Ram96, you said the deer went 1/4 mile and you lost the blood. Can you answer somoe questions for me? Was the deer on a deer trail at any time during that 1/4 jaunt? I've learned that if a "wounded" deer gets on a trail and walks it for quite some time without bedding down, you're in trouble. If he's on a trail for a long time, he knows what he's doing, he's "thinking".

How 'bout hills? A deer loosing alot of blood will get weak, and will avoid climbing steep grades.....unless you jump him from bed, and he's an older, stronger deer. You said he went up a hill. Not a good sign. You also said nothing about finding beds with blood in them(unless I missed it). I would venture to guess that if he didn't bed down within 100-200 yards, he's not very weak from blood loss, or sick from a possible gut/intestine wound.

I'm not telling you to give up on him, just throwing some ??'s at you. Take a buddy or 2 out, and start doing some organized 'circles' through the woods if you've lost blood.
Mikey