Like already mentioned I am sure that we only see the "perfect" shots, not the ones that took a step at the shot and wandered over the hill to die, miles later, or where a unseen twig, deflected the bullet. Way back when, there were minimum energy standards recommended for both deer and elk. If my addled old brain recalls them it was 2,000 lbs for elk with a minimum of 1500
Craig Boddington started that and has since disavowed it. Where do you think those numbers came from? That they're nice round numbers should be a clue. As is the fact that many people routinely kill elk with weapons that fall short, like muzzleloaders.
