It sounds to me like your first bow kill was a 7 pointer. Just because your dad wounded him first doesn't make it any less of an accomplishment for you. You still put an arrow thru him and killed him. I would advise not shooting thru that much brush on a regular basis, but hey, I'm not you am I.

Sounds like a nice kill on the three point as well. I did the same with the broken rack last year. What should have been a really nice 10 point was actually a 6 point when I recovered it because one side of the rack was broken. I took that one with a gun though just as it was getting dark and raining. Visibality wasn't that great. It was still legal though since it had 4 points on side.

When I first started hunting I was in my early thirties. I would have taken any legal deer that came under my stand. And I told the guy that was teaching me to hunt that. I told him I don't care if it's a dog sized doe, I'm going to shoot it just to see if I can. And to see how I felt after doing it. I wasn't sure if I wanted to hunt deer or not at that point. I had nothing against it, just wasn't sure if it was something I wanted to do.

Well as luck would have it half an hour into my first day ever in a tree stand with a bow a 10 point and a 7 point walked in front of me. I wanted to the 10 but he wouldn't present what I felt was a good shot. Now I know I could have taken him a few times though, but I was picky then and wanted a perfect broadside shot. Anyway the 7 point turned perfectly broadside at 18 yards and stuck it's head in the weeds. If that ain't a sign I don't know what is. So my first deer with a bow was a 7 point, but only by shear luck. I had a combo tag in my wallet that allowed me to harvest either a buck or an antlerless deer. I don't mind saying I was willing to burn either one.

My feeling is learn what you are doing as far as hunting, shot placement, tracking and field dressing. Then when you are comfortable and confident start getting selective if you want. Besides, the little ones taste better and are easier to drag.

I think you both did a fine job for your first time out. Tell your dad not to be too down about what happened, stuff happens. That is why it's called hunting, not killing.

Paul