ORIGINAL: elktracker
......the animals did not suffer (paralyzes them). I can't say the same when I have shot a deer/elk in the heart and they ran off 100-200yds and neither can you. That to me borders on unethical and is why I switched to a spine shot versus behind the shoulder. I don't like to see the animal suffer. I never take long shots- over 80yds....
I'm ONLY replying to this so that other "rookie" Elk hunters or just "rookie" hunters that read this, know this IS NOT normal practice. 
Now I can say I've heard it all. A paralyzed animal isn't suffering? Yet hitting them in the heart is unethical? Let's do some simple math, with some simple logic here, ONE arrow through the heart they run and DIE. Your method requires TWO arrows. First, you paralyze them so they lay on the ground, helpless, nervous, full aware that you are walking up them, then you put another arrow in them to finish them off. Anytime an arrow or bullet enters an animal it's going to hurt or do damage. Why not kill it the right way the FIRST time?
Never take long shots... over 80?? 80?? With a BOW?? I'm very confident to 50 and think 50 is a long shot. What's a long shot to you?? 100??
Sorry, in all respect, you got it all bassackwards in my and 99% of the rest of the hunters book.