ORIGINAL: Matt / PA
Rocketman has the answer........any decent 8X43 Roof Prism binos will answer the question for you. If you can see a head, tail legs etc TRUST ME the binos will see any antlers.
Question answered.
Next if it's legal shooting hours, and you feel comfortable with the shot and it's an animal you want........shoot it.
Maybe I interpretted you wrong but it sounds to me like you are encouraging him to take a shot in bad light. Use binoculars to identify the deer?? And then what? Shoot in bad light???
Legal hours does not always mean enough light.