A great post as expected - thanks Rob!

I wanted to make another point - and its been mentioned by others a couple times........ Not all deer that look to be mortally wounded will expire. - In fact some pretty good research has been done that indicates that more than 1/2 of all deer " lost" in traling will survive. Some of these studies were done on Army Bases where strict in/out - Surveys were able to be conducted with no bias.

As an example - I shot an 8 point several years back that had a broadhead firmly lodged in the pelvis, from the year berfore. His rack was a little lopsided as a result - but there was NO WAY to tell this deer had suffered such a wounding at the time I killed him - he showed no ill effects - yet the damage to the pelvis was extensive - and Healed over.

One other time a freind took a doe that had a Perfect " X" of a 4 blade broadhead - scar, under the front leg throught the brisket. The wound was perfectly healed and I doubt that deer ever slowed one bit.

My point is ---- Don' t give up - But if you cannot get another reasonable shot into the wounded deer - understand that it IS POSSIBLE that the deer is not mortally wounded, regardless of how the shot seemed.