Had the same thing happen to me 10yrs ago, I STILL CANT SLEEP SOMETIMES!!!! someday I might get over it. I have to agree, If a tree branch breaks off of a tree in the woods when a big buck is close by, I doubt he will never return to that spot again. As long as he didnt see you or smell you he probably just got a little too startled to stick around. HE WILL BE BACK, good luck and I hope we are reading a new post soon of a BIG 10PT DOWN. I dont know if this helps any, but try to position your stand about 50yds away from that point on his same travel route, I read somewhere that sometimes that is all it takes.