ORIGINAL: Roskoe
This shot is often the only angle you can get on an elk. They are coming in to the call . . . and if they see,smell,or hear something they don't like, thenext shot angle you are going to get is south end of a northbound elk. But it's a lot smaller kill zone than broadside. Basically, it's the area just inside the crease of the near shoulder blade. The arrow is going to pass through the chest, likely only hitting one lung, and wind up punching a hole in the diaphram. You may not get any blood trail at all, at least initially - as the arrow will often lodge completely inside the animal. So far, I haven't taken this kind of a shot. I might, though, if the distance was close and the terrain was more open.
Elk would be the last thing I'd take that kind of shot on. Them elk are some of the toughest animals out there. I've seen one lung elk go for a mile and further and then the next one piles right up with a one lung but the majority usually don't that I've been involved with. It would have to be broadside or a good quartering away shot for me so I had the opportunity for both lungs hunting elk or any animal as far as that goes. I know what your saying though Roskoe, what you said happens allot with them elk!