Have to dissagree on that one Deer slayer. NECK shots are not reliable. Spine shot ARE reliable, but the spine is a relatively small target (maybe 3 inches across) which means that you have to hit within 1-1/2 inches of the aim point. Also, how many hunters know for sure where the spine is in the neck. If you miss the spine and hit the fleshy part of the neck, the deer will go down like a ton of bricks, but then may get up and run off. I have had this happen twice (in 35 years of hunting). I don' t even consider a neck shot unless really close range. Then I keep the gun pointed at the deer for a follow up shot for several minutes until I am sure it is down for good.

To answer the original question, I believe the deer may very well have gotten up and run off if it was not shot a second time. He DEFINATELY did NOT hit the spine. If he had the deer would have been unable to raise its head.