to reply to some of the posts above.. I am not trophy hunter and would be just as upset if the bull was a 4x4 and feel I owe it to the sport and the animal to track it down until I find it. I was taught at a young age by my father that whatever you kill you eat so yes the fact that the meat was spoiled kills me. and yes I would dam proud to hang that animal on my wall you were not there to experience the events that led up to the shot during it and after. The right and legal thing to do when you find a downed animal like that iS to turn it into the G&F so they can find the rightful owner if they don't they will sign over the animal to you. who and the heck would be proud to hang that on there wall if you found it? are you gonna tell all your buddy's you shot it I guess it would be the same type of person who would take it in the first place.