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Why were hunters expected to track wounded game?

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A person wearing an orange vest and holding a shotgun walks through tall grass with a hunting dog ahead in a field with scattered trees. — hunting Bird hunting with a dog.

In the context of hunting as a sport, hunters are expected to track and kill wounded game to uphold a strict code of ethical behavior known as fair play.1

This code, which originated from standards set by royalty and nobility, dictates that those who hunt for amusement must limit their methods to provide the quarry with a fair chance to escape. A fundamental principle of this ethical framework is the moral obligation to avoid the unnecessary suffering of animals. Consequently, if a hunter wounds an animal, they are duty-bound to track it down and finish the kill to ensure the creature does not endure prolonged pain. Hunters who identify as sportsmen consider adherence to this protocol essential to maintaining the integrity and prestige of the activity.1