RE: Confirm my thoughts please?
Sounds like a gutshot to me. You did good getting out of their quickly and watching her from a distance. I once watched a gutshot deer that we were tracking during a muzzleloader hunt, spring up and in that time we took two more running shots at her to see if we could put her down. She only ran another 60 yds before bedding down. It was obvious she didn't want to move. We finished her off with one more shot.
Listening to your story of the doe's reaction reminds me of exactly what that doe did.
I truely belive that when you guys go out to the field in the morning, you will find her dead. Use this doe as an example for your sister to teach her about why this shot killed, and how she should try to improve in the future. Turning a sad situation into a learning situation is always a good idea.
GOOD JOB on getting out....and I want to see a harvest pic tomorrow afternoon!
Steven