The best way to hit an animal reliably is to wait for it to move into an open shooting lane. The lane just has to be big enough for you to accurately get the bullet to the target.

So many tests have been done by so many people, over the years debunking "brush gun" thoughts I don't know why the idea persists.

I've seen bullets hit some small branches the scope didn't pick up that have deflected rifle rounds going from the slower .44 mag round all the way up to the .270/30-06 range. The branches saved the deer every time. It doesn't happen often, but it does happen.