youth season and the skill to make that shot came about as the result of a lifetime of practicing marksmanship. There was joy on both our parts at the kill. Joy for success that comes from hard work. Joy (on his part) for finally being the one to provide such a quantity of protein rich, lean meat for our household. Joy on my part for the comradery that he and I experienced those days and from seeing my son learn a valuable skill...more than just the hunt and the kill.
Deer don't go to a butcher from our house. That deer was carried to our house and I taught my son how to clean the animal, butcher it and care for the meat. I taught him how to cook it various ways. I taught him how to make salami (one of our favorites) and Slim Jim type of meat sticks from it. He now has a valuable skill that will serve him and his future family well. I take it that if it were up to you, you would deny him this privilege.
Another thing he has learned (and I have taught him this since birth) is that guns are tools used for killing. While we target shoot and skeet shoot for fun, he knows exactly what guns are used for and has a healthy respect for them and knows how to handle them safely. I am a pretty strict father. I took him out and spanked him with a belt when he was 4 for misbehaving in church services. But he knows that I'll punish him worse if I witness him mishandling his weapon than I would for other things. To me it is very important that he learn safe handling of his firearms.
I would be lying if I didn't admit that there was a certain amount of thrill and satisfaction at the point of taking "the shot," but when you would have folks believe that is the only reason people hunt it just shows your ignorance about what we do. It shows that you are willing to deprive a future generation of a wholesome, healthy connection to this nation's past.