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.
Good for you, you had common sense. The idea that occasional peppering with shot is part of hunting is insane.