Yo MM welcome in from the backcountry!
Diggin, the tale....
'Round here I've seen evidence of kills stockpiled, Moutain lions do that sorta thing. They'll kill prey, eat on it some and then stash it fer later, I've seen multiple kills at one spot before.(The remains of of cat; all was left was its head,still attached to it's skin and fur. It was laid out next to the remains of a deer. Bears will do the same kinda thing on big kills if the can score 'em.
Poachers too
'Nother thing yer story reminded of was, running water, spirits can't cross a body of movin' water.