Backbone Unlimited Podcast

When the rut ends and the mountains go quiet, most hunters think October is a dead zone. But the truth is, it’s one of the best times to tag a bull—if you understand bedding-to-feeding patterns. In this episode of Backbone Unlimited, Matt Hartsky breaks down how elk transition from the chaos of September to the calculated survival mode of October. You’ll learn how post-rut elk behavior shifts once bulls are worn down and focused on food, cover, and safety, and why mastering these bedding-to-feeding patterns gives you the biggest edge of the season. Matt walks through everything that drives elk movement in October—how bedding areas change with elevation, slope, thermals, and pressure; what bulls and cows are eating as high-country feed dries up; and how to pinpoint the travel corridors that link bed and feed. He also explains how to time your hunts for morning and evening movement, how weather and moon phase affect elk activity, and why reading the wind and terrain is the difference between success and a blown stalk. You’ll also hear about proven strategies for ambush setups, intercept plays, and still-hunting travel routes that work when bugles have gone silent. Matt outlines the biggest mistakes hunters make this time of year—like calling too aggressively or sticking to obvious spots—and how to adapt to changing conditions before snow and pressure push elk out of your reach. If you’re serious about October elk hunting and want to fill your tag when others have packed it in, this episode will teach you how to think like a recovering bull—efficient, cautious, and predictable—and how to use that mindset to turn quiet mountains into high-odds encounters.

When the bugles stop and the snow starts to fall, most hunters hang it up—but the best elk hunters know that late season success comes down to one skill: glassing smarter. In this episode of Backbone Unlimited, Matt Hartsky breaks down everything he’s learned from more than 30 years of chasing bulls through the western mountains during the toughest part of the season. This is a masterclass in late season elk hunting tactics—from understanding how post-rut bulls use terrain and cover, to learning where to glass when the mountains go quiet. You’ll hear how elk behavior changes after the rut, why bulls drop into different elevations, and how pressure, snow, and feed availability drive every move they make. Matt shares the exact process he uses to pick late season glassing locations, how to grid and dissect terrain efficiently, and how to spot hidden bulls by reading contrast, color, and subtle movement in the timber. You’ll also learn how to interpret elk behavior from afar—how to read posture, feeding and bedding habits, and travel direction before making your move. This episode goes deep on the mental side of late season hunting: how to stay sharp behind the glass, manage fatigue, and keep your focus when the weather’s brutal and the country looks empty. If you’re serious about finding more elk when everyone else thinks the season is over, this episode will show you how to turn your optics into your biggest weapon and outlast the mountain with discipline, patience, and skill.

When September ends, most hunters think the show’s over. The bugles fade, the herds scatter, and the mountain goes quiet. But for those who know what’s really happening, October elk hunting is one of the best windows of the entire season. In this episode of Backbone Unlimited, Matt Hartsky breaks down the shift from rut to post-rut — what mature bulls do when the chaos stops and survival begins. You’ll learn how to locate solitary bulls after the rut, what makes them go underground, and why the biggest bulls of the year vanish into cover while everyone else heads home. Matt unpacks how elk behavior changes after the rut, why bulls move from breeding to recovery mode, and how pressure, weather, and feed drive every decision they make. You’ll hear detailed breakdowns on habitats October bulls favor, how to use feed and water to predict movement, and how to glass and track elk when bugles go silent. From reading subtle sign in thick timber to understanding how cold fronts and pressure push bulls into overlooked country, every section gives you a clear path to success in the post-rut. You’ll also learn how to seal the deal when it counts — spot-and-stalk tactics, ambush setups, and how to manage thermals and wind when bulls are cautious, quiet, and surviving on instinct. October hunts aren’t about running ridges or chasing echoes — they’re about slowing down, thinking like a bull, and hunting smart when everyone else has given up. Whether you’re planning an October elk hunt in dark timber or glassing mid-elevation transition zones, this episode will help you adapt, stay patient, and make the right moves when mature bulls are at their most guarded.

Welcome to Backbone Unlimited with Matt Hartsky — where experience meets strategy for the western elk hunter. In this episode, Matt breaks down one of the most important tactical questions every elk hunter faces: Should you spot-and-stalk or sit tight in an ambush? Both methods can produce results, but the key is knowing when each works best. Using decades of experience across multiple western states, Matt walks through how elk behavior shifts from early September through the post-rut — and how adapting your approach can turn empty days into filled tags. You’ll learn how to read early rut elk patterns, when bulls are quiet, scattered, and more patternable — the perfect window for spot-and-stalk success. Matt explains how to glass efficiently, move with thermals, and time your stalks for maximum advantage. You’ll also hear how to build effective ambush setups on travel corridors, water sources, and bedding transitions when elk movement is predictable but pressure is high. As the rut peaks, the episode dives into how to manage chaos — chasing bugles without blowing herds, understanding herd dynamics, and positioning ambushes near cow magnets like water, saddles, and staging zones. When the bugles fade in late September and October, the focus shifts to post-rut elk behavior, where survival, food, and cover drive every move. Matt reveals how to track fresh sign, locate refuge areas, and use patience to outsmart bulls that seem to vanish after the rut. This episode is a masterclass on elk hunting adaptability — blending calling, stalking, and ambush tactics to match the phase of the rut, weather, and pressure. Whether you’re a bowhunter slipping into timber at 40 yards or a rifle hunter glassing distant ridges, these lessons will help you read elk behavior, make smarter moves, and stay in the game all season long. If you’ve ever wondered why some hunters fill tags while others burn out chasing bugles, this breakdown gives you the blueprint. Tune in, take notes, and start thinking like the elk you’re after.

September elk don’t just chase cows—they chase calories. In this episode of Backbone Unlimited, Matt breaks down how feed quality, beetle kill, and burns truly dictate elk movement—and how to turn those habitat shifts into high-odds hunts. Learn why bulls, cows, and calves key on different foods through the month, how forage quality evolves from early to late September, and what that means for daily travel distance and timing. We dissect beetle-kill country (edge use, deadfall travel lanes, visibility/security tradeoffs) and fire scars from 1–3 years (feed magnets) to 4–10+ years (browse/bedting and cover), plus how pressure pushes herds to operate on the fringes, not the centers. You’ll get a tactical blueprint: e-scouting tells (color/greenness, fire-year overlays, topo funnels), on-the-ground sign checks (crisp tracks, shiny scat, wet-clipped forage, tacky rubs), edge and funnel ambush setups, subtle calling that fits disturbed country, and fast adaptations when feed shifts elevation or aspect midweek. If you’ve ever walked through a “perfect” burn or beetle kill and wondered where the elk went, this episode shows you how to read the seams—and be waiting when the herd slips through. Keywords: elk feed quality, beetle kill elk hunting, hunting burns, September elk forage, elk edges & funnels, reading elk sign, e-scouting burns, disturbed habitat tactics, OTC elk strategy, archery elk thermals.

Evening elk hunts give you one short window—just a couple of hours after work or before dark. That limited time can be pure gold if you know how to play it, but a disaster if you don’t. Success in the evenings comes down to one thing: discipline. The right entry, the right setup, and the right wind management can put elk in your lap when everyone else is blowing their chance at last light. In this episode of Backbone Unlimited, I break down evening elk strategies that work. You’ll learn how to set up in travel funnels between bedding and feed, how to use staging timber to your advantage, and why managing the thermal flip is the key to sealing the deal when the light fades. I’ll also share simple ambush setups, calling adjustments, and recovery strategies for when you do punch a tag at last light. If you’ve ever struggled to make short evening hunts count, this episode will give you the blueprint for hunting smarter and stacking the odds in your favor.

Opening weekend feels electric—bugles echoing, fresh sign everywhere, elk seemingly around every corner. But fast forward a few days and the mountain goes quiet. Bugles taper off, tracks fade, and it feels like the elk vanished. They didn’t. They adapted. In this episode of Backbone Unlimited, I break down where elk really go after opening week and how you can stay in the game when the easy action dies down. We’ll cover the “pressure push” and how hunter traffic changes elk behavior, why refuge zones and overlooked hideouts hold elk when everyone else is striking out, and how mid-September behavior shifts make bulls more cautious but also more predictable. If you’ve ever felt frustrated when the woods went silent after the opener, this episode gives you a clear strategy for finding pressured elk, adjusting your tactics, and grinding through the toughest part of the season.

One day the mountains are alive with bugles, the next they go dead silent—and that’s when most hunters lose confidence. Silence makes guys hike aimlessly, burn daylight, and even pack it in early. But elk haven’t vanished. They’re still there, living tighter, quieter patterns. The hunters who adapt are the ones who keep filling tags. In this episode of Backbone Unlimited, I break down how to stay lethal when the bugles disappear. You’ll learn how to reset your mindset, diagnose why the woods went quiet—whether it’s pressure, weather, or rut timing—read wind and thermals with discipline, and use fresh sign and terrain funnels as your new “intel.” We’ll also cover how subtle calling and ambush setups create opportunities when bulls won’t advertise, and how a simple daily rhythm keeps you persistent and sharp. If you’ve ever struggled on those dead-quiet days, this episode gives you the blueprint to hunt smarter, stay confident, and turn silence into success.

Hot weather can turn September elk hunts upside down. Instead of crisp mornings and fired-up bugles, you’re left with sluggish elk hiding in shade and moving only in short windows. But here’s the truth — warm weather doesn’t make elk unhuntable. It just means you need to adjust your tactics. In this episode of Backbone Unlimited, I break down how elk behave when the mountains heat up and how you can adapt to stay in the game. We’ll cover why water sources become magnets, how shade shifts bedding patterns, when to key in on midday movement, and why thermals are even trickier when the sun is blazing. I’ll also share how to pace yourself, stay hydrated, and keep your mental edge so you don’t check out when the hunt gets tough. If you’ve ever found yourself wondering where the elk went when temps spike, this episode will give you the blueprint to find them, stay patient, and capitalize when the short windows of opportunity finally open.  

DIY public land elk hunting means one thing—you will face pressure. Trucks at every trailhead, bugles echoing from every ridge, hunters crisscrossing the same basins. For most guys, that pressure breaks their mindset before they ever find a bull. But the truth is, pressured elk don’t vanish. They adapt. And if you’re willing to adapt with them, you can still fill tags in crowded units. In this episode of Backbone Unlimited, I lay out the playbook for thriving when the mountain feels like a zoo. You’ll learn how to control your mindset when the pressure’s high, how to read hunter patterns the same way elk do, and where to find those overlooked hideouts that bulls slip into when the circus starts. We’ll cover why patience beats panic, how to adjust your calling so you don’t sound like every other bugle tube in the canyon, and how to use other hunters to your advantage instead of seeing them only as competition. Pressured units aren’t hopeless—they’re a chess match. And the hunters who slow down, adapt, and think like elk are the ones who win.

Every elk hunter gets busted—it’s not a matter of if, but when. The real question is what you do next. In this episode of Backbone Unlimited, I break down exactly how to handle those gut-punch moments when elk blow out of a setup and leave you standing there with nothing but silence and a racing heart. We’ll cover why patience after a bust is your best weapon, how to diagnose whether it was wind, sight, or sound that spooked them, and how to relocate elk that didn’t actually leave the country—they just shifted to the next pocket of cover. You’ll learn when calling can calm a herd, when it just makes things worse, and how to reset your mindset so frustration doesn’t kill your hunt faster than a bad wind does. Getting busted doesn’t have to end your hunt. With the right response, it can be the beginning of your next opportunity.  

September is finally here—the month western hunters live for. But too many guys blow their shot before they ever see an elk. They march straight to a GPS pin, hike like tourists, and dump their scent into the best country before the day even starts. In this episode of Backbone Unlimited, I break down how to approach your area with discipline, patience, and predator-like intent. We’ll cover why your hunt starts the second you step off the road, how to use morning thermals to your advantage, and why transition zones are funnels you can trust every September. I’ll walk you through my “cast close” approach—working the edges first before pushing deeper, just like fishing a stream. You’ll learn how to stay undetected, preserve a drainage for multiple days of hunting, and build confidence by hunting with intent instead of hope. If you want to stop burning your spots and start stacking real opportunities, this is the mindset and strategy that makes the difference. Because elk hunting isn’t about luck—it’s about approach.

In elk country, no law is more absolute than the law of the wind. You can get away with a missed call, a snapped twig, or a blown setup—but the second an elk catches your scent, the hunt is over. In this episode of Backbone Unlimited, I’m breaking down the science and strategy behind wind and thermals—the invisible force that dictates every move elk make and every decision you should make as a hunter. We’ll cover the daily cycle of thermals, how weather and terrain bend air currents, and why elk bed, feed, and travel where they do. I’ll show you how to plan approaches, setups, and ambushes that keep your scent safe—and how to adapt when the wind inevitably shifts. You’ll also learn how elk use air movement to survive, and how hunters who ignore it end up educating elk instead of killing them. Mastering the law of the wind isn’t optional—it’s the foundation of every successful elk hunt. Respect it, and you stay in the game. Ignore it, and you’ll never know how many elk you blew out before you ever saw them.

Elk hunting success isn’t about luck—and it’s not even always about skill. It’s about persistence. In this episode of Backbone Unlimited, I break down why time in the field is the single biggest factor separating consistent elk killers from the guys who go home empty. We’ll cover the myth of quick success, why most bulls are killed on the back half of a hunt, and how each extra day compounds your chances of opportunity. You’ll learn how to push through the mental grind, manage your energy for the long game, and turn slow mornings into valuable lessons instead of discouragement. This isn’t about highlight reels—it’s about reality. Elk hunting takes grit, patience, and staying power. The hunters who fill tags aren’t the ones who quit on day three—they’re the ones still grinding on day seven, day ten, and beyond. If you can master persistence, you’ll not only stack the odds in your favor—you’ll build the toughness and resilience that carry over into every part of life.

Elk hunting in September isn’t static. The bulls you find on opening day aren’t behaving the same way two weeks later. Hunting pressure reshapes everything—bugling, travel routes, and daylight activity. The difference between success and frustration comes down to whether you adapt as quickly as the elk do. In this episode of Backbone Unlimited, I break down how bulls respond to hunting pressure week by week. You’ll learn what makes opening week so electric, how bulls adjust once trucks and calls flood the mountains, and why mid-September forces them to balance rut intensity with survival. We’ll also cover late-September tactics when bugles fade and bulls rut in silence. If you’ve ever felt like elk “disappeared” after the opener, this episode shows you how pressure shapes their behavior and gives you the tools to stay lethal from the first bugle of September to the last.

What do you do when the bugles stop? In this episode of Backbone Unlimited, I break down how to hunt elk when the mountains go quiet. Silent bulls frustrate even seasoned hunters, but they’re far from unkillable—you just need a different playbook. We’ll cover why elk go silent—pressure, weather, rut timing, and herd dynamics—and how to adapt with woodsmanship instead of relying on bugles. You’ll learn how to read fresh sign, set ambushes in travel corridors, and move with discipline through timber. I’ll show you how to use subtle calling when it matters, how to play the wind with precision, and how to keep your mindset sharp when doubt starts to creep in. By the end of this episode, you’ll have a blueprint for staying lethal in the silence. Because elk don’t vanish when they stop bugling—they just stop giving themselves away. If you can stay patient, hunt smarter, and adapt, you’ll be ready when those quiet bulls slip in like ghosts.

Killing a bull is only half the hunt—the real test begins with the packout. In this episode of Backbone Unlimited, I break down everything you need to know about hauling elk meat off the mountain—mentally, physically, and strategically. We’ll cover the mental game of embracing the grind, the gear that makes heavy loads possible, how to manage weight and multiple trips, navigating brutal terrain, and staying safe when fatigue sets in. I’ll also share lessons I’ve learned the hard way—mistakes that turned into nightmares, and strategies that made the difference between misery and success. By the end, you’ll have a blueprint for packouts that keeps you safe, efficient, and relentless in the toughest part of elk hunting. Because the truth is this: the packout isn’t the end of the hunt—it IS the hunt. And how you handle it defines the kind of hunter you really are.

Opening day of archery elk season can make or break your entire hunt. Most hunters let adrenaline take over and blow their best chances before the sun even rises. In this episode of Backbone Unlimited, I break down how to approach day one with discipline and strategy—so you don’t sabotage your season before it starts. We’ll cover trailhead discipline, how to read sign and sound, when to be aggressive vs. patient, smart calling tactics for pressured elk, positioning for first light and evening hunts, and how to use the “dead hours” of midday to your advantage. I’ll also share lessons I’ve learned the hard way from opening days gone wrong—and how you can avoid making the same mistakes. By the end of this episode, you’ll know exactly how to start your hunt with confidence, control, and a clear plan. Opening day doesn’t decide whether you kill a bull, but it absolutely sets the tone for the days that follow. Hunt sloppy and you’ll spend the week recovering. Hunt disciplined and you’ll stack the odds in your favor every single day.

In this episode, we’re tackling a piece of elk hunting strategy most hunters overlook: choosing the right camp location. Your tent isn’t just a place to crash—it’s your base of operations. Where you set camp determines how rested you are, how much ground you can cover, and whether elk even stay in the drainage you’re hunting. I break down the blueprint for picking camp the smart way, including: The real purpose of camp: comfort vs. mobility, base vs. spike setups How close is too close to elk country, and why proximity matters Terrain and access factors that make or break safety and packouts Water, firewood, and shelter needs that keep you in the game How to avoid human pressure and keep your camp invisible Weather, wildlife, and safety mistakes that can end a hunt early When to stay stable vs. when to stay mobile with your camp strategy Hard lessons I’ve learned from both bad and great camp setups A clear step-by-step action plan for beginners setting camp for the first time If you’ve ever burned daylight hiking from a poorly placed base camp, blown elk out of a meadow with your tent, or fought through a storm in the wrong spot—you know how critical camp location really is. By the end of this episode, you’ll know exactly what to look for, what to avoid, and how to make camp work for you instead of against you.

Every elk hunter loves the dream scenario—ripping a bugle and having a bull scream back, charging in like a freight train. But most of the time, the real skill isn’t in how loud you can call—it’s in knowing when to call. Timing is the difference between pulling a bull into bow range and blowing him out of the drainage. In this episode of Backbone Unlimited, I break down the nuts and bolts of calling timing. You’ll learn how to read the moment and decide when to crank up the aggression with bugles, chuckles, and excited cow talk—and when to stay silent and let curiosity do the work. We’ll cover how timing shifts throughout September, why pressured bulls require restraint, and how rhythm and discipline turn your calls from noise into real conversation. If you’ve ever wondered whether to hammer the tube or hold back, this episode gives you the tactical playbook for calling smarter, not louder.