93:

THANKS!!!!!

I have heard estimates by game dpartment officials here, but not seen any actual study, that somewhere around 1/2 {25%} of game "shot at" is thought to be left in the woods based on the hunter not finding blood, no signs of a hit, etc. My experience talking to hunters confirms such anecdotal evidence.

I am not certain that our game department OR game commissioners would even want to conduct a study. Such a study would have tremendous political implications;

Shooting proficiency, ineptness of fieldcraft, range estimation, damned laziness, poor physical conditioning, anti-hunting opinion, etc all might become involved.

For example, if such a study exposed average hunters shooting poorly...what would they do about it? Nothing!! Would be the demand from hunters.

See how attempting to improve hunting ethics runs into a brick wall?