I had a similar experience the first or second time I went hunting (12 or 13). Four hunters in a line, unsuccessful pheasant hunting I believe, one of them an "observer" lagging, several rabbits broke from brush. When asked why I didn't shoot, they were in my zone, I explained ---- was in my vision. They figured I got "buck fever", I know better. You have to know where the people and dogs are.
Actually, during my first quail hunt (it was a big event with a lot of sharpshooting female shooters, MYSELF not among them), I'd not shoot, and everyone kept saying "Why don't you shoot?"
I was afraid I'd hit a dog, but everybody else shot at the birds just as they were breaking cover. By the time I'd shoot, the birds were gone.
Since shooting and hunting were both new to me, I was OVERLY cautious. Still am, but would prefer to be that way to shooting a hunting partner or a dog.
We had a contest later shooting skeet, during that event, and I tied for the "Deadass Last" trophy.
BTW, a city girl who had never had a gun in her hands (or even been near one) before that day WON. She outshot some women who were on the Women's Shooting Sports Foundation BOD. This girl was just a natural.