Of course any shot "could" kill any animal. About 20yrs ago I saw a friend of mine make a horrible shot at about 300yds in a field on a broadside buck... he shot the dew claws off it. That thing bled like a heart shot and was dead in 40yds. I'd be willing to bet if that was an elk that John shot, he would not have found it.

All I'm saying is why not set yourself up for a worst case scenario ... when the option to do so exists.