hmmmm thats interesting.....im a believer in the little area between the lungs and spine..if hit perfectly there deer may be fine......sounds like that may have happend....not to bust your bubble....may be dead out there too.....but it sounds like the spine was hit or shocked temperarly......if it was hit the deer will die sooner or later when it paralyzes.....all depends.....id keep looking and stick with it......may turn up.....may be fine....good luck!