I have to agree with DM on this. If you did not recover the deer, you have no idea what exactly happened.
I have been at both ends of the spectrum. I have had a deer run just to never find him after taking a 30.06 to the shoulder, and I have in my younger days (not that Im pround of it, so dont anyone write and cuss me out) but Ive taken a deer at 60 yards with a single 22 long rifle to the head.
Are we to believe that this is a problem with the gun or caliber(30-06)? The problem here is with the person shooting and/or the person tracking.