Got back from being out of town today and went back to looking. Checked the area where he bedded the first time up and down the finger until it played out on both sides and nothing. Another issue is that we've had about 3 inches of rain here in the past few days and it's a swamp back there right now. Couldn't even get across the creek where we last tracked it.

Buddies told me they saw buzzards a few days ago way back south of the shot opposite of the blood trail direction and they couldn't find anything, but I haven't personally checked that area yet. Adding to that, I have one very remarkable picture on my camera of a large buck coming back south from about where the shot was in front of my stand the next evening... a crappy camera (been stolen once) so the quality isn't good enough to make any conclusions.

Debating on waiting until the season is over here in a few weeks to pick it back up. Thank you again for all the replies.