Like I said before Rob very informed post thanks---
And every body has some good ideas to go with it ---
Something I do is take a compass reading after the shot beforeI get out of the stand---Things look different when you 15/20 foot up a tree--I usually mark the route the deer took and alsoI listen for the crash and take a reading of that too--

A few years ago this came in handy while hunting in a flooded area--No blood trail--knee deep water around the ridgeI had a stand on--killed two does one in the morning one in the afternoon--listen for the final splash-took reading got down and walked straight to them!!