The frontal shot on a elk is a killing shot if you can pull it off,butI bet 90% of archers who hunt elk couldn't pull it off under the heat of the moment.
The vitals out front are not the same as a deer,your shooting for a window of about 4-5 inches,margin of erro is very small.If you hit little left or right you hit bone,alittle high you might catch the wind pipe(very long tracking job),low and you hit a heavy brisket.
When you get a bull that comes in straight he's looking,his nostrils are flared,his eyes buggy,snot dripping the air is alive.You won't be in much better shape,you will be nervous,shaking,drooling,heart pounding,your breath will be short or you will be holding it.You won't be able to focus on your pins,you will be looking at his rack and wondring how big he is.You mind will be saying what if I miss,what if I conect,wow my buddies are goind to be envyous so on and so on.
I had a big 6x6 @ 13 yds last year straight on,I was at 3/4 draw and I noticed thet my arrow was shaking in my wisker bisquet,when I hit full draw I couldn't see my pins all I could see was this masive beast at my feet.
Did I take the shot,no I waited for a 100 % broadside shot,did I get it,no, I had to let down and he spooked.I was still shaking the next day at work,it's simply amazing.
It's your hunt you doit your way,but you don't want to make your first hunt a bad memory.
I'm heading out Sept2nd to doit all over again,if my season ends on me letting down on a big bull again so be it,but man the memories are priceless.
Good luck and only you are the one that makes or breaks the hunt.
Hunt hard,hunt smart.
BBJ