So the dog found a different deer?? If so, it's scent might have tripped him up. I'd do a 100 yd. radius sweep around the seven pointer as soon as you can. If there's any kind of water nearby, I'd hone in on that also. Don't give up yet!!
The prices I've seen are all over the place. Most available leases are up north, or bordering the Catskills, which are too far for me to consider.......