My dad wasn't a hunter and never did make it as a deer hunter. When My brother (younger) and I wanted to small game hunt dad made sure we both had a shot gun. I got a savage 16ga single shot and Robb got a Ivers Johnson 410. About 5 years latter dad got us both pump shot guns a 16ga. and for rob a 20ga.
Then I wanted to deer hunt so got slugs for the shot gun the first year then a model 94 30-30 for my birthday for the next year.
Dad started deer hunting with us boys after we got bucks opening day several years in a row. I can never remember dad shooting a buck. He used to make his rounds thru the woods and when we met up for lunch he would say he saw a big fellow. We both asked why he didn't shoot it and he always replied he didn't know where us boys were. He passed away in 2005 and I miss that I saw a huge buck story he always had.
Dad did start small game hunting with us and was a pretty good shot with the Itchia feather lite 20 ga. pump we got him for his 55th birthday.
Al