Every damned time.
My ideal (sometimes achieved) is to fire one shot to check zero of rifle previously wrung out and a trusted, known quality with that ammo. If it is on, I'm GTG. Again ideally, I will fire one more shot to drop the game, and perhaps one more for an insurance on approach (having scart myself a couple times).
Clean (if wetted) and put away until next time I hunt with it. Dry hunt? Maybe not cleaned....
if it's not on, adjust as needed, with as many rounds as needed. Otherwise no sense in just pouring lead down the barrel.
As noted by others, I like to have several rifles ready to go each season, just in case one goes south from something.
If going very far from home, espcially on rough roads, etc., recheck in camp..... one shot, hopefully. And maybe a spare along....
Last edited by las; 12/03/21.
