There's absolutely nothing hard about hitting an animal's shoulder that's about the size of a stop sign. I know that's alittle large on the comparision but the point is it's not all that small. Most people do not shoot as well as they think while hunting. And they do not put the bullet where it needs to go most of the time. Your seasoned hunters like most that post alot on this site can probably dot the elk in the eyeball giving a proper rest. But some hunters need to stay in that safety zone of the rib cage lung/heart area. Some hunters get so excited they blast away at an animal and never touch it.
Recently last year I had two hunters on a rest calm situation both miss a bull ranged at 190 yards broadside shot. Once I had three hunters miss a large bull 10 shots 250yds the bull stood still for the first four shots believe it or not. After the four shots of course the elk was leaving country fast. I've had a hunter miss another monster at 25yds. You name the yardage and I've seen them miss it up to 450yds. Beyond that if they want to shoot they draw blood and don't get the animal their done besides tracking that one animal.
In defense of all the bad shots' I've seen on elk I seen a hand full of men that had complete control of themselves makes some mighty fine shots on elk, even if it was their very first elk hunt. It's all about controlling yourself. Magnums won't help you, scopes won't help you, bullet design won't help you. You have to put it there first.
Back to the wounding part I know there's people that have seen more taken than myself and maybe some would disagree but I don't think many would. It's not about caliber, gun set up or bullets (unless your shooting full metal jackers or varmit bullets) on taking elk. It's 100% shot placement on all big game 100% of the time. Like someone said previous they can't breath their dead. So go ahead blast a cannonball through the shoulder blowing a baseball size hole of bone and blood shot meat out the other side of the animal. But be warned hit that shoulder bone at the wrong angle and you better have open country to make that second back up shot your gonna need it. I've even seen a mule deers shoulder turn a 300 win mag 180 gr bullet.
I'm pretty sure in Big Bulls defense he's an apt shooter and hunter but alot of people are not. And they should learn from others mistakes. Once in awhile I mess up a shot too human err is a mother. But be mindful when mentally training your self where your going to hold on an animal for most common shots because that will stick with you for life and not every situation will let you take that shot.