ORIGINAL: twildasin
Sounds to me like it may have hit the void area of the deer above the vitals below the spine??? Or possibly the briskit? Or did he hit a branch and maybe just graze the deer (flesh wound) or hit a leg?
The so called void area above the lungs and below the spine does not exist. If he hit about the spine it is just a flesh wound the deer will recover. If hit below the spine you will catch at least the upper lobe of the lungs.