Good info, especially the fairly common experience of having an elk show no sign of being hit, no reaction to the shot. If they drop or react, you know you hit, but no reaction often kills a hunter's confidence. Too often a hunter thinks he missed because the elk did not react. Have confidence in your rifle and sight picture.
The application in the field is to always look hard for blood or a dead elk. We have found dead elk by going back to where a hunter said that he missed.
It's the elk that a hunter thinks is a clean miss that often gives a problem or is found after it is spoiled. I have also seen three bulls get up and leave several minutes after dropping and lying stone still. If you have to go out of sight of the "dead" bull to get to him from where you shot, wait and watch him awhile before charging over to him.
Good luck on your elk. Do it!
