Before, your only argument was that if it isn't breathing then it's dead, but now you copy and paste someone else's definition and say it could go either way. Have you ever hunted and shot an animal Roy? If so, what kind of animal was it and did you ever approach it and see it was still breathing and decide to take it out of it's misery? If so, where did you place the shot and did it die immediately after being shot? 

The trooper could have shot the moose and it may have knocked it unconscious, but only had shallow breathing and perhaps they assumed it was on it's way out so they leave, but then it comes to and breathes out it's last breath's and pump's it's last quart of blood around and out while those boys find it. Who know's really, hopefully it didn't suffer too long and if there is a next time then hopefully the trooper ensures the animal is completely dispatched.