I've got some questions about the bear. Am I correct that the bear was only found after it was spoiled? Was it still skinned and gutted and the wound channel between the pin-pricks observed? Its quite possible that the bullet blew up to the point that only the solid base was left to exit which would explain the two small wounds. That's very normal with a Ballistic-tip, but not expanding at all in practically unheard-of. What was between the two holes? I don't blame you if you weren't up to your elbows in a rotten bear; just wondering what you know and what you've surmised.
With the deer taking 3 hits, who knows. I've flattened animals, had them run, and occasionally shot groups on them when they didn't run but wouldn't do the decent thing and fall over. I don't know what goes through an animals head (Unless its a bullet) but speculate that an animal that is hard hit has a given amount of time (or oxygen) left and may chose to use it fleeing or might use it to fight its unseen enemy. If its lungs are gone and it elects the stay on its feet approach further hits through the chest don't seem to speed things up much on those dead on their feet animals.