I’m not sure we’re on the same page here.
I don’t recall seeing yellow text or “death blow is possible” ever.
Most of the time getting big game, moose (alces alces (elk (cervus canadensis)is sort of taxonomy misnomer:) is British English error) or bear unconscious, it’ll take 10+ axe poll hits to skull to kill the animal.
I thought alternate target option was all there was. Instead of head-body-arms-legs, you get to target skull-neck et cetera. I don’t recall other options of the unconscious as game animals get ‘skull’, Njerp and robbers get ‘neck’…