You were looking at sticks or something, the deer never existed. I have seen things from my stand I swear are deer bedded or antlers sticking up and so on. The sun shining in the woods creates illusions that look like things they aren't. If you hit the can and got ZERO reaction from 15 yards I bet there was no buck.
I don't think I could have counted 10pts and estimated 140class buck from looking at sticks. I watched this buck for several minutes from the bluff I was on before i ever started the stalk. As i stated I walked over to the bed he was in so with out a doubt there was a buck.
I've heard of deer doing the belly crawl and thats the only way I think he could have escaped without me seeing him.