I am torn on this issue, as I'm normally an all or nothing kinda person. I had a late recovery once in my career. I wanted that deer, and was just sick that I didn't find it in time, I was young and learned many things over the course of that experience. I relied on someone more experienced and followed thier lead and they messed up too. I personally count the deer, because I did kill it. I feel it makes it better to count a late recovery, if you leave that tag open and don't shoot another deer on it.