I assume every gut shot deer is a dead deer. Is it possible that one will survive here or there? Yes, but if you assume the deer is dead, you will hunt until you find it. In your mind, there should be no question as to whether it "might have made it". This makes it easy to give up the hunt. It is not always possible to recover every deer. We all know that, but each hunter should give every effort he can to find an animal he wounded. I lost my second deer in thirty plus years of hunting this year and it eats me up. I have seen a head shot deer survive. I am sure an occasional gut shot deer does, as well. Still best to assume it is a dead deer and hunt until you find it or can search no more.