I am with your david.

I didn't see it so I can't comment on it.I to believe Dwight to be an extremely accomplished and ethical hunter.In a recent bowhunter mag I read that he just qualified to run the Boston Marathon,he's in his 60's.
I havn't read the article discussing frontal shot's on elk.It would seem that the margin for error or kill zone would be very small,and no possible chance for a pass through obviously.I am interested to hear more about it,although I can't imagine feeling comfortable taking such a shot.

Whether or not this guy shot him head on or not, my reply is unchanged and more of a general statement.

tsoc.... he's at ground level 15 yards away. Most of us can whack a quarter everytime at that distance. If you're as good as Dwight, it's a done deal. No there's not probably a pass through, but if you shut down the pump the critter isn't going too far. An elks heart is bigger than that quarter. It's like you're nurf football at 15 yards.

Head on shots are a headache for everybody involved.

I had a nice Doe at about 10 feet this season, I was on the ground at full draw, she was facing me. I didn't take the shot. I'm not that guy, I know "MY" limitations. I have no regrets! You feel you can make the shot go for it! No pressure here!

Yes and no. Because of all the TV star films and hunters a lot of education and "ethics" has been dispensed. Think if we didn't have all these films going on. You'd have a lot of new people trying to kill something somehow anyhow. They wouldn't have heard years of "wait for a broadside shot" and all that. They'd be taking a shot as soon as they could. And guess what, a lot of critters would have died. So yes, the need to succeed on film has created an animal unto itself.... but it's also dispensed a lot of good information and helped a lot of folks be better hunters. One of those "damned if you do.... damned if you don't" deals.

if you think frontal elk shots are unethical, you are ignorant, plane and simple

so a Bowsite search and read the accounts on frontal shots on elk - they're absolutely deadly

There is a frontal shot I would take, but only in certain circumstances and only from ground level. Never from a treestand. The target area is pretty small, but I'm a good enough shot to make it.

The main reason such an emphasis has been put on the broadside orslight quartering awayshot is it's a lot bigger target area with easy access to the vitals. So thattruly is the only reasonable, ethical shot for the vast majority of bowhunters out there.

Not to mention the taxidermist will be cussing you no end for putting a hole in the front of the cape.

I went over to bowsite to educate myself a little as Big Duane suggested.They seem to be pretty divided on the subject.Where the wind pipe meets what would be the collar bone area on a human.There is a soft ball to grape fruit sized spot that is the area to hit.Some folks recovery rate was exceptional,some were horrible.Everyone stated it was a ground level only deal,20 yards and in for some,10 yards and in for many.
Obviously the person behind the bow is what is going to dictate the end result.