RE: Need advice lost deer.
I can't give you any "advice". I can only tell you that it's not uncommon for the "hit" to be different than we imagined it. I've seen it on TV too many times....and had it happen where I would have bet my home I smoked a deer.....only to find that NOT to be the case, in reality. I don't typically see the impact, myself. I don't think that's uncommon, either.
Only you and your "help" can assess what occurred with this deer. Believe me when I tell you that I feel your pain. It's crushing. I searched (I had announced, yesterday) 7 hours for a deer, this week with a trail that petered out at 300+yds. I have nothing "good" to tell you. I can only wish you luck in either your subsequent search.....or yourability to deal with what has occurred. It's extremely personal how each of us deals with these situations.
I wish you luck in both scenarios. I'm sorry this happened.
Good luck.