Holding tight behind the front shoulder is probably the best way to go. Head shots are a no-no and I personally feel the same way about neck shots. I wounded an elk a few years back and my brother, who also had an elk permit, followed up with a neck shot as the critter trotted off. The elk went until it encountered a fence it couldn't get over and laid down. I finished it off at fairly close yardage.
My brother had hit the animal with his .270 in the wind pipe. Missed the spine and managed to miss the major blood vessels. Yet, I am sure his shot would have led to a slow lingering death. It served as a "wake up call" to both of us.
I shoot a .30-.338 with 180 grain Nosler Partitions. I can tell you when that monster bull of a lifetime steps into my crosshairs I will body slam the brute through BOTH front shoulders. To heck with my meat processor, I want the critter for the taxidermist.
