As others have said the vital area of an elk is quite large. An elk will do a long dead run invariably down hill or into some nasty bush. This is why I prefer the 338 win mag for the shoulder shot so it stays where it's been shot. I use to shoot all big game in the vitals but after dead runs and nasty recoveries I quit. If the animal is 100 yards or less and I am able to get in a steady field position I shoot for the neck or spine other than that it's the shoulder. A hunting companion drilled a Moose in the heart with a 30-06 it ran through the bush with no chance of a follow up shot for about 200 yards where it expired in a swamp. Fun times getting it out of there.
