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Backbone Unlimited Podcast

Backbone Unlimited

Backbone Unlimited is a western hunting podcast for public-land hunters who want to stop guessing and build a better system for finding elk, mule deer and black bears, beating pressure, reading sign, understanding wind and thermals, and making cleaner decisions in the mountains.

Hosted by Matt Hartsky, Backbone Unlimited combines 34+ years of western big game hunting experience with decades of strength, conditioning, and nutrition coaching to help hunters prepare smarter and hunt more effectively.

Episodes cover elk hunting strategy, mule deer hunting, bear hunting, public land tactics, archery elk hunting, rifle hunting, e-scouting, scouting, glassing, calling, bedding areas, feed, water, transition zones, mountain fitness, hunt planning, field decision-making, meat care, gear, pack-outs, and the mindset it takes to keep improving season after season.

If you’re serious about becoming a more capable western hunter, Backbone Unlimited is built to help you train harder, hunt smarter, and never settle.

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50 episodes
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Avg 12 min
English

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#281
Yesterday · 11 min
HOW DO YOU HUNT ELK THAT ONLY MOVE AFTER DARK? | EP. 280
How do you hunt elk that only move after dark? Matt Hartsky draws on 35 years of elk hunting experience to break down nighttime feeding patterns, bedding cover, staging areas, and daylight travel routes. Learn how positioning, wind, weather, and hunting pressure affect your chances of catching late-season elk during legal shooting light. 🏔️ Elk Camp 2027 — Get in the Wyoming mountains with Matt and Saxton Hartsky for hands-on elk hunting instruction. Learn to find elk, read terrain, adapt to hunting pressure, and call with confidence. Just six hunters per camp for direct coaching and individual attention. → https://backboneunlimited.com/pages/elk-camp 📙 Elk Hunting E-Book Series (the complete elk hunting system — locating elk, reading pressure, wind and thermals, positioning, calling, and bowhunting execution) → https://backboneunlimited.com/collections/elk-hunting-series-e-books 📋 Elk Hunt Plan Audit — I'll personally review your specific unit, dates, access, terrain, pressure, wind strategy, and hunt approach before you head into the field → https://backboneunlimited.com/pages/elk-hunt-plan-audit 👥 Team Backbone — Weekly coaching calls, ongoing elk hunting guidance, the full member vault, and a community of serious western hunters → https://backboneunlimited.com/pages/membership 🦵 Backbone Unlimited Training Plans — Built specifically for the physical demands of mountain elk hunting: legs, lungs, durability, and the ability to handle hard miles under load → https://backboneunlimited.com/pages/training 🥩 Nutrition Plans — Get leaner before season, fuel long days in the mountains, and dial in your hunting-season performance → https://backboneunlimited.com/pages/nutrition
#279
Thursday · 11 min
WHAT SHOULD YOU DO WHEN YOU FIND FRESH SIGN BUT NO ELK? | EP. 279
Finding fresh elk sign but no elk? Matt Hartsky draws on 35 years of elk hunting experience to explain how to read tracks, droppings, beds, and feeding sign. Learn to judge sign age, determine travel direction, connect feeding and bedding areas, and build a huntable pattern without letting elk catch your wind. 🏔️ Elk Camp 2027 — Get in the Wyoming mountains with Matt and Saxton Hartsky for hands-on elk hunting instruction. Learn to find elk, read terrain, adapt to hunting pressure, and call with confidence. Just six hunters per camp for direct coaching and individual attention. → https://backboneunlimited.com/pages/elk-camp 📙 Elk Hunting E-Book Series (the complete elk hunting system — locating elk, reading pressure, wind and thermals, positioning, calling, and bowhunting execution) → https://backboneunlimited.com/collections/elk-hunting-series-e-books 📋 Elk Hunt Plan Audit — I'll personally review your specific unit, dates, access, terrain, pressure, wind strategy, and hunt approach before you head into the field → https://backboneunlimited.com/pages/elk-hunt-plan-audit 👥 Team Backbone — Weekly coaching calls, ongoing elk hunting guidance, the full member vault, and a community of serious western hunters → https://backboneunlimited.com/pages/membership 🦵 Backbone Unlimited Training Plans — Built specifically for the physical demands of mountain elk hunting: legs, lungs, durability, and the ability to handle hard miles under load → https://backboneunlimited.com/pages/training 🥩 Nutrition Plans — Get leaner before season, fuel long days in the mountains, and dial in your hunting-season performance → https://backboneunlimited.com/pages/nutrition
#278
Wednesday · 10 min
HOW FAR FROM ROADS DO YOU NEED TO GO TO FIND ELK? | EP. 278
How far from a road do you need to hike to find elk? Matt Hartsky breaks down road pressure, elk security cover, overlooked public-land pockets, and when a backcountry hike makes sense. Learn how to use terrain, access, and fresh elk sign to choose where to hunt—and avoid walking past elk on your way in. 🏔️ Elk Camp 2027 — Get in the Wyoming mountains with Matt and Saxton Hartsky for hands-on elk hunting instruction. Learn to find elk, read terrain, adapt to hunting pressure, and call with confidence. Just six hunters per camp for direct coaching and individual attention. → https://backboneunlimited.com/pages/elk-camp 📙 Elk Hunting E-Book Series (the complete elk hunting system — locating elk, reading pressure, wind and thermals, positioning, calling, and bowhunting execution) → https://backboneunlimited.com/collections/elk-hunting-series-e-books 📋 Elk Hunt Plan Audit — I'll personally review your specific unit, dates, access, terrain, pressure, wind strategy, and hunt approach before you head into the field → https://backboneunlimited.com/pages/elk-hunt-plan-audit 👥 Team Backbone — Weekly coaching calls, ongoing elk hunting guidance, the full member vault, and a community of serious western hunters → https://backboneunlimited.com/pages/membership 🦵 Backbone Unlimited Training Plans — Built specifically for the physical demands of mountain elk hunting: legs, lungs, durability, and the ability to handle hard miles under load → https://backboneunlimited.com/pages/training 🥩 Nutrition Plans — Get leaner before season, fuel long days in the mountains, and dial in your hunting-season performance → https://backboneunlimited.com/pages/nutrition
#277
Tuesday · 12 min
SHOULD YOU FOLLOW FRESH ELK TRACKS IN THE SNOW? | EP. 277
Should you follow fresh elk tracks in the snow? Matt Hartsky draws on 35 years of elk hunting experience to explain how to track late-season elk without pushing them ahead of you. Learn to judge track freshness, read feeding and bedding sign, manage the wind, and spot elk in thick timber. 🏔️ Elk Camp 2027 — Get in the Wyoming mountains with Matt and Saxton Hartsky for hands-on elk hunting instruction. Learn to find elk, read terrain, adapt to hunting pressure, and call with confidence. Just six hunters per camp for direct coaching and individual attention. → https://backboneunlimited.com/pages/elk-camp 📙 Elk Hunting E-Book Series (the complete elk hunting system — locating elk, reading pressure, wind and thermals, positioning, calling, and bowhunting execution) → https://backboneunlimited.com/collections/elk-hunting-series-e-books 📋 Elk Hunt Plan Audit — I'll personally review your specific unit, dates, access, terrain, pressure, wind strategy, and hunt approach before you head into the field → https://backboneunlimited.com/pages/elk-hunt-plan-audit 👥 Team Backbone — Weekly coaching calls, ongoing elk hunting guidance, the full member vault, and a community of serious western hunters → https://backboneunlimited.com/pages/membership 🦵 Backbone Unlimited Training Plans — Built specifically for the physical demands of mountain elk hunting: legs, lungs, durability, and the ability to handle hard miles under load → https://backboneunlimited.com/pages/training 🥩 Nutrition Plans — Get leaner before season, fuel long days in the mountains, and dial in your hunting-season performance → https://backboneunlimited.com/pages/nutrition
#276
Monday · 12 min
WHERE DO COW ELK GO DURING THE LATE SEASON? | EP. 276
Where do cow elk go during the late season? Matt Hartsky draws on 35 years of elk hunting experience to explain how food, snow, migration, and hunting pressure shape late-season cow elk movement. Learn where to search, how to read fresh tracks, and how to find a huntable pattern on public land. 🏔️ Elk Camp 2027 — Get in the Wyoming mountains with Matt and Saxton Hartsky for hands-on elk hunting instruction. Learn to find elk, read terrain, adapt to hunting pressure, and call with confidence. Just six hunters per camp for direct coaching and individual attention. → https://backboneunlimited.com/pages/elk-camp 📙 Elk Hunting E-Book Series (the complete elk hunting system — locating elk, reading pressure, wind and thermals, positioning, calling, and bowhunting execution) → https://backboneunlimited.com/collections/elk-hunting-series-e-books 📋 Elk Hunt Plan Audit — I'll personally review your specific unit, dates, access, terrain, pressure, wind strategy, and hunt approach before you head into the field → https://backboneunlimited.com/pages/elk-hunt-plan-audit 👥 Team Backbone — Weekly coaching calls, ongoing elk hunting guidance, the full member vault, and a community of serious western hunters → https://backboneunlimited.com/pages/membership 🦵 Backbone Unlimited Training Plans — Built specifically for the physical demands of mountain elk hunting: legs, lungs, durability, and the ability to handle hard miles under load → https://backboneunlimited.com/pages/training 🥩 Nutrition Plans — Get leaner before season, fuel long days in the mountains, and dial in your hunting-season performance → https://backboneunlimited.com/pages/nutrition
#275
Sunday · 13 min
WHERE DO MATURE BULLS GO WHEN THEY LEAVE THE COWS? | EP. 275
Where do mature bull elk go after the rut? Matt Hartsky draws on 35 years of elk hunting experience to explain why bulls leave the cows and where to look during October and late-season hunts. Learn how food, bedding cover, hunting pressure, and terrain shape post-rut bull behavior—and how to find overlooked pockets holding mature bulls. 🏔️ Elk Camp 2027 — Get in the Wyoming mountains with Matt and Saxton Hartsky for hands-on elk hunting instruction. Learn to find elk, read terrain, adapt to hunting pressure, and call with confidence. Just six hunters per camp for direct coaching and individual attention. → https://backboneunlimited.com/pages/elk-camp 📙 Elk Hunting E-Book Series (the complete elk hunting system — locating elk, reading pressure, wind and thermals, positioning, calling, and bowhunting execution) → https://backboneunlimited.com/collections/elk-hunting-series-e-books 📋 Elk Hunt Plan Audit — I'll personally review your specific unit, dates, access, terrain, pressure, wind strategy, and hunt approach before you head into the field → https://backboneunlimited.com/pages/elk-hunt-plan-audit 👥 Team Backbone — Weekly coaching calls, ongoing elk hunting guidance, the full member vault, and a community of serious western hunters → https://backboneunlimited.com/pages/membership 🦵 Backbone Unlimited Training Plans — Built specifically for the physical demands of mountain elk hunting: legs, lungs, durability, and the ability to handle hard miles under load → https://backboneunlimited.com/pages/training 🥩 Nutrition Plans — Get leaner before season, fuel long days in the mountains, and dial in your hunting-season performance → https://backboneunlimited.com/pages/nutrition
#274
October 31 · 15 min
HOW DO YOU FIND LATE SEASON ELK ON PUBLIC LAND? | EP. 274
Struggling to find late-season elk on public land? Matt Hartsky breaks down October and November elk hunting, including food sources, security cover, hunting pressure, fresh tracks, snow, and post-rut bull behavior. Learn how to read current conditions, find overlooked elk pockets, and get into position before daylight movement ends. 🏔️ Elk Camp 2027 — Get in the Wyoming mountains with Matt and Saxton Hartsky for hands-on elk hunting instruction. Learn to find elk, read terrain, adapt to hunting pressure, and call with confidence. Just six hunters per camp for direct coaching and individual attention. → https://backboneunlimited.com/pages/elk-camp 📙 Elk Hunting E-Book Series (the complete elk hunting system — locating elk, reading pressure, wind and thermals, positioning, calling, and bowhunting execution) → https://backboneunlimited.com/collections/elk-hunting-series-e-books 📋 Elk Hunt Plan Audit — I'll personally review your specific unit, dates, access, terrain, pressure, wind strategy, and hunt approach before you head into the field → https://backboneunlimited.com/pages/elk-hunt-plan-audit 👥 Team Backbone — Weekly coaching calls, ongoing elk hunting guidance, the full member vault, and a community of serious western hunters → https://backboneunlimited.com/pages/membership 🦵 Backbone Unlimited Training Plans — Built specifically for the physical demands of mountain elk hunting: legs, lungs, durability, and the ability to handle hard miles under load → https://backboneunlimited.com/pages/training 🥩 Nutrition Plans — Get leaner before season, fuel long days in the mountains, and dial in your hunting-season performance → https://backboneunlimited.com/pages/nutrition
#273
October 30 · 10 min
DO ELK MOVE LOWER AS SOON AS IT SNOWS? | EP. 273
Do elk move lower as soon as it snows? A white mountain doesn’t always mean the elk have left—and heading downhill too soon can take you away from fresh elk activity. In this episode of the Backbone Unlimited Podcast, Matt Hartsky breaks down how snow affects elk location and movement during October and the late season. Learn how snow depth, crust, available feed and hunting pressure influence whether elk stay high, change slopes or move into lower country. We cover south-facing slopes, windblown ridges, post-rut bulls and reading fresh tracks after a storm. If snow hits during your elk hunt, this episode will help you decide whether to stay, adjust your approach or search new country. 📙 Elk Hunting E-Book Series (the complete elk hunting system — locating elk, reading pressure, wind and thermals, positioning, calling, and bowhunting execution) → https://backboneunlimited.com/collections/elk-hunting-series-e-books 📋 Elk Hunt Plan Audit — I'll personally review your specific unit, dates, access, terrain, pressure, wind strategy, and hunt approach before you head into the field → https://backboneunlimited.com/pages/elk-hunt-plan-audit 👥 Team Backbone — Weekly coaching calls, ongoing elk hunting guidance, the full member vault, and a community of serious western hunters → https://backboneunlimited.com/pages/membership 🦵 Backbone Unlimited Training Plans — Built specifically for the physical demands of mountain elk hunting: legs, lungs, durability, and the ability to handle hard miles under load → https://backboneunlimited.com/pages/training 🥩 Nutrition Plans — Get leaner before season, fuel long days in the mountains, and dial in your hunting-season performance → https://backboneunlimited.com/pages/nutrition
#272
October 29 · 12 min
SHOULD I HUNT NORTH OR SOUTH FACING SLOPES IN OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER? | EP. 272
Should you hunt north-facing or south-facing slopes for elk in October and November? The best choice can change with the weather, snow, available feed and hunting pressure. In this episode of the Backbone Unlimited Podcast, Matt Hartsky breaks down how slope direction affects elk feeding areas, bedding cover and daily movement. Learn when to focus on sunny slopes, when to check shaded timber, and how to find travel routes connecting food and security. We cover warm weather, cold snaps, snowmelt, mountain winds and using fresh elk sign to decide where to hunt. If you’re planning a rifle or late-season elk hunt, this episode will help you look beyond compass direction and recognize where elk are spending their time. 📙 Elk Hunting E-Book Series (the complete elk hunting system — locating elk, reading pressure, wind and thermals, positioning, calling, and bowhunting execution) → https://backboneunlimited.com/collections/elk-hunting-series-e-books 📋 Elk Hunt Plan Audit — I'll personally review your specific unit, dates, access, terrain, pressure, wind strategy, and hunt approach before you head into the field → https://backboneunlimited.com/pages/elk-hunt-plan-audit 👥 Team Backbone — Weekly coaching calls, ongoing elk hunting guidance, the full member vault, and a community of serious western hunters → https://backboneunlimited.com/pages/membership 🦵 Backbone Unlimited Training Plans — Built specifically for the physical demands of mountain elk hunting: legs, lungs, durability, and the ability to handle hard miles under load → https://backboneunlimited.com/pages/training 🥩 Nutrition Plans — Get leaner before season, fuel long days in the mountains, and dial in your hunting-season performance → https://backboneunlimited.com/pages/nutrition
#271
October 28 · 12 min
HOW DO YOU HUNT PRESSURED ELK ON PUBLIC LAND? | EP. 271
How do you hunt pressured elk on public land? When the easy spots fill with hunters and elk stop showing themselves, hiking farther isn’t always the answer. In this episode of the Backbone Unlimited Podcast, Matt Hartsky breaks down how to read hunting pressure and find the security cover elk move into. Learn how roads, trails, camps and hunter movement can help you narrow your search—and why overlooked terrain close to access can be worth checking. We cover fresh elk sign, alternative access routes, wind, still-hunting thick timber and when to keep calling or stay quiet. If you’re finding boot tracks instead of elk, this episode will help you adjust your plan and get into a better position. 📙 Elk Hunting E-Book Series (the complete elk hunting system — locating elk, reading pressure, wind and thermals, positioning, calling, and bowhunting execution) → https://backboneunlimited.com/collections/elk-hunting-series-e-books 📋 Elk Hunt Plan Audit — I'll personally review your specific unit, dates, access, terrain, pressure, wind strategy, and hunt approach before you head into the field → https://backboneunlimited.com/pages/elk-hunt-plan-audit 👥 Team Backbone — Weekly coaching calls, ongoing elk hunting guidance, the full member vault, and a community of serious western hunters → https://backboneunlimited.com/pages/membership 🦵 Backbone Unlimited Training Plans — Built specifically for the physical demands of mountain elk hunting: legs, lungs, durability, and the ability to handle hard miles under load → https://backboneunlimited.com/pages/training 🥩 Nutrition Plans — Get leaner before season, fuel long days in the mountains, and dial in your hunting-season performance → https://backboneunlimited.com/pages/nutrition
#270
October 27 · 11 min
SHOULD YOU GLASS OR SIT AND WAIT FOR ELK IN OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER? | EP. 270
Should you glass, still-hunt, or sit and wait for elk? Choosing the right approach can make the difference between finding elk and spending the day hunting past them. In this episode of the Backbone Unlimited Podcast, Matt Hartsky breaks down when to use each method and how to adjust as the hunt unfolds. Learn how terrain, visibility, fresh sign, wind and elk movement help you decide whether to keep watching, move into cover or get ahead of a travel pattern. We cover glassing positions, slowing down in thick timber, choosing an ambush location, and planning your entry and exit. If you’re unsure whether to move or stay put, this episode will help you make that decision with a reason behind it. 📙 Elk Hunting E-Book Series (the complete elk hunting system — locating elk, reading pressure, wind and thermals, positioning, calling, and bowhunting execution) → https://backboneunlimited.com/collections/elk-hunting-series-e-books 📋 Elk Hunt Plan Audit — I'll personally review your specific unit, dates, access, terrain, pressure, wind strategy, and hunt approach before you head into the field → https://backboneunlimited.com/pages/elk-hunt-plan-audit 👥 Team Backbone — Weekly coaching calls, ongoing elk hunting guidance, the full member vault, and a community of serious western hunters → https://backboneunlimited.com/pages/membership 🦵 Backbone Unlimited Training Plans — Built specifically for the physical demands of mountain elk hunting: legs, lungs, durability, and the ability to handle hard miles under load → https://backboneunlimited.com/pages/training 🥩 Nutrition Plans — Get leaner before season, fuel long days in the mountains, and dial in your hunting-season performance → https://backboneunlimited.com/pages/nutrition
#269
October 26 · 10 min
HOW DO MATURE BULL ELK BEHAVE AFTER THE RUT? | EP. 269
How do mature bull elk behave after the rut? A bull that spent September bugling and chasing cows may go quiet and become hard to find once breeding slows down. In this episode of the Backbone Unlimited Podcast, Matt Hartsky breaks down post-rut bull behavior and what it means for your October elk hunt. Learn how recovery, food and hunting pressure change where mature bulls spend their time, how far they move and whether they stay with the cows. We cover solitary bulls, small bachelor groups, reduced calling, daylight movement and why the end of the rut doesn’t automatically send bulls to lower elevations. If you’re finding cows but struggling to locate mature bulls, this episode will help you adjust your approach. 📙 Elk Hunting E-Book Series (the complete elk hunting system — locating elk, reading pressure, wind and thermals, positioning, calling, and bowhunting execution) → https://backboneunlimited.com/collections/elk-hunting-series-e-books 📋 Elk Hunt Plan Audit — I'll personally review your specific unit, dates, access, terrain, pressure, wind strategy, and hunt approach before you head into the field → https://backboneunlimited.com/pages/elk-hunt-plan-audit 👥 Team Backbone — Weekly coaching calls, ongoing elk hunting guidance, the full member vault, and a community of serious western hunters → https://backboneunlimited.com/pages/membership 🦵 Backbone Unlimited Training Plans — Built specifically for the physical demands of mountain elk hunting: legs, lungs, durability, and the ability to handle hard miles under load → https://backboneunlimited.com/pages/training 🥩 Nutrition Plans — Get leaner before season, fuel long days in the mountains, and dial in your hunting-season performance → https://backboneunlimited.com/pages/nutrition
#268
October 25 · 10 min
WHAT TERRAIN SHOULD YOU TARGET DURING RIFLE ELK SEASON? | EP. 268
What terrain should you target during rifle elk season? A north-facing slope or a big patch of dark timber can look promising on a map, but what makes it worth hunting? In this episode of the Backbone Unlimited Podcast, Matt Hartsky breaks down how to identify terrain that gives elk food, security and room to avoid hunting pressure. Learn what to look for in timbered benches, steep sidehills, hidden feeding areas, saddles and finger ridges—and how hunter access affects which spots elk actually use. We cover reading topo maps, adjusting to weather, glassing thick cover and using fresh elk sign to decide where to spend your time. If you’re struggling to narrow down a mountain during rifle season, this episode will help you choose where to start and when to move. 📙 Elk Hunting E-Book Series (the complete elk hunting system — locating elk, reading pressure, wind and thermals, positioning, calling, and bowhunting execution) → https://backboneunlimited.com/collections/elk-hunting-series-e-books 📋 Elk Hunt Plan Audit — I'll personally review your specific unit, dates, access, terrain, pressure, wind strategy, and hunt approach before you head into the field → https://backboneunlimited.com/pages/elk-hunt-plan-audit 👥 Team Backbone — Weekly coaching calls, ongoing elk hunting guidance, the full member vault, and a community of serious western hunters → https://backboneunlimited.com/pages/membership 🦵 Backbone Unlimited Training Plans — Built specifically for the physical demands of mountain elk hunting: legs, lungs, durability, and the ability to handle hard miles under load → https://backboneunlimited.com/pages/training 🥩 Nutrition Plans — Get leaner before season, fuel long days in the mountains, and dial in your hunting-season performance → https://backboneunlimited.com/pages/nutrition
#267
October 24 · 9 min
WHERE DO ELK FEED AND BED DURING RIFLE SEASON? | EP. 267
Where do elk feed and bed during rifle season? A meadow full of elk before opening day can look empty once hunting pressure hits—even when the elk haven’t moved far. In this episode of the Backbone Unlimited Podcast, Matt Hartsky breaks down how rifle-season pressure changes elk feeding areas, bedding locations and daily movement. Learn what to look for in security cover, how to find overlooked feeding pockets, and why the route between food and bedding can matter more than either location alone. We cover timbered benches, slope selection, post-rut bulls, fresh sign and hunting the daylight portion of an elk’s routine. If you’re glassing good feed without seeing elk, this episode will help you figure out where to focus next. 📙 Elk Hunting E-Book Series (the complete elk hunting system — locating elk, reading pressure, wind and thermals, positioning, calling, and bowhunting execution) → https://backboneunlimited.com/collections/elk-hunting-series-e-books 📋 Elk Hunt Plan Audit — I'll personally review your specific unit, dates, access, terrain, pressure, wind strategy, and hunt approach before you head into the field → https://backboneunlimited.com/pages/elk-hunt-plan-audit 👥 Team Backbone — Weekly coaching calls, ongoing elk hunting guidance, the full member vault, and a community of serious western hunters → https://backboneunlimited.com/pages/membership 🦵 Backbone Unlimited Training Plans — Built specifically for the physical demands of mountain elk hunting: legs, lungs, durability, and the ability to handle hard miles under load → https://backboneunlimited.com/pages/training 🥩 Nutrition Plans — Get leaner before season, fuel long days in the mountains, and dial in your hunting-season performance → https://backboneunlimited.com/pages/nutrition
#266
October 23 · 10 min
WHAT ELEVATION SHOULD I HUNT ELK AT IN OCTOBER? | EP. 266
What elevation should you hunt elk at? It’s easy to spend days searching one elevation band because that’s where someone told you elk should be. In this episode of the Backbone Unlimited Podcast, Matt Hartsky breaks down how to choose where to hunt based on current conditions. Learn how feed, water, bedding cover, hunting pressure and weather influence where elk spend their time—and why heading higher isn’t always the answer. We cover e-scouting, access, habitat transitions, daily elk movement and using fresh sign to narrow your search. Whether you’re planning a public-land elk hunt or trying to find elk after your original plan falls apart, this episode will help you read the mountain and make better decisions. 📙 Elk Hunting E-Book Series (the complete elk hunting system — locating elk, reading pressure, wind and thermals, positioning, calling, and bowhunting execution) → https://backboneunlimited.com/collections/elk-hunting-series-e-books 📋 Elk Hunt Plan Audit — I'll personally review your specific unit, dates, access, terrain, pressure, wind strategy, and hunt approach before you head into the field → https://backboneunlimited.com/pages/elk-hunt-plan-audit 👥 Team Backbone — Weekly coaching calls, ongoing elk hunting guidance, the full member vault, and a community of serious western hunters → https://backboneunlimited.com/pages/membership 🦵 Backbone Unlimited Training Plans — Built specifically for the physical demands of mountain elk hunting: legs, lungs, durability, and the ability to handle hard miles under load → https://backboneunlimited.com/pages/training 🥩 Nutrition Plans — Get leaner before season, fuel long days in the mountains, and dial in your hunting-season performance → https://backboneunlimited.com/pages/nutrition
#265
October 22 · 11 min
HOW DO YOU FIND ELK AFTER RIFLE PRESSURE HITS? | EP. 265
How do you find elk after rifle pressure starts? When camps fill up and shots start going off, the places that held elk before opening day can go quiet fast. In this episode of the Backbone Unlimited Podcast, Matt Hartsky breaks down how to find pressured elk on public land by reading hunter movement, terrain and fresh sign. Learn how to identify escape routes, find overlooked security cover, and recognize when elk have moved nearby instead of leaving the area. We cover opening morning pressure, midday hunting, locating post-rut bulls away from cows, and adjusting your calling when elk go silent. If you’re finding hunters where you expected to find elk, this episode will help you decide your next move. 📙 Elk Hunting E-Book Series (the complete elk hunting system — locating elk, reading pressure, wind and thermals, positioning, calling, and bowhunting execution) → https://backboneunlimited.com/collections/elk-hunting-series-e-books 📋 Elk Hunt Plan Audit — I'll personally review your specific unit, dates, access, terrain, pressure, wind strategy, and hunt approach before you head into the field → https://backboneunlimited.com/pages/elk-hunt-plan-audit 👥 Team Backbone — Weekly coaching calls, ongoing elk hunting guidance, the full member vault, and a community of serious western hunters → https://backboneunlimited.com/pages/membership 🦵 Backbone Unlimited Training Plans — Built specifically for the physical demands of mountain elk hunting: legs, lungs, durability, and the ability to handle hard miles under load → https://backboneunlimited.com/pages/training 🥩 Nutrition Plans — Get leaner before season, fuel long days in the mountains, and dial in your hunting-season performance → https://backboneunlimited.com/pages/nutrition
#264
October 22 · 13 min
WHERE SHOULD I HUNT ELK IN OCTOBER AFTER THE RUT? | EP. 264
Where do elk go in October after the rut? Finding cows, old wallows and September rut sign doesn’t always put you close to a mature bull. In this episode of the Backbone Unlimited Podcast, Matt Hartsky breaks down how elk behavior changes after the rut and how to adjust your October elk hunting strategy on public land. Learn what recovering bulls look for, how hunting pressure affects their location, and why cold weather doesn’t always mean elk have moved lower. We cover post-rut feeding and bedding areas, fresh elk sign, glassing, calling, and finding security cover hunters overlook. If your September spots have gone quiet, this episode will help you figure out where to look next. 📙 Elk Hunting E-Book Series (the complete elk hunting system — locating elk, reading pressure, wind and thermals, positioning, calling, and bowhunting execution) → https://backboneunlimited.com/collections/elk-hunting-series-e-books 📋 Elk Hunt Plan Audit — I'll personally review your specific unit, dates, access, terrain, pressure, wind strategy, and hunt approach before you head into the field → https://backboneunlimited.com/pages/elk-hunt-plan-audit 👥 Team Backbone — Weekly coaching calls, ongoing elk hunting guidance, the full member vault, and a community of serious western hunters → https://backboneunlimited.com/pages/membership 🦵 Backbone Unlimited Training Plans — Built specifically for the physical demands of mountain elk hunting: legs, lungs, durability, and the ability to handle hard miles under load → https://backboneunlimited.com/pages/training 🥩 Nutrition Plans — Get leaner before season, fuel long days in the mountains, and dial in your hunting-season performance → https://backboneunlimited.com/pages/nutrition
#263
October 15 · 11 min
I'M FINDING TONS OF ELK SIGN BUT I'M NOT FINDING ELK, WHAT AM I DOING WRONG? | EP. 263
You’re finding tracks, rubs, wallows, droppings, and heavily used trails—but you still can’t find the elk. What are you missing? In this episode, Matt Hartsky draws from 34 years of elk hunting experience to explain why an area covered in elk sign can still waste days of your hunt. He covers the difference between finding evidence that elk have used an area and finding information that can lead to a real opportunity. If you struggle to judge fresh versus old elk sign, keep following tracks without catching up, or repeatedly hunt areas that look perfect but feel empty, this episode will help you read the story behind the sign. You’re finding tracks, rubs, wallows, droppings, and heavily used trails—but you still can’t find the elk. What are you missing? In this episode, Matt Hartsky draws from 34 years of elk hunting experience to explain why an area covered in elk sign can still waste days of your hunt. He covers the difference between finding evidence that elk have used an area and finding information that can lead to a real opportunity. If you struggle to judge fresh versus old elk sign, keep following tracks without catching up, or repeatedly hunt areas that look perfect but feel empty, this episode will help you read the story behind the sign. 📙 Elk Hunting E-Book Series (the complete elk hunting system — locating elk, reading pressure, wind and thermals, positioning, calling, and bowhunting execution) → https://backboneunlimited.com/collections/elk-hunting-series-e-books 📋 Elk Hunt Plan Audit — I'll personally review your specific unit, dates, access, terrain, pressure, wind strategy, and hunt approach before you head into the field → https://backboneunlimited.com/pages/elk-hunt-plan-audit 👥 Team Backbone — Weekly coaching calls, ongoing elk hunting guidance, the full member vault, and a community of serious western hunters → https://backboneunlimited.com/pages/membership 🦵 Backbone Unlimited Training Plans — Built specifically for the physical demands of mountain elk hunting: legs, lungs, durability, and the ability to handle hard miles under load → https://backboneunlimited.com/pages/training 🥩 Nutrition Plans — Get leaner before season, fuel long days in the mountains, and dial in your hunting-season performance → https://backboneunlimited.com/pages/nutrition
#262
October 14 · 10 min
HOW DO YOU LOCATE ELK WHEN YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHERE THEY ARE? | EP. 262
How do you locate elk when you arrive in a new area and have no idea where to begin? In this episode, Matt Hartsky draws from 34 years of elk hunting and guiding experience to explain how he approaches unfamiliar public land. He covers the mistakes that waste time, the information that helps narrow a large unit, and how to avoid hiking mile after mile without getting any closer to elk. If you’re hunting a new unit, facing miles of timber and multiple drainages, or struggling to find elk when you aren’t hearing bugles or seeing fresh tracks, this episode will help you start with a better plan. 📙 Elk Hunting E-Book Series (the complete elk hunting system — locating elk, reading pressure, wind and thermals, positioning, calling, and bowhunting execution) → https://backboneunlimited.com/collections/elk-hunting-series-e-books 📋 Elk Hunt Plan Audit — I'll personally review your specific unit, dates, access, terrain, pressure, wind strategy, and hunt approach before you head into the field → https://backboneunlimited.com/pages/elk-hunt-plan-audit 👥 Team Backbone — Weekly coaching calls, ongoing elk hunting guidance, the full member vault, and a community of serious western hunters → https://backboneunlimited.com/pages/membership 🦵 Backbone Unlimited Training Plans — Built specifically for the physical demands of mountain elk hunting: legs, lungs, durability, and the ability to handle hard miles under load → https://backboneunlimited.com/pages/training 🥩 Nutrition Plans — Get leaner before season, fuel long days in the mountains, and dial in your hunting-season performance → https://backboneunlimited.com/pages/nutrition
#261
October 13 · 9 min
HOW DO YOU KNOW WHEN IT'S TIME TO LEAVE AN AREA AND FIND NEW ELK? | EP. 261
How do you know when it’s time to leave an area and find new elk? In this episode, Matt Hartsky draws from 34 years of elk hunting experience to tackle one of the hardest decisions on a public-land hunt. Leave too soon and you may abandon good elk country. Stay too long and you can waste valuable days hunting elk that are no longer there. Matt covers silent elk, fresh versus old sign, changing hunting pressure, blown setups, and the evidence he uses to decide whether to stay, adjust, or move on. If you’ve ever spent hours debating whether an area is quiet or truly empty, this episode will help you make that decision with more confidence. 📙 Elk Hunting E-Book Series (the complete elk hunting system — locating elk, reading pressure, wind and thermals, positioning, calling, and bowhunting execution) → https://backboneunlimited.com/collections/elk-hunting-series-e-books 📋 Elk Hunt Plan Audit — I'll personally review your specific unit, dates, access, terrain, pressure, wind strategy, and hunt approach before you head into the field → https://backboneunlimited.com/pages/elk-hunt-plan-audit 👥 Team Backbone — Weekly coaching calls, ongoing elk hunting guidance, the full member vault, and a community of serious western hunters → https://backboneunlimited.com/pages/membership 🦵 Backbone Unlimited Training Plans — Built specifically for the physical demands of mountain elk hunting: legs, lungs, durability, and the ability to handle hard miles under load → https://backboneunlimited.com/pages/training 🥩 Nutrition Plans — Get leaner before season, fuel long days in the mountains, and dial in your hunting-season performance → https://backboneunlimited.com/pages/nutrition

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