big bulls you bring up a good point about not breaking the shoulder down. the reason being is like you stated bloodshot meat and the other thing is unless the bullet fragments it could either be a follow up shot or a tracking job. Why do i say that is because the vitals are not that far forward. If you have a braodside shot and come up the inside of the leg and about 2/3rd's of the way down just above the elbow its a very dead animal. and if they are quartering away just line your shot up with the opposite leg.
Just look at the bone structure alone and you will see that from where the elbow angles up there is a hole there and back about the fouth rib.
I wish I could find a circulatory system for the elk like I have for the deer.