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.