I had one practically hide in the creek while tracking his blood trail. I walked past the spot where I eventually found him several times. Either he drug himself out or something pulled him out because when I found him there was nothing left but hide, blood, ribcage and his rack. It was less than 14 hours...overnight that he was there.

I hunt near a river and several creeks. Ive shot and had to go to the other side of a river to retrieve him. I always believed that it was a soothing thing, not thirst

I have found several deer floating in the creek from hunters in the hunt club that failed to retrieve them.