Sometimes they get away.
It is definitely easier to be a catchatarian in Colorado than it would be in, say, New York City or San Francisco. But as the days start getting shorter, and the birds start going higher, and you have a full-time job, sometimes you have to try to grab a bird here or there whenever you can find some time. Last year we were quite successful and almost always someone in the group came home with a bird or two. This weekend we came across a fat dusky grouse right where we got one last year, but alas we have not made it to the shooting range this year, and the first shot was high and spooked the bird. The dog was still in the car or he might have had some success chasing the little bugger but instead we traipsed into the dense woods ourselves, just to make sure that if the bird was injured we could find it and put it out of its misery, or if by some chance the bird actually died, we might find it on the ground. No luck. Hopefully if any shot hit the bird it was a minor enough injury that he will live long and prosper, but if not, coyotes and vultures have to eat too. Note to self: More shot in a bird in the bag is better than a little shot in an injured bird that flew away.