1980 I shot a goose. Decided it was Christmas dinner, got a recipe for it, thawed it out and put the ingredients with it and placed it in the oven. Wife had invited twelve of her relatives and I had six relatives and two good friends coming over. wife and I left to get liquor, snacks and little gifts. Came back and while unloading the car I sniffed and said someone’s sewer backed up in the block. We opened the door and I gagged, ran to the oven and when I opened it the smell of rancid fish/ sewer made me almost puke. I threw the bird into the backyard and opened all the windows in the house (During a 12” snowfall). Found out later that my bird had been eating fish mostly (we lived on Lake Erie) and NEVER kill a goose if there are no big grain fields nearby. Called Domino’s for eight Pizzas. Good thing I was well stocked for liquor.
Dad pulled a similar stunt when we were kids - they shot a bunch of ducks and cooked a couple one night - come to find out they had been at the nearby sewage treatment outflow into Lake Ontario....I dont think he hunted much after that
You need to pen up wild birds before the holidays and feed them on grains (or whatever). Same I think with other small wild animals that are edible.