I've heard these nightmare storys 100 times. I don't understand it. It has never happened to me. I've lost a few deer, but never on ahit like you described. There was one guy I knew that it happened to time and again, he would just absolutely thump em, and not get em, probably 3 or 4 lost for every one he recovered. IDK, maybe the wounds seal up with fat or something.

I'm curious about what kind of broadheads you are using. I use Bear Razorheads and have had excellent results, even on some marginal hits.