ORIGINAL: livbucks

Under the skin, but before the abdominal wall, is a sticky layer of fat. If you gut a deer you will see what I am talking about. I believe that you just barely nicked the belly of the deer and sliced the skin at this point. A deer cut there will not bleed hardly at all, and if you in fact did not compromise the abdominal wall, will actually heal up quickly and survive. If you had passed through the abdomen, your arrow would be coated in stomach contents and stink unmistakeably like a gut shot. I believe the deer will probably never be found, as he is running around like normal. I hope this is the case as it is a better alternative to a gut shot, where you might find the deer, after it has rotted already.
I don't see enough evidence of a gut shot on your arrow. I have seen gut shots and the arrow is coated almost to dripping, with green goo and plant fibers. By all means keep searching, but let it go otherwise. You have surely punished yourself enough already.