ORIGINAL: Dr Andy
The snorting or wheezing was a sure fire sign you didn't hit it. They do that to intimidate,usually right after stomping a front hoove, and again when running away. I've heard it many times in the spring while hunting for morels! Imess with them all the time I stomp my foot and snort back at em.
I really don't think deer ever do that to intimidate. I think they do that to warn other deer. But, I do agree, it probably is a sign that you missed.But...
No blood doesn't necessarily mean 'no hit'. I found no more then a drop or two of blood with 2 of my 9 bow kills. To other people that could have been 'no blood'. I just happened to find a little bit. Also, the buck i got gun hunting last year hardly bled at all for the first 100 yards. I hit the deer 3 times with slugs and All i found was a handfull of drops of blood! After about a hundred yards blood was everywhere! If the woods are as thick as you say they are could you not be on the trail of the doe? My guess is it's a little hard to track a deer in woods like that without blood.
If there WAS only a couple drops of blood in the first 100 yards do you think you would have found it? I guess I'm not
as confident as everyone else that you missed. but, being that you would have missed the broadside of a barn on your first two shots, you probably missed on your third too.