G'day Al, I just found your story here and your excellent photos. I know you have hunted those Axis long and hard over the years and have payed your dues and some. I look forward to the day you tip one over and I'm sure that day's not far off. I just thought I'd better clarify something seeing how my name turned up on here and a lot of people maybe scratching their heads about that shot placement.
Like I said mate a single lung shot is often not fatal on any of our larger game, whether it be a big basalt hog, Axis stag or Buffalo. But mate in my opinion, if your shaving sharp "woodsman" [and I know yours are always that way] had gone into or through, one lobe of that stag's lung he would not have been getting around as if nothing had happened, the same afternoon.
I know you said that you were not sure where that arrow hit exactly and I think it most likely only connected with oxgygeniated muscle blood and did not hit any vital organs. I have witnessed this type of shot a few times over the years and those stags have lived on without any ill effects. So mate you can sleep a bit easier and maybe just dream of your next encounter with him when you pop one through that one small white spot and he just walks a short distance and tips over.
Cheers mate,
Bill.