In this episode of Backbone Unlimited, host Matt Hartsky breaks down one of the most overlooked but consistently productive parts of November hunting strategy—how to find and hunt transition zones for elk and mule deer. When the rut ends and the mountains go quiet, many hunters assume the animals have vanished. The truth is, they’ve just shifted into smaller, safer corridors that connect everything they need: food, cover, and movement routes.

Matt explains what transition zones really are, why they matter most in November, and how to locate and hunt them with precision. He covers how to identify these critical habitat intersections on your map, what sign to confirm on the ground, and how to interpret the subtle changes in elevation, slope aspect, and vegetation that mark late-season travel corridors.

You’ll learn how elk and deer tighten their patterns when energy conservation, pressure, and weather collide—and how to use that knowledge to intercept them instead of chasing ghosts. Matt also walks through real-world tactics for setting up on edges, reading thermals, and timing your hunts around predictable daily movement patterns.

From recognizing how storm fronts, pressure, and elevation changes push animals into new micro-habitats, to mastering the patience and discipline needed to hunt them effectively, this episode dives deep into the late-season mindset that separates successful hunters from the rest.

If you’ve ever struggled to find animals after the rut or wondered why “empty” country suddenly comes alive once you slow down and read the terrain differently, this is the episode that connects all the dots.

#ElkHunting #LateSeasonHunting