I agree with the wait theory. Several years back we pushed a group of deer out into a meadow. Apparently now of us were good shots as we gut hit one of the two fork-n-horns. It fell down into the meadow, then got up and basically dragged itself out of the meadow. I suggested waiting but one of the guys insisted it couldn't have gone far. I agreed to sneak up to the edge of the meadow and see if he was down, otherwise we would wait. Sure enough he was down. I pulled up at 10 feet for a shot and hadn't rechambered a bullet. He pulled up and slid further into the trees. I backed out and went to talk to the rest of the party. We searched for hours and never saw a sign of that deer. There is no doubt in my mind that had I not agreed to walk up there he never would of got up. I have a freind that also waited less than a hour, jumped his elk. He said the ground was soaked in blood. HE also was convinced if he had waited longer the animal would never have gotten up. I am confident you did the right thing by waiting.