I have hunted for over 50 years and could not leave an animal just lay after having shot it. If I'm not going to use the meat, I don't shoot. I hunt approximately 50 days per year, mostly for deer and turkey anymore. Used to hunt a lot of upland game and waterfowl, at that time I was probably hunting closer to 100 days per year. I have always made every effort possible to retrieve anything I've shot, yes I have lost game but not often. We owe it to the animals we hunt to do whatever possible to recover and utilize them if successful. It is not legal to just shoot game animals and leave them lay, anyone who does is not a hunter but rather a poacher. Taking game illegally, leaving it lay, shooting from roads, all constitute poaching. I refuse to associate myself with any of these people and would have no trouble turning them in to the authorities to be dealt with justly. They give legitimate hunters a bad name;
Steve Albers
NRA, NAHC, Hunter Ed Instructor