I would have passed on the shot, as well... I used to hunt with guys that would stick a deer (archery season) late and then not be able to find it for one reason or another. Left me with a very bad taste in my mouth, in fact, I've not hunted archery since then. I know it wasn't the sport, but the guys I was with, but still left me scratching my head about those guys.
Passing up a shot is one of those things that we all will have to do, or perhaps, SHOULD do, at least once in our lives. I've never had a bad kill, and, by the grace of God, I never will, but....it can happen. What we do as hunters to help prevent that, or wasting our kill, speaks volumes to those who don't hunt.
