Jeff,
As to the "Texas heart shot", I don't know of a quicker killing shot if you use enough gun. other than brain or spine.. I don't know why anyone would hesitate to use it. The black timber is thick, nasty and dark, they jump close and are going south fast, what would you suggest, that I just quit hunting them?
Atkinson,
I think you mis-read my post. I said:
"I've never taken a Texas Heart Shot (THS) and hope I never do, but part of why it's effective, and they say it's very effective, is that the liver is a vital organ, one, and that the sheer, pathetic, overwhelming trauma of being shot up the a$$ with a high-powered rifle tends to make the shoot-ee give up and lay down, two. Imagine the punch in the gut THAT must be. It's not supposed to be pleasant for the shooter either, involving very sick animals in a lot of pain, and a very messy cleanup job afterwards possibly to include ruined tenderloins. But they go down.
All that said, if I can visualize a straight path to the vitals I would take the shot with my .338... possibly even to include the THS. Call it what you will, elk hunting is very hard work... VERY hard work... and for many of us a low-percentage affair bordering on insane obsession. When you finally get a shot at an animal it'd be a shame to have to pass it up for lack of gun, of all things."
In the first part I say, I've heard it's a very effective killing shot (but a messy cleanup); in the second part I say that I'll take about any shot angle with my .338, even to include the THS.
With the right rifle and bullet in my hands, I'd take a THS. But I hope I never have to. From what I'm told, it's miserable for the animal and a real mess come gutting time.
-jeff
