In this episode of Backbone Unlimited, Matt Hartsky breaks down one of the biggest reasons elk seem to “vanish” in October—hunting pressure. When the rut ends and bugles fade, most hunters think the elk have moved miles away. The truth is, they’re still there—but they’ve adapted. Pressure from hunters changes everything about how elk behave: where they feed, how they travel, when they move, and even where they rest. Learning to read those changes is what separates frustrated hunters from consistent ones.

Matt explains exactly how pressured elk react after weeks of calling, traffic, and scent in the woods. He details how bulls shift their bedding habits, compress their travel routes, and go silent to survive. You’ll learn how to identify refuge pockets other hunters overlook, recognize the signs of educated elk, and understand when it’s time to move to a new drainage entirely. He also covers how to hunt quietly and deliberately when the woods go silent—adjusting your pace, reading subtle sign, and mastering wind discipline to stay undetected.

This episode dives deep into October elk hunting tactics for both archery and rifle seasons—how to locate sanctuary zones, interpret pressure flow, and predict where elk will settle after being bumped. Matt shares insights on terrain, thermals, scent control, and mindset, helping you rebuild strategy when the mountains feel empty.

If you’ve ever found yourself in a quiet basin wondering where all the bulls went, this episode will change how you think about October hunting. Learn how to hunt the recovery phase, track the flow of pressure across the mountain, and stay one step ahead of every other hunter out there. Because when the noise dies down, the elk don’t disappear—they just move smarter.