Not to offend you Rolling, cause I always enjoy your posts, but I just do not understand letting an animal suffer just because your afraid to ruin a skull. I've hunted deer for 20 yrs and would not think twice before popping a Big buck with a Huge rack in the head to put him out of his misery, ruining the skull or not. I hunt for the meat, and I luv the experience of the hunt, but was always taught to respect the animal I was hunting, so worrying about a nice head to mount is the last thing I am concerned about.
I know we all have different opinions on that, but thats my two cents....Aside from that, your a lucky guy to have a family who enjoys going with you on a hunt, and I cannot wait to try my SKS in the thick bush on a nice deer this coming deer season.