Completely understandable

When I was growing up in the Western U.S., hunting season had almost religions undertones. Some years school was cancelled for opening day.

And invariably once or twice a year (or so it seemed) a father-in-law and son-in-law, or a boss and employee or business partners or husband and wife or some similar pairing would go out. And only one would come back. With the standard explanation. "I thought he was a deer/elk/antelope/pheasant/grouse/duck."

Generally only a cursory investigation was undertaken because, 'these things happen.' Everyone knew that. It was completely understandable.

I see our Vice President over the weekend thought one of his hunting partners was a grouse.

And so it goes.