Sooner or later it happens to all of us. I hit and lost one deer with a rifle my whole life and every once and a while I wonder where I went wrong. It was an easy broadside shot about 80-90 yards and I was sitting. I took my time reloading because the reaction to the shot looked so good. That deer threw blood like you would not believe and ran across a creek. I looked and traced blood for about 3 hours and could find nothing. I had to find a log to cross the creek and years later, I now think he doubled back and fell in the creek and was pushed under in a turn in the creek where some junk was piled up. I know what you mean, it has been over 20 years and it still bugs me what exactly happened. But on the other hand, the Guy that posted about tough deer pulling through wounds is right. I have shot deer that were missing front legs that were healed over and may have been that way for years. The main thing is that it seems to bother you. Some idiots brag about hitting a deer and losing it as if it was as good as hitting it and getting it.