Amazing isn't it.

The day the PGC shows up to capture the animal it mysteriously goes missing. I doubt it was killed as a trophy, as deer season is not "in" right now. Anyone killing the animal would certainly raise suspicion at a taxidermist's shop. Keep it frozen until fall? Maybe, but unlikely. Most hunters won't kill a deer like this anyway.

So that leaves one of two scenarios...

1. It was captured and moved by someone who didn't trust the PGC.
2. It was killed by the PGC beforehand.