Other then neck, head, or spine shot elk it is hard to tell from reaction if your shot was on target, slightly off or a clean miss. I'm in the if they are standing I am shooting club. Better to lose 5 lbs of meat the a whole elk.
This year a large cow took 2 high in the lungs at about 280 yards then circled back for a 3rd at 75!before she quit . Last year first shot was perfect at 550 yards she took a step and turned to face me at the second shot she did a backflip down the hill and lodged in a scrubby tree. A lung shot cow at 11 yards ran almost 80 yards before dropping they just don't react like deer.
