RE: does killing a deer mean success?
killing a deer is success, that's one of the reasons we are out there. However NOT killing a deer is not failure.
I haven't shot a deer this year, neither have either of my boys. We have had, so far, a HUGELY successfull season. My youngest has had one very good chance and a bad timing "pee break" that cost him a second chance, I have very much enjoyed the time in the woods both with and without my boys (NH law they have to hunt physcially under my control til they are 16). We have had the chance to have some quiet coversations about things that we may not have talked about at home, spent great time together and best of all have stories and memories from our time hunting.
I consider it a success already, getting my kids a shot would make it an additional success.