GMMAT,

What would you tag? You have nothing physical to attach a tag too. No leg, no antler...nothing. Unless your state does not deal w/ a physical tag to attach to the animal.

Next question: Why would you WANT to tag something that you have no idea if it even expired? If you know it's dead, go pick it up. Otherwise, you do not know it's fate...not 100% anyway.

Might still be walking in the woods...stranger things have happened. Deer are tough animals and there are have numerous cases over the years where they have survived a shot from one of us hunters. You know all of this though.

I know you want to do the "right" thing, but the right frame of mind is to accept the fact that unrecovered deer is just part of hunting. It happens to everyone (in most cases) unfortunately. You don't have to like it, but it is part of the deal.

Here in IL, if you are checking in a deer (doe or buck) you must take measurements of certain body parts...distances between two points, etc. Need the deer to do that.

I'm not questioning where your heart is because it's obvious you have great respect for the deer in which you hunt, which is a breath of fresh air. But don't beat yourself up w/ regards to ethics, as your situation is not calling for an ethical outcome. You did your best to recover a wounded deer and it didn't work out this time...next time it will.

Good luck to ya...