Aim for the heart/lung area located behind the shoulder. This provides the largest vital zone. Avoid "Texas heart shots" (rear end) and head shots.
Practice at various distances up to your effective range. For archery, most ethical shots are under 40 yards. Rifles can extend to 300+ yards with proper practice.
Steep uphill or downhill shots require aiming lower than the rangefinder distance. Use the true horizontal distance for shot placement calculations.
The best shot opportunity is when the elk is standing broadside (perpendicular to you). This presents the largest vital zone and best penetration angle.
Always shoot from the steadiest position possible. Use trees, shooting sticks, or bipods. A shaky shot is a poor ethical choice.
Take a deep breath, let half out, and hold while squeezing the trigger or releasing the arrow. Breathing during the shot creates movement.