I once shot a mule deer at close range several times. It would not go down. It was in heavy bush and I believed it was wounded by my friend. I wanted to end the chase then and there, so I shot till it dropped. Branches were flying all over, but the deer was hit each time, just not necessarily where I was aiming.
Game sometimes cling to life where by all indicators they should be dead.
Sometimes a good hit on a major artery will cause instant massive internal bleeding. That can throw them into shock. They're dead but don't know it. The blood pressure plummets and the brain shuts down but they just stand there until completely bled out inside. I once shot an elk 4 times in the ribs. The lungs and heart were mush and the far shoulder was broken but it just stood there for a while then slowly sank. All 4 shots were killers.
That said, an animal in shock goes nowhere. A buffalo that's running and charging is NOT in shock, not even close.
