RE: What would you do?
IMO, just get him on deer period. Make the hunt fun and make it an adventure for him. If the buck is the best way to do that, then so be it. If not, then find him another deer. Either way deer or no deer if he has fun, he'll never forget it and will want to come back.
Thanks for taking the time to get him involved. We need as many of the next generation hunting as possible.