If I could perhaps be allowed to differ a bit . . .
Anyone who hunts enough will make a bad shot from time to time . . . and frankly, I don't believe anyone who says they've never made a bad shot. We practice, we try our best, but sometimes we fail. When we do that, and the animal is wounded, we have to redouble our efforts to find the animal and end its suffering. And then practice some more.
But to pretend that bad shots don't happen, or to refuse to show them or talk about them, implies or suggests that there's been some intention involved, and I'd think that's very rarely the case (though I have heard of it).
There's nothing wrong with being honest and honestly appraising your shot and saying "I made a bad shot." In fact, it's a good thing. I know of young hunters who make a bad shot and feel as if they're the only one who's ever done that. I reassure them and get "but I never hear about it."
Well, read some of my hunt reports on this site and you'll see that I admit to making bad shots when they happen. And they do happen ( a certain mountain nyala comes immediately to mind . . .). If I'm ever completely calm and composed when looking at an animal through my scope . . . well, that will be the day I give up hunting.
Having said that, this particular shot on the eland was way too far back and they were lucky to recover it. It was a bad shot and not saying so does everyone, and most of all the hunter, a dis-service.
