Some folks need to get their terminology straight. This isn't a case of hunting at night. They trailed the deer and found it. After determining that the first shot wasn't going to be fatal for some time, they put it down for good. That's totally different from backing out after making a questionable shot in order to increase your chances for recovery. I've read enough posts from DD to believe that the second shot was safe to take, and the best option. It was a bad deal all the way around, but where would this thread be going if they'd walked out after finding the deer only to have it get away for good?