Bowhunting elk
Rocky Mountain elk are the second heaviest animal most bowhunters will ever draw on. A cow runs 450 to 550 lb, a mature bull 700 to 900 lb, with a heavy scapula and thick hide over the ribs. The Pope and Young minimum recommendation is 40 ft-lb of kinetic energy, but experienced elk hunters push 60 ft-lb or more for insurance on scapula contact.
Kinetic energy threshold
State fish and game agencies do not set a KE floor, but the Pope and Young Club recommends 40 ft-lb minimum for elk. Ashby-school bowhunters push 65 ft-lb and up. A 65 lb draw shooting a 500 gr arrow at 275 fps delivers roughly 84 ft-lb at the bow; expect 55 to 65 ft-lb at 40 yd after drag.
Broadhead recommendation
Fixed cut-on-contact single-bevel or 3-blade dominates elk camps. Cut diameter debate runs 1 in to 1-1/4 in: wider heads leave better blood on marginal hits, narrower heads drive deeper on the far shoulder. Iron Will S100, Cutthroat 200, Slick Trick Magnum, and G5 Montec are the four names that show up on every elk-camp arrow board.
Shot placement
Broadside: aim tight behind the front leg, 1/3 up from bottom of chest. The elk lung is set forward compared to a whitetail. Quartering-away: aim at the far leg. Quartering-toward: pass unless you have less than 20 yd and can hit the near crease. Frontal shots on bugling bulls are the classic elk gamble; miss the center-mass Y and you hit brisket.
Arrow build
500 to 650 gr total, 15% FOC or higher, .003 straightness minimum. Easton FMJ 340 with 100 gr brass HIT + 125 gr broadhead builds to 520 gr at 12% FOC on a 30 in draw. Gold Tip Kinetic Kaos and Black Eagle Rampage are the other two elk-arrow shortlist picks on Rokslide. Micro-diameter shafts (.204 or .166) reduce drag past the ribs.
What bowhunters actually say
If you want to hunt elk with 40 ft-lb, you can, but I’ve seen too many bulls walk off with a lung shot because the arrow stopped in the far shoulder. Build 60.
Rokslide long thread: Ashby vs Pope and Young for elk
The Iron Will S100 out of a 68 lb bow at 285 fps with a 520 gr arrow puts a bull down inside 60 yards nine out of ten times.
Archery Talk user, Colorado Unit 61 report
A cut-on-contact head that will hone back sharp with a strop is worth twice a mechanical you throw away after one hit. Elk chew broadheads.
Bowsite Elk forum, veteran regular
Check your state F&W dept for local rules. This is research summary, not legal advice.