Thank you both very much. I do not believe I hit intestines as the shot was mid body right behind the shoulders and a clean pass through. There was a hole the size of a broomstick handle through both lungs. That said, when I first opened her there was some slight brown leakage. Thinking of it the deer was stiff when I went to gut her and the intestines were pressed against the belly where i opened her. I think I may have nicked the intestine or bowel when I opened her (a first) and that could account the for the smell.
I had thought the skin would protect the meat , especially as she was in the shade and despite the cool temps the ground was cold with some ice and a little snow still on the ground. However, not having left one overnight I am glad I decided to seek some advice here.
I am rather new to the blog and message board thing and would like to thank you both again for some piece of mind and sound advice.
There is a lesson here for me and that is that laziness is not an option in searching for sign of hit. Cold and dark or no I should have spent more time looking for sign or her. I have tracked too many well hit deer with little or no sign to not know this can happen. Still with 12 gauge slug from 40 yards and a good pass through I had exected more sign.
Thanks folks.
Brooks