Where to SHOOT an ELK? Shot Placement Tips for Archery Elk Hunting

Where to SHOOT an ELK? Shot Placement Tips for Archery Elk Hunting

Where to Shoot an Elk | Bowhunters Watch This

Welcome to Backbone Unlimited. I’m Matt Hartsky.

In this one, we’re digging into one of the most misunderstood and heavily debated topics in bowhunting—where to shoot an elk.

Everyone’s got an opinion. Diagrams float around the internet, forums light up after every kill shot photo, and the arguments never end. But after more than 30 years of bowhunting elk—watching arrows connect, seeing bulls go down, and yes, watching a few go wrong—I’ve learned something important:

This conversation isn’t theory. It’s life or death. It’s blood trails or heartbreak.

So in this breakdown, we’re not just talking about anatomy diagrams—we’re talking about real-world elk kills. Real terrain. Real shot angles. What works, what doesn’t, and how to make clean, ethical shots when your heart’s pounding and that bull finally steps into your lane.

We’ll cover:

  • Understanding elk anatomy

  • Entry vs exit shot visualization

  • Broadside and quartering-away shots

  • The risks of quartering-toward and frontal shots

  • How elevation affects your aiming point

  • And how to master timing your shot under pressure

Let’s dig in.

Understanding Elk Anatomy

Too many hunters skip this part. Elk are not deer. They’re not pigs, and they’re definitely not foam targets with colored vitals.

An adult bull is 600 to 800 pounds of dense muscle, thick hide, and heavy rib coverage. If you want clean, ethical kills, you’ve got to understand what’s underneath that hide.

The lungs sit just behind the shoulder, slightly higher than most people think. The heart sits low and forward, tucked tight behind the front leg.

Hit too high, and you risk single lung. Hit too low, and you might slide under the chest cavity. Both lead to poor penetration and long, frustrating blood trails.

Aim for the center of the vitals—not just the general chest area.

The Truth About the Shoulder Blade

The elk’s shoulder blade gets a bad rap. Guys blame it for broken arrows and lost bulls—but it’s not the scapula itself that stops your shot.

It’s the ball-and-socket joint below it.

The scapula is thin enough for a good broadhead to penetrate. But that joint? It’s solid bone. If you crowd it, your shot dies there.

When people say “stay off the shoulder,” what they really mean is stay off the leg bone, not avoid the forward section of the lungs. Because in many cases, the most lethal shot is actually a little forward, not back.

Entry vs. Exit: Visualizing Your Shot

This might be the most important concept in this entire article.

Your exit matters more than your entry.

Don’t just aim at a dot on the side of the elk. Visualize where your arrow needs to exit on the opposite side—and then pick the entry point that creates that path.

That’s how you move from “hitting” elk to killing elk.

Every shot should be thought of in three dimensions. If you do that, you’ll instantly start placing arrows where they need to go—through the lungs, the heart, or both.

The Broadside Shot

If I could choose just one shot angle for bowhunters, it would always be the true broadside.

It gives you the best look at the vitals, the highest chance of a double-lung pass-through, and the most forgiving margin for error.

But here’s where guys screw up—they aim too far back. Fear of the shoulder pushes their pin behind the ribs, and they end up hitting liver or guts.

Two inches forward is often the difference between a 12-second recovery and a 12-hour tracking job.

Here’s the rule that’s saved me countless times:

Split the front leg vertically, aim one-third up from the bottom of the body.

That’s the golden triangle—where the lungs and heart overlap.

It’s consistent, it’s forgiving, and it drops bulls fast.

And remember: broadside doesn’t always mean flat ground. Uphill and downhill broadside shots still count—the angle of the ribs and lungs is what matters. Just wait until the near leg steps forward before releasing. That small detail opens up the vital pocket.

Quartering Away Shots

The quartering away shot is one of my favorites when handled right.

Your arrow enters behind the ribs, travels forward through both lungs or the heart, and exits near the opposite shoulder. You’re cutting through the biggest section of vital area possible.

But only if you aim correctly.

You’ve got to visualize your exit point. The entry might look far back, but if the internal line runs straight through the vitals, it’s a perfect shot.

That said—anything beyond a 45-degree angle becomes too steep. If you’re seeing mostly rump, it’s not worth the risk.

If your arrow has to go through guts to reach the lungs, don’t shoot.

This angle also demands good arrow weight, razor-sharp fixed blades, and solid kinetic energy. Done right, it’s one of the most devastating shots you’ll ever take.

Quartering Toward and Frontal Shots

Now we’re getting into the controversial stuff.

Quartering-toward shots can be deadly—but they’re also dangerous. The vitals are protected by thick shoulder bone and brisket muscle. Unless the angle is slight and the distance short (under 20 yards), don’t risk it.

A small mistake in angle or penetration turns a lethal shot into a nightmare.

Frontal shots, on the other hand, have a small but effective kill zone inside 20 yards. Aim for the soft triangle at the base of the neck, right between the shoulders. That pocket leads directly into both lungs and major arteries.

Hit it right—bull down in seconds. Miss by a few inches—you’ve got a non-lethal wound.

Here’s my rule:

If the distance is close, the angle is perfect, and you’ve practiced this shot under pressure—it’s an option. If not, wait.

Discipline over desperation. Every time.

How Elevation Changes Shot Placement

Western elk hunting almost always involves angled shots. Whether you’re shooting uphill from a draw or downhill off a ridge, gravity and entry angle change everything.

The biggest mistake hunters make is bending their arms instead of their torso. Always bend at the waist. Keep your form intact.

Next, understand your rangefinder. A 35-yard line-of-sight shot at a steep angle might only require a 30-yard pin. Gravity acts on horizontal distance, not diagonal.

Without an angle-compensating rangefinder, your arrow will hit high—and high hits mean spines, backstraps, or misses.

Also, remember: as the shot steepens, the vital zone effectively shrinks. Your arrow travels through less lung tissue, so precision matters even more.

Train for these shots. Set 3D targets on slopes. Shoot from elevation. Get used to bending at the waist and executing clean, repeatable shots at different angles.

Mastering Shot Timing

Perfect shot placement doesn’t matter if your timing is off.

You can have the bull inside 30 yards, the angle right, and your pin steady—but if you draw too early or too late, the moment disappears.

Draw when he’s distracted—when his head turns, or when he walks behind cover. Hold when necessary, but don’t force it.

If the shot isn’t perfect, let down. Reset. Stay calm. The best hunters don’t fire just because they’re drawn—they fire because the moment is right.

Train for this. Have a buddy call “draw” and “let down” while you practice holding under fatigue. Replicate the chaos so you can handle it when it counts.

The Real Standard for Bowhunters

At the end of the day, bowhunting elk isn’t about hitting an elk—it’s about ending it cleanly.

Every arrow you release should honor the animal and your craft.

You don’t need to shoot every chance you get. You need to make the right shot when it comes.

That’s what separates bowhunters who get lucky from those who get consistent.

Train for every angle. Visualize your exits. Practice patience and control.

Because when that bull finally steps out and your heart’s hammering, you won’t have to think. You’ll just execute.

Join TEAM BACKBONE

If you want to take this kind of preparation deeper, join TEAM BACKBONE at BackboneUnlimited.com.

Inside, we go beyond theory—training plans, mindset work, gear prep, and real conversations with serious backcountry hunters. You’ll get access to digital resources, private coaching, and the kind of community that pushes you to get better every season.

Train harder. Hunt smarter. Never settle.

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