I don't know about it being ruined for the rest of the season. But then again...some places only have 7 day seasons...so in theory....it depends where you are.

I have one stand in SC that I took 8 deer from last year. But of course, its a major travel route, and the season is 4 1/2 months long.

As far as tracking wounded deer; it seems to me that when they are hit good, they just bolt. They usually take a trail that they were on already, but rarely follow the other deer they may have been with. When they are hit rather well, but not fatal in under a minute, they seem to head back they way they came from. Now, when they are hit poorly, we are talking about overnight or longer, they seem to prefer heading towards water. How many deer carcasses have been found on river banks, swamp bottoms or in the river itself? People are no different, when they get ready to die they head for water....example...the state of Florida.