If it is a skeleton, for all you know it could have been shot by someone else. Or it could have lived for months before it eventually deteriorated or was killed by a predator.

I say it doesn't count.

If I dont hang my tag on it, I say it dont count. Now, that being said, (and I know I am the Minority here) if it is a buck that I would have mounted when I shot it, and I find it a year later, I would still have it mounted.

I would disagree with the book on this.If I shoot a deer while hunting with bow I keep hunting unless I see it fall.I have helped to many others look for a bow shot deer after they have followed a deer as soon as it has been shot and bump it out of it's death bed.As I live in NC and we can kill two bucks a day I will keep hunting at least 4 hours after shooting a deer.As for finding one after 3-4 days that would depend.I have walked all over top of a deer go back the next day and find the deer.If you find in the same area where you where looking and sure no one else had hunted there I would count that deer.

I know alot of outfitters consider a wounded animal as a tag, to protect thier recourses and minimize foul play. I respect this. I only have lost one animal unfound that day, to have found it the next a.m. eaten by coyotes. I didnt tag it. (Doe- not that it makes a difference for me). A good friend of mine arrowed a fine buck, to have it evade his best tracking efforts. It was found several weeks later in the same general area, thoroughly consumed, but rack intact. He took the skull, and will mount it out of respect for the animal. He tells the story like it was.Tagged, no. Displayed honestly and respectfully? yes. It isnt all about bragging rights. Thats the job for the TV "pros" and armchair warriors.

i would keep it around to remind me that happened..this would make me think of this instance all the time where i could prevent this from happening again .
.this animal died, you jus left it in the woods...wasted meat and life..
.granite the yotes got to eat, but that was an un-natural life cycle and to just forget it is unethical IMO,
it should be remembered
and it never hurts to have xtra people come help ya look...if your walkin right by it, you should see it..trakin is not beer:30, find the deer then drink or do wat it is that you do
i would recommend not jus pouncing in and wreckin the area, but do a solid search, no pushing ahead...1 missed blood drop and ya missed where the deer ran in circles and he's layin 5 feet from ya and ya cant see it

working with a blood dog its easy to see the simple mistakes made by us humans. if ya dont have a blood dog, a normal house dog can find a dead animal, just need to get em downwind of the animal