During hunting season, there isn't much point of randomly shooting, because there would be other gunshots in the distance. And while people might look in the general direction of a shot, I would want to have something like having seen headlights that stopped before I did that. Even if I heard three, I might be inclined to write it off as echos. A whistle on the other hand...

Also, in most states, anything bigger than a white tail you can quarter. You lash each quarter or half to your pack frame, hoof it back to the truck, stick in something that will help contain the scent, then go back for the rest of it. I don't know if that was his plan or not, but it is worth pointing out. And you usually have to bring it to a weigh station for it's dressed weight to be recorded.