animals are tough. sometimes you think they are dead , but they ain't. it happens.
know a guy that shot a deer. tagged, took it home, called it in. I was there when this part happened. he started skinning it, got 1/4 way down. the dang thing came back to life. like to kick the living crap outta the guy. he ran in house got .22 rifle, ran out shot it again in between the eyes. after that, cut its throat to let it bleed out. making sure it was dead.
like I said animals are tough.