Explore every episode of the podcast Backbone Unlimited Podcast

In this episode of the Backbone Unlimited Podcast, Matt Hartsky sits down for a long-awaited and deeply personal conversation with his son, Saxton Hartsky, founder of Wildborn Outdoors. This episode is not about highlight reels or chasing validation through kills. It’s a raw, experience-driven breakdown of what disciplined, intentional western hunting actually looks like when patience, preparation, and respect for the animal guide every decision. Matt and Saxton unpack how hunting became Saxton’s identity, how relentless effort and miles in the field shaped his instincts, and why some hunters consistently separate themselves from the rest over time.

The conversation dives deep into Saxton’s 2025 season, including taking two mature trophy bull elk with a bow, executing a spot-and-stalk pronghorn antelope bow hunt for the second year in a row, passing multiple high-quality mule deer despite clean shot opportunities, and collecting over 350 elk and mule deer sheds in a single offseason. They also explore how wildlife photography has fundamentally changed Saxton’s patience, selectivity, and understanding of animal behavior, making him a more complete hunter. Along the way, they break down decision-making under pressure, passing animals that most hunters would shoot, long spot-and-stalk elk encounters, balancing patience with aggression, and the reality behind success that most people never see. This episode delivers hard-earned lessons for bowhunters, western hunters, and anyone who believes success is built through discipline, repetition, and respect for the process rather than shortcuts or hype.

In this episode, Matt Hartsky breaks down why snow is one of the biggest advantages a western mule deer hunter can get. Most hunters see snow as a burden — cold, wet, and miserable — but snow is actually a gift. It wipes the mountain clean and turns mule deer behavior into a readable map. Fresh snow reveals exactly where bucks fed, where they moved, how recently they passed, and which pockets they’re holding. It shrinks their world, tightens their patterns, and gives you timing you’ll never get in bare-ground conditions. Matt explains how to read tracks, pellets, beds, feed loops, and travel lines in a way that lets you know whether a buck is still in the pocket right now or long gone. Snow removes the guesswork and replaces it with real-time information.

Matt also dives into how winter conditions reshape movement and behavior — from energy-conserving feed cycles to tight bedding rotations to predictable travel corridors created by snow depth, crust conditions, and terrain. He breaks down how snow impacts visibility, why contrast works in your favor, how to glass effectively when the mountain is covered in white, and how storms create reset buttons that expose fresh patterns instantly. You’ll learn how to flank tracks instead of chase them, when to sit tight, when to intercept movement, and when to bail out and move to the next basin. Matt also covers how snow type affects stalk timing, how cold air changes wind and thermals, and how to position yourself above travel channels to stay undetected. This episode gives you a complete winter framework for finding and killing mature mule deer consistently.

In this episode, Matt Hartsky breaks down the biggest late-season mule deer hunting mistakes that cost hunters mature bucks every single December. When the snow piles up, the days shrink, and deer tighten into their smallest home ranges of the year, the entire hunt changes. Bucks aren’t cruising, chasing, or wasting energy. They’re conserving calories, bedding tight, and only moving when light, thermals, or weather tell them to. Most hunters fail because they show up with a September mindset, move too fast, glass the obvious, rush stalks, and hunt where deer were instead of where deer are right now. Matt explains why late season is a thinking man’s game built on patience, timing, and discipline, not miles or speed.

Matt walks through the most common errors that blow opportunities on big deer, including moving too quickly while bucks barely move at all, hunting old sign instead of reading fresh conditions, misunderstanding south-facing behavior, quitting early when the best afternoon window is just beginning, and ignoring the micro-bedding pockets where mature bucks actually spend their days. He breaks down late-season thermals, shadow progression, storm timing, contour travel, and how a buck’s world shrinks into a tight bubble that hunters constantly overlook. You’ll learn why the nastiest pockets hold the biggest deer, how to glass the dark stuff instead of the easy stuff, and how patience kills more late-season bucks than any tactic on the mountain.

Matt also explains why the best late-season stalks happen by anticipating deer movement instead of reacting to it. He shows how winter bucks follow predictable feed–bed–stage patterns, how to build intercept positions based on shade and thermal timing, and why rushing a stalk almost always blows the opportunity. This episode gives you the framework to slow down, hunt smarter, and finally understand how to kill mature mule deer when winter locks up the hills. If you want to turn December into one of your most productive seasons, it starts by avoiding the mistakes that keep most hunters empty-handed.

In this episode, Matt Hartsky breaks down one of the hardest and most rewarding ways to kill a mature mule deer: still-hunting bucks in the timber. These are the deer that refuse to live in the open, vanish into shadows, and survive by slipping through cover most hunters never take the time to understand. Matt explains why older bucks choose dark timber over open country, how they use shade, structure, thermals, and micro-terrain to stay alive, and why the first two layers of trees often hold the biggest deer on the mountain. This episode takes you deep into the buck’s world and shows you how to hunt them on their terms — slow, methodical, and with complete discipline.

Matt walks through how to identify the subtle habitat pockets inside the canopy that consistently hold mature deer, including benches, sidehill pockets, strip timber, edge structure, deadfall clusters, and the micro-features that create predictable bedding. He breaks down the mindset required to hunt without visual confirmation, how to move with true still-hunting rhythm, how to glass tight timber effectively, and how to spot deer by recognizing parts instead of whole animals. He also dives into the small-angle glassing techniques, shot-window planning, and wind behavior unique to timbered country — including how canopy, shade, micro-draws, and delayed thermals change the entire scent equation.

Matt explains when timber hunting is most productive, why post-rut recovery cycles create perfect timing, and how warm spells, snow, pressure shifts, and midday movement open small windows most hunters never capitalize on. He also covers how to build shot opportunities in tight cover, how to stay mentally calm when a buck materializes at 40 yards, and why most shot chances happen in seconds, not minutes. This episode shows why timber hunting is all about patience, belief, and discipline — not miles, not speed, and not luck.

For hunters who want to kill big deer in thick cover, this episode teaches the process that makes it possible. Still-hunting in the timber is slow, honest, and unforgiving, but when it all comes together, it becomes one of the most rewarding ways to hunt mule deer. Matt walks you through the full system so you can start seeing bucks that most hunters walk right past.

In this episode, Matt Hartsky steps away from tactics and dives into the deeper reasons hunters keep showing up year after year. This isn’t a gear breakdown or a strategy session. It’s a raw look at the purpose behind hunting and why the lifestyle carries so much weight for anyone who lives it with intention. Matt walks through why food sits at the foundation of everything he does in the mountains, why providing clean, earned meat matters, and how taking responsibility for every part of the process connects you back to something most people never experience anymore. He talks about what it means to take a life honestly, to honor the animal through work and respect, and why pulling meat from the freezer months later brings back the entire story behind it.

Matt also explains how hunting ties directly into true conservation and why hunters remain the backbone of wildlife management across the West. He breaks down why tag revenue, habitat work, and ethical decision-making matter more than slogans, and why real stewardship comes from people who spend time in the field, understand wildlife, and care about the land they use. You’ll hear how the North American Model survives because hunters participate, pay, and protect what they’re part of—and why that responsibility continues to grow as public land and wildlife face new pressure.

Matt closes the episode by exploring the connection, grit, and legacy that hunting builds over a lifetime. He lays out how the mountains strip away distractions, how failure builds resilience, and why the process—not the kill—shapes hunters into more grounded, capable, and intentional people. He talks about passing this lifestyle on to kids, teaching them to work hard, respect wildlife, and step into uncomfortable places with confidence. This episode is a reminder that hunting isn’t just a season or a hobby. It’s a calling, a responsibility, and a way of living that shapes who we become.

In this episode, Matt Hartsky breaks down how to hunt low-elevation mule deer when winter pushes them out of the high country and into the foothills, sage flats, creek bottoms, and broken terrain near the valley floor. A lot of hunters struggle in this country because it looks too open, too close to the road, or too chaotic to make sense of. Deer seem scattered, does pile into the obvious feed, and mature bucks appear to vanish. But once you understand how mule deer transition into winter range — and how older bucks carve out small, overlooked pockets down low — the entire landscape becomes predictable.

Matt walks through why snow depth, food density, pressure, and migration instinct force deer into specific elevation bands, and how those bands shrink as winter intensifies. You’ll learn how to identify the upper transition band, the mid-range concentration band, and the bottom-stack refuge band, and how each one holds deer differently depending on conditions. Matt explains where mature bucks actually live inside these zones — creek-bottom benches, rimrock edges, isolated brush clusters, mahogany pockets, side draws, transition benches, and tiny folds most hunters glass right past.

You’ll also hear how roads, human pressure, and private-land edges shape buck movement, and why the biggest deer often live just a few hundred yards off heavy pressure rather than miles away. Matt breaks down the food sources that anchor wintering deer — bitterbrush, sage, mahogany, ag leftovers — and how daily movement patterns compress into tight, predictable loops. This episode covers how to glass the low country correctly, how to re-glass pockets as light changes, how to sort mature bucks from the big doe herds, and how to catch the small midday and pre-storm windows when bucks move.

Finally, Matt lays out the ground tactics that consistently kill big mule deer down low: slow, deliberate still-hunting, micro-angle adjustments, wind discipline in broken terrain, and knowing when to stalk and when to sit tight and let the buck make the mistake. Winter range looks simple until you start hunting it. This episode shows you how to read the structure hidden inside it — and how to find the old deer living right under your nose.

In this episode, Matt Hartsky breaks down one of the most critical but misunderstood phases in mule deer hunting: what happens when mature bucks leave the does at the end of the rut — and how to adjust your tactics to find and kill them. Through November, bucks run themselves ragged. They chase, fight, cover country, and glue themselves to doe groups with zero regard for energy or security. But when breeding tapers off, that entire behavior pattern collapses almost overnight. Bucks slip away from the chaos, retreat into micro-habitats, and fall back into survival mode. If you’ve ever glassed a hillside full of does in late November or early December and wondered where the big bucks went, this episode explains exactly what happened.

Matt walks you through the biological drivers behind the shift — energy deficit, security, and reduced need to shadow does — and how these priorities pull bucks into small, overlooked pockets just off winter range. You’ll hear where bucks actually go after the rut, how far they travel, and why they settle into shaded north-facing cover, broken benches, tight timber pockets, and the backside terrain most hunters never look at. Matt breaks down the timing of this transition, from the late-November separation phase to the consistent post-rut patterns that set in by mid-December, and how snow, storms, temperature swings, and crust events accelerate or delay the move.

You’ll also learn how to read fresh post-rut sign — big solo tracks, tight travel loops, warm beds, shaded feeding edges, and subtle snow disturbance — so you stop hunting where bucks used to be and start hunting where they are right now. Matt explains how to e-scout for micro-pockets, how to glass slowly and deliberately for deer that only expose an antler tip or ear flick, how to relocate during midday adjustment windows, and how pressure, thermals, and storm cycles shape every bit of post-rut movement.

Finally, Matt breaks down the still-hunting and setup strategies that consistently kill mature deer this time of year. You’ll hear how to slip into tight buck pockets without blowing the basin, how to hunt the seams between open feed and cover, how to capitalize on predictable bed-to-feed micro-loops, and the biggest mistakes hunters make when they try to force rut tactics into a post-rut world. This is a full, experience-based system for finding and killing big mule deer when the rut is over and the mountains are quiet.

In this episode, Matt Hartsky breaks down exactly how to glass mule deer efficiently when daylight is limited — a challenge every late-season hunter faces. Once December arrives, the sun hangs low, mornings brighten slowly, evenings disappear fast, and the usable windows where mature bucks actually move get brutally short. If you’re not in position before gray light hits, you lose the highest-value minutes of the entire day. And when bucks are conserving energy, bedding tight, and feeding in surgical little windows, missing those early minutes can cost you the only mature deer you might see.

Matt walks you through why short days completely change the glassing game, how to prioritize the morning versus evening windows, and how thermals, light angles, and compressed movement patterns shape everything you see — or fail to see — on a slope. You’ll learn how to choose the right vantage before daylight, how to triage a basin fast at first glow, how to grid a hillside with discipline, when to re-glass pockets as light shifts, and how to read tracks, disturbed snow, benches, cuts, and bedding signatures even when deer aren’t visible.

He also breaks down mid-day micro-movement, weather-driven visibility changes, storm-cycle opportunities, and how to know when to sit tight or relocate — all in the context of short winter days where every minute matters. This is a complete system for late-season mule deer glassing, built around discipline, patience, and knowing exactly where to spend your time.

In this episode, Matt Hartsky breaks down why south-facing slopes are absolute gold for December mule deer, especially if your goal is finding mature bucks after the rut. Once November ends and bucks peel away from the does, everything in their world becomes about conserving and rebuilding energy. The mountains get colder, snow piles up, and winter forces mule deer into terrain that keeps them alive with the least amount of effort. No slope type delivers more consistent food, warmth, and predictable thermals in early winter than a good south face.

Matt explains how sunlight transforms these slopes into reliable late-season deer habitat. South exposure keeps snow shallower, melts crust faster, exposes bitterbrush and sage earlier, and stabilizes thermals throughout the day—giving bucks a safer, more predictable place to bed and feed. You’ll learn why bucks shift into tight survival patterns in December, how they use benches, timber edges, contour lines, rock pockets, and micro-shadows, and how to identify the exact pockets where older age-class deer bed and feed with minimal movement.

Matt also breaks down how snow cycles, storms, crust events, and temperature swings reshape daily use on these faces, and why timing your hunt around weather patterns dramatically increases your odds. You’ll hear how to glass these slopes correctly, how to approach without blowing the basin, and the most common mistakes hunters make when they step into this terrain. If you want a clear system for consistently finding late-season mule deer, south slopes are the blueprint—and this episode shows you exactly how to hunt them.

In this episode, Matt Hartsky breaks down one of the most misunderstood but consistently productive windows in all of Western mule deer hunting: how to hunt migrating mule deer bucks along the elevation corridors they’ve used for generations. Migration is nothing like rut hunting or early-season patterning. These deer aren’t wandering—they’re following predictable terrain structure as they drop from high-country summer range to low-elevation winter habitat. When snow, weather, feed, and timing line up, the mountains come alive with downhill movement, and if you can identify the corridors correctly, you can intercept mature bucks with remarkable consistency.

Matt explains why migration routes matter so much, how these generational “highways” form, and why bucks position slightly above or beside the main doe flow during descent. He walks you through how storms, snow depth, crust, and temperature trigger movement and how to forecast the primary migration wave before it happens. You’ll learn how to identify saddles, benches, timber seams, sidehill contours, and choke points that naturally funnel deer into narrow travel lanes. Matt also covers the staging pockets where bucks pause, the holding zones that collect deer mid-descent, and how to use tracks, sign, and snow patterns to confirm active movement instead of hunting behind the wave.

You’ll hear how to glass migration country efficiently, how to position for predictable contour-line travel, and how to anchor an ambush in places where bucks must pass. Matt lays out how weather drives pacing, how pressure shifts travel lines, and how to adjust elevation throughout the season so you’re always inside the flow instead of searching empty country. If you’ve ever wanted a clear, experience-based system for finding mature mule deer bucks in November and December, this episode is the blueprint.

In this episode, Matt Hartsky breaks down one of the most explosive windows in Western big-game hunting—finding rutting mule deer in November. If you’ve spent years grinding for mature bucks without connecting the dots, this conversation will change the way you hunt the rut. November is when everything shifts. Bucks that hid in dark timber all fall suddenly travel in daylight, check doe groups, make mistakes, and expose themselves in ways they simply don’t earlier in the season. But predictable rut movement doesn’t mean easy hunting. You need to understand does, terrain, weather, elevation, and timing if you want to consistently find mature bucks.

Matt dives deep into how the November rut actually works, why does anchor the entire system, where to look as deer transition toward winter range, how storms influence movement, and how to read subtle terrain features that funnel bucks through specific pockets. You’ll learn how to glass with intention, how to stay patient around doe groups, and how to recognize patterns that repeat year after year. Matt also breaks down still-hunting and ambush tactics for tight cover, how to move with discipline, how to manage wind and thermals, and how to capitalize when bucks slip through bedding edges and transition lines.

This episode also covers how shot discipline becomes critical during the rut, how to navigate steep angles and fast scenarios, and why calm, deliberate decision-making leads to far more recovered bucks than rushed shots ever will. Matt wraps the episode with a complete November system—locate does, glass all day, stay mobile until you find life, then slow down and hunt with intention. If you want clear, experience-based guidance on how to hunt rutting mule deer the right way, this is the episode you need.

In this episode Matt Hartsky walks you through exactly how the 2026 Arizona Big Game Draw works for non-residents who are applying for elk, mule deer, and pronghorn. Whether you’ve been waiting years to draw a tag or you’re new to the draw game, Matt simplifies the process so you know what to expect before you hit “submit.”

He explains how Arizona’s point system works, the timing of applications, how to allocate preference points, and how to optimize your odds when competing with thousands of other hunters. Matt breaks down key mistakes to avoid — from misreading deadlines to misunderstanding point-value trade-offs — and shows how small decisions now can make or break your draw success.

If you want to hunt big game in Arizona and you don’t live in the state, this is the episode you need. It’s a clear, honest, step-by-step guide to navigating one of the toughest draws in the West — no fluff, no guesswork, just straight information and practical advice.

In this episode, Matt Hartsky steps away from tactics and gear talk and dives into the real reasons hunters keep showing up year after year. Thanksgiving week slows life down just enough for you to look back and realize how much this lifestyle actually gives you. Not the tags. Not the antlers. Not the grip-and-grins. The deeper stuff—the things that shape you long after the season ends.

Matt breaks down why opportunity on public land is something hunters should never take for granted, and why the freedom to chase elk, mule deer, antelope, or bear across millions of acres is a privilege most people in the world will never know. He talks about the encounters that stay with you—the close calls, the bugles in the timber, the deer that materialize out of the brush—moments that remind you what it feels like to be fully present in the wild.

You’ll hear why failure becomes one of the greatest teachers in hunting, how discipline is built through the grind of early mornings and long climbs, and why the mountains have a way of keeping you humble, honest, and grounded. Matt also shares why passing this lifestyle forward to kids and new hunters matters more than ever, and how the lessons learned in the backcountry spill into everyday life—confidence, purpose, focus, and resilience.

If you’re looking for a Thanksgiving-timed message that hits deeper than strategy, this episode delivers. It’s a reminder of why hunting gives far more than it takes—and why gratitude is woven into every ridge, every season, and every step we take into wild country.

Utah is one of the most structured and strategic big-game draw systems in the West, and if you’re a non-resident looking to hunt bull elk, mule deer, or pronghorn here, you need to understand how the point systems, timelines, and permit allocations actually work. In this episode, Matt Hartsky breaks down the Utah application process step-by-step so you can build a smart long-term plan with clear expectations. Utah relies on both bonus points and preference points, and while the terminology often sounds similar, each system plays a very different role for non-residents. If you’ve ever stared at Utah’s online application portal and felt unsure where to start, this is the guide that explains what matters, what doesn’t, and how to approach Utah without wasting time or money.

Matt starts with the basics: the requirement for every non-resident to hold a valid hunting or combo license before applying. Unlike other states, Utah’s license is valid for an entire year, which means smart hunters time their purchase to span two application periods. He walks through the March–April application window, the June points-only period, and the July first-come, first-served sale for remaining elk permits. Understanding these windows is critical because missing one season means losing a year of point building, and since Utah rewards persistence, staying consistent is the key to long-term success.

From there, Matt explains Utah’s two-track structure — limited-entry hunts versus general-season buck deer. Limited-entry permits for bull elk and buck pronghorn use Utah’s bonus-point system, where your points are squared to determine how many entries you hold in the draw. Half of the permits in every hunt go to the max-point pool, and the other half go through a weighted random system, which means even first-year applicants have a chance. It’s a system that keeps Utah exciting: no one is locked out forever, but staying in the game every year significantly increases your odds.

General-season buck deer draws use preference points — a true line-up system where the hunters with the most points draw first until all tags are gone. Because Utah rarely awards tags past first choices, your first selection is almost always the only one that matters. Matt explains how most non-residents combine both systems by applying for limited-entry elk or pronghorn while either building preference points or occasionally hunting general-season buck deer to maintain regular time in the field.

Next, Matt covers something most hunters miss: the Utah draw order. Limited-entry deer is processed first, followed by limited-entry elk, then limited-entry pronghorn, and lastly general-season buck deer. This order matters because drawing any limited-entry permit removes you from all subsequent draws that same year. When you apply, you need to rank your priorities — decide which species matters most — because once you pull a permit, you’re done. Understanding that sequence prevents you from accidentally knocking yourself out of the hunt you wanted most.

He then digs into non-resident tag availability. Utah generally allocates around ten percent of limited-entry permits to non-residents, but those tags don’t always appear for every hunt. Small quota hunts sometimes offer just one or two non-resident tags, and occasionally none at all. Before you burn time or points, you need to confirm that a hunt actually offers non-resident permits. Matt explains how bonus-point allocation and the random pool split apply even at tiny quotas and why staying organized year-to-year matters far more than chasing trends.

Group applications also get attention. Utah allows groups of up to four to apply together for general-season deer and limited-entry hunts. Residents and non-residents can even apply in the same group. But group points are averaged and rounded down, and if there aren’t enough tags to cover everyone, the group is skipped. Matt explains how group math works, when group strategy makes sense, and when it’s better to apply solo.

Matt ties everything together by showing how to build a Utah strategy that matches your long-term goals. If trophy elk is your dream, choose a limited-entry unit, build bonus points, and stay in the draw every year. If you want more consistent opportunity, general-season deer offers a clearer path if you keep building preference points. If elk experience matters more than trophy class, consider first-come, first-served any-bull or spike elk tags in July. Utah rewards hunters who think in decades, not years, and who learn to play the long game while still finding ways to get boots on the ground.

Finally, he walks through fees, timing, and housekeeping details that prevent costly mistakes — from license timing and point purchases to credit-card expiration issues that can invalidate your application. He explains how to treat Utah as part of a multi-state strategy by pairing bonus-point species with general-season options, tracking deadlines, and staying active while you build toward limited-entry goals. If you’re serious about applying in Utah, this episode gives you the clarity to know when to apply, how to buy points, what each point type means, and how to structure your priorities so you’re always moving closer to the hunts you care about most.

Montana is one of the most opportunity-rich Western big game states, but for non-residents, understanding how to apply can feel like wading through a maze. In this episode, Matt Hartsky breaks down the Montana draw system step-by-step so you can approach your 2026 elk, mule deer, and pronghorn plan with confidence. Montana’s system looks complicated on paper because it uses multiple license types, preference points, bonus points, general tags, and limited-entry permits. But once you understand how these layers interact, the process becomes one of the most strategic ways to hunt consistently in the West.

Matt begins with the foundation of all non-resident hunting in Montana — the combination license. Big Game, Elk, and Deer combos open the door to both general-season opportunity and the ability to pursue limited-entry hunts. Understanding the distinctions between the three options is critical because these licenses determine where you can hunt, what species you can pursue, and whether you can apply for special permits. He explains how preference points apply only to these combo tags, how they are awarded, and why staying consistent year after year keeps you from falling behind. He also covers how the Alternate List works, why it exists, and how some hunters quietly turn it into an annual shortcut into the state.

From there, the discussion shifts to the second half of Montana’s dual system — bonus points. These apply only to limited-entry permits for elk, deer, and pronghorn. Unlike preference points, bonus points are squared, which dramatically increases your chances the longer you stay in the system. Matt explains how this mathematical model rewards persistence without shutting out newer applicants, and he walks through smart strategies for building points while still hunting the state regularly. Whether you’re dreaming of the Breaks or simply want a realistic chance at a quality hunt every few years, understanding how to stack and manage bonus points is the heart of Montana strategy.

Matt also breaks down application timing and fees. The main application window occurs in early March and closes around April 1 each year. Miss that deadline and you’re waiting another full season. Because Montana requires applicants to pay license fees upfront, he explains how to avoid costly mistakes with payment processing and why expired cards derail applications every spring. He also walks through the summer point-purchase windows, when preference and bonus points can be purchased if you didn’t apply in the main draw, so you never lose your place in line. He notes that skipping two consecutive years wipes your preference-point history, a detail many hunters overlook.

Next, Matt walks through the actual application process on the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks website, showing how to select your license type, apply for limited-entry permits, manage points, and finalize payment. He shares how to evaluate units using the Hunt Planner tool, interpret district boundaries, and avoid locking yourself into a permit with limited access. He also explains the importance of annual regulation updates, especially when winterkill or drought affects quotas and access.

Once the mechanics are covered, Matt turns to strategy. He talks about the importance of building realistic multi-year plans based on your goals — whether you want high-odds general opportunity, a realistic mid-tier tag, or want to commit long term to a trophy unit. He explains point-creep, how to track trend lines instead of single-year results, and why hunters who stay flexible and organized draw more tags over time. He also highlights the value of general elk and mule deer hunting in Montana, noting that many hunters overlook high-quality public land opportunities while waiting for a permit.

Finally, Matt outlines the most common errors non-residents make when applying, from missing the April deadline to misunderstanding the difference between combo and permit draws. He explains why failing to build points consistently, choosing units with poor access, and skipping the Alternate List all cost hunters opportunity. He closes by emphasizing that Montana’s system rewards commitment and planning more than luck. If you learn the system, keep your points active, and think two or three seasons ahead, you can consistently hunt elk, mule deer, and pronghorn in one of the best Western states year after year.

This episode kicks off a brand-new, ten-month training series designed specifically for backcountry elk and mule deer hunters. As November rolls in and the season wraps up, most hunters shut it down and wait for spring to start preparing. That’s the number one reason so many guys feel wrecked halfway through a long hunt. Real preparation begins now. This is Phase One: The Foundation. It’s the base layer of strength, stability, and endurance that every later phase depends on. If you want to hunt harder next season, pack deeper, and perform at altitude without falling apart after a few days, this is where that journey starts.

Matt breaks down what “building the base” actually means for mountain hunters. This isn’t bodybuilding and it’s not distance-runner conditioning. It’s about rebuilding your structure after a long hunting season so your movement patterns, connective tissue, and joints are ready for heavier training later. Most hunters come out of the fall with tight hips, cranky knees, achy shoulders, and inconsistent routines. Phase One is where you clean up movement, return to fundamentals, restore balance, and reset your disciplines around consistency and recovery. When you focus on full-range squatting, hinging, pushing, pulling, and carrying with intention, you develop functional strength that actually translates to steep country and heavy packs.

A major focus in this foundation block is rebuilding your aerobic base. Most hunters underestimate how important steady, moderate conditioning is for long hunts. When your low-end engine is strong, you recover faster between sessions, climb longer without redlining, and stack tough days back to back without losing power. Instead of high-intensity intervals, this phase emphasizes controlled strength work paired with longer, easier aerobic sessions that build capacity without beating you up. This is how you set the stage for later months, when strength and endurance will both ramp up aggressively.

Matt also explains how to structure your weeks without overcomplicating things. Consistency is the priority. A handful of full-body sessions built around compound lifts, paired with a couple of sustainable aerobic days and regular mobility work, is enough to make real progress. Tempo, control, and quality are the themes. Hunters fail in September because they try to do too much intensity too late, rather than stacking smart sessions over time. This phase isn’t about crushing yourself. It’s about rebuilding efficiency and teaching your body to handle load again without pain or breakdown.

A big part of this episode is helping hunters avoid the common off-season mistakes Matt sees year after year: skipping foundational work, doing random workouts without progression, overloading intensity without moving well, and ignoring mobility and recovery. He explains why poor movement quality and weak connective tissue are the biggest reasons hunters struggle with injury and why the biggest advantage you can give yourself is discipline over urgency. The mountain rewards structure, not chaos.

Finally, Matt explains how Phase One sets up the next training block. Phase Two — Strength and Endurance — will introduce heavier, progressive lifts and more structured conditioning designed to improve climbing stamina and packout capacity. That work only delivers its full benefit if the foundation has been built. When connective tissue is reinforced, movement patterns are crisp, and the aerobic system is solid, you can train harder and progress faster without setbacks. The foundation month is the hinge that makes everything else work.

If you want to arrive next September strong, durable, and confident, this first phase is where you earn that outcome. The guys who build now are the ones still grinding on day eight with their legs under them, lungs staying steady, and attitude intact. This is how you stop hoping you’re ready — and start knowing.

If you’ve ever considered applying for elk, mule deer, or pronghorn tags in New Mexico as a non-resident, this episode breaks down one of the most unique and misunderstood draw systems in Western big-game hunting. New Mexico does not use preference points or bonus points, meaning every applicant starts fresh each year with the same odds. Whether it’s your first time applying or you’ve been in the game for a decade, everyone enters on equal footing. That’s a huge advantage for newer hunters, but only if you understand how the system actually works. In this episode, Matt Hartsky explains the New Mexico draw from the ground up, including application timelines, full-fee payment requirements, how tag quotas are divided between residents, DIY non-residents, and outfitted hunters, and why your second and third choices actually matter.

New Mexico’s draw is structured around three legally defined pools: roughly eighty-four percent of tags go to residents, ten percent are set aside for hunters applying through a licensed outfitter, and the remaining six percent are available to non-residents who apply on their own. That system is simple on paper, but it catches a lot of people by surprise because your odds change dramatically depending on which pool you enter. We explain the outfitter pool in detail, including how it works, when it makes strategic sense, and why some DIY hunters still take advantage of it through guide-only or semi-guided options. You’ll also hear how the random number assignment process works, how the state evaluates all three of your hunt choices before moving on to the next applicant, and why listing realistic backup codes matters if you truly want to hunt New Mexico.

This episode also walks step-by-step through the full application timeline. The New Mexico big-game draw opens in mid-January and closes in mid-March, with draw results typically posted in late April. Because there are no preference points, staying consistent year after year is the only way to give yourself repeat chances at top-tier elk, mule deer, and pronghorn hunts. Matt covers required licenses, including the Game Hunting License and Habitat Stamp, and explains how New Mexico charges the full tag fee up front for every application. If you don’t draw, most of that fee is refunded automatically. Understanding these fees is critical, because payment failures are one of the most common reasons applications are rejected.

For hunters new to New Mexico, this episode highlights the difference between high-demand units like the Gila and more attainable mid-tier units with solid public access and reliable harvest rates. Matt breaks down how to evaluate hunt codes, unit structures, weapon types, and season timing so you can build a realistic plan. The conversation explores why archery tags often provide better access to rutting bulls, how muzzleloader seasons create unique opportunities, and why practical hunt selection matters more than chasing legendary units with extremely low odds. If mule deer or pronghorn are your focus, you’ll hear how the northern deer units compare to the desert and prairie country farther south and east, and why certain pronghorn units give non-residents great opportunities with the right application strategy.

This episode also explains why group applications can lower your odds in small pools, when it makes sense to apply individually, and how to balance your three choices to maximize opportunity. Matt shares practical strategies that veteran applicants use year after year: targeting overlooked units, mixing premium and attainable choices, and applying across weapon types to increase chances. He also covers the importance of reviewing the January proclamation each year to confirm hunt codes, weapon restrictions, and updated season dates, and how returned tags and reissued licenses offer a late-season opportunity for those willing to monitor the system.

By the end, you’ll understand exactly how the New Mexico draw works, what pool you belong in, how to protect your application from technical mistakes, and how to make smart choices that keep you in the game every year. If you want to hunt New Mexico in 2026 or build a long-term Western application plan, this breakdown will help you apply with clarity and confidence, even in a true lottery environment with no point banking.

If you’re planning to hunt elk, mule deer, or pronghorn in Colorado as a non-resident, this episode breaks the entire application process down step-by-step so you can approach it with confidence. Colorado offers more big-game opportunity than almost any state in the West, but navigating preference points, qualifying licenses, hunt codes, and non-resident tag caps can feel overwhelming without a clear roadmap. In this conversation, Matt Hartsky explains how Colorado’s primary draw, secondary draw, and leftover or reissued license sales connect, why understanding each phase matters, and how to avoid the costly mistakes that keep hunters on the sidelines for a year.

We dive into Colorado’s true preference-point system and what that means for applicants planning hunts in 2026 and beyond. You’ll learn how and when points are earned, what it means to “burn” points, why only your first choice affects your total, and how group applications average points across multiple hunters. Matt explains how to use point trends to predict draw odds, how point creep evolves from year to year, and which strategies help non-residents build a realistic rotation of hunts rather than waiting endlessly on top-tier units. We also cover why mid-tier units often offer some of the best balance between drawability and hunt quality.

The episode breaks down the tag allocation system that limits high-demand deer and elk tags to 20 percent for non-residents, while other units allow up to 35 percent. Understanding the difference is crucial because it determines where your points will go the farthest and how to spot hunts that are shifting into or out of high-demand status. Matt walks through recent Colorado changes, including the shift of most non-resident archery elk opportunities west of I-25 from over-the-counter to limited entry, which now requires a draw. He also details how leftover tags and reissued tags hit the system each August and why many serious hunters treat the secondary draw and leftover sale as key opportunities to get into the field, even without points.

You’ll hear the full timeline for the Colorado application season, including the March through early April primary draw window, the June secondary draw, and the August leftover sale. Matt explains the qualifying license requirement that catches many new applicants by surprise, why you must purchase it before applying, and how to avoid losing a tag due to expired payment information. From choosing hunt codes to checking results, understanding your CID number, and avoiding duplicate profiles, this episode makes the process simple, predictable, and repeatable.

To help you turn knowledge into strategy, Matt lays out how to build a realistic application plan, balance long-term point building with near-term opportunity, and focus on the best draw choices for your goals. The conversation highlights weapon-specific draw patterns for archery, muzzleloader, and rifle hunters, and shows how season timing influences movement, pressure, and success. Whether you’re after September elk in the timber, mule deer along the high ridges, or pronghorn on open sage, this episode will help you make smart, informed decisions.

If you want to hunt Colorado consistently, this breakdown gives you the clarity to build points, protect points, and use the primary draw, secondary draw, and leftover license sales to your advantage. By learning how Colorado’s system works, how non-resident caps shape opportunity, and how to avoid simple mistakes, you’ll be ready to apply with confidence and line up more Western big-game tags year after year.

Hunting mountain whitetails in the West is nothing like chasing farmland deer back East. In this episode of Backbone Unlimited, Matt Hartsky breaks down how to hunt western whitetails across rugged terrain in Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, and the Dakotas. These deer live in steep ridges, broken timber, river bottoms, and foothills where elevation, thermals, and weather dictate every move. You’ll learn how western mountain whitetails behave differently than their flatland cousins, how they travel longer distances, bed in vertical country, and use wind and terrain to stay alive. We cover how mountain whitetails choose bedding based on slope direction, how thermals control daily movement, and how changing snow depth and pressure shift deer from higher ridges to lower wintering areas.

Matt explains how to scout effectively using maps, terrain features, habitat transitions, and elevation bands to find dependable travel corridors connecting feed and cover. You’ll hear how benches, saddles, and creek bottoms play into whitetail survival, why burns and logged areas produce great feed, and how to identify rubs, tracks, and browse patterns in the mountains. We also dig into how to choose access points that avoid pressure and how even a short hike away from roads can put you into untouched habitat.

From early season bachelor groups to the pre-rut and full rut, this episode shows how mountain whitetail behavior shifts rapidly with temperature, snow, and hunting pressure. Matt explains when to glass and when to set up, why thermals matter more than wind direction, and how bucks cruise long distances between doe pockets during the rut. Post-rut and winter strategies include targeting lower-elevation habitat, south-facing slopes, and security cover where food and thermals overlap. We talk about stand placement in big country, how to still-hunt and spot-and-stalk effectively, and why adaptability is everything when you’re hunting whitetails in steep terrain.

Matt also lays out practical three-day and week-long hunt plans—how to locate deer fast, when to push, and how to read terrain to move stands or change drainages. You’ll learn why snow is an asset, how to track fresh sign, and how to use mirrors of behavior from mule deer and elk to predict where western whitetails will travel. The episode wraps by emphasizing preparation, self-assessment, and building your own mountain-whitetail system that works season after season.

If you want to sharpen your approach to western whitetail hunting and hunt mountain whitetails in rugged public land, this conversation gives you a complete roadmap. Whether you’re glassing big basins, still-hunting timbered saddles, or hanging stands along contour trails, you’ll walk away with the knowledge you need to confidently hunt mountain whitetails all season long.

In this episode of Backbone Unlimited, host Matt Hartsky breaks down exactly how to apply for Wyoming big game as a non-resident — one of the most misunderstood but opportunity-rich draw systems in the West. If you’ve ever logged onto the Wyoming Game and Fish website and felt confused about the difference between preference points, regular and special draws, or the 90/10 tag split, this episode walks you through every detail step by step.

Matt explains Wyoming’s hybrid draw system—how it blends preference points with random odds—and what that means for elk, mule deer, and antelope hunters looking to plan for the 2026 season. You’ll learn how to navigate the Regular vs. Special Draw options, when to apply for each species, how to manage your preference points, and how to avoid costly application mistakes that can sideline your season.

He also unpacks key strategies for building points wisely, understanding how point creep impacts your odds, and using Wyoming’s draw odds reports to identify realistic, attainable hunts rather than chasing point-heavy dream units. From understanding the difference between General and Limited Quota licenses to timing your applications correctly and managing your payment and refund details, this episode covers everything you need to apply with confidence.

Matt closes by outlining how to read trends, plan multi-species strategies, and use short-term opportunity hunts to stay active while building for long-term tags. Whether you’re brand new to applying in Wyoming or fine-tuning your strategy for 2026, this episode gives you the full blueprint for success in one of the West’s best non-resident systems.

In this episode of Backbone Unlimited, host Matt Hartsky breaks down the mindset and process that separates casual hunters from consistent ones — the off-season planning that starts long before next year’s tags are even available. Success in the mountains doesn’t begin on opening day; it starts months earlier with the decisions, habits, and preparation you build when everyone else is shutting down for the year.

Matt walks through his complete system for post-season reflection, goal setting, budgeting, and hunt planning, showing exactly how to evaluate your past season, identify what worked and what didn’t, and turn those lessons into actionable steps for next year. He explains how to set clear hunt and development goals, build a realistic time and financial plan, and strategically choose states and species that align with your long-term hunting strategy.

You’ll also learn how to research effectively — breaking down draw odds, harvest data, and terrain layers to find consistent opportunity instead of chasing luck. Matt shares how he uses e-scouting to study terrain and movement patterns before setting foot in the field, along with how to organize your year-round training and preparation phases so you hit the next season ready, not rusty.

This episode goes beyond hunting tactics — it’s about building the discipline, structure, and mindset that create lasting success. Whether you’re planning your first Western hunt or refining your multi-state strategy, you’ll come away with a repeatable blueprint for year-round readiness that keeps you one step ahead of the pack.

In this episode of Backbone Unlimited, Matt Hartsky breaks down one of the most misunderstood transitions in all of elk hunting—post-rut elk behavior. When October rolls around and the bugles fade, most hunters walk into the woods wondering where the elk went. The same basins that were loud with bulls a week earlier suddenly fall silent. But they didn’t disappear—they changed everything about how they move, feed, and survive.

Matt explains how bulls shift from high-energy rut mode to pure recovery. He dives deep into where they go after breeding season, how their priorities flip from dominance to survival, and why traditional September tactics fall flat in October. You’ll learn how to locate post-rut bedding zones, recognize subtle feeding patterns, and use terrain and thermals to your advantage when bulls go quiet.

This episode covers how hunting pressure, early snow, and dropping temperatures shape bull movement across the West. From mid-elevation timber to shaded north slopes, Matt breaks down how to identify recovery areas most hunters overlook—and how to adjust your glassing and stalking approach to match the elk’s new rhythm.

If you’ve ever hunted through October and thought the elk had vanished, this conversation will change how you see the season. It’s not about chasing bugles anymore—it’s about reading sign, trusting stillness, and anticipating recovery patterns before other hunters even realize what’s happening.

Learn how to adapt your mindset, slow your pace, and hunt the quiet season with precision. Because when everyone else thinks the mountain has gone silent, that’s when the smartest hunters start filling tags.

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.

In this episode of Backbone Unlimited, Matt Hartsky breaks down one of the most overlooked factors in successful mule deer hunting—weather. Every front that sweeps across the West changes everything about how deer behave. It affects where they feed, bed, travel, and rut. Whether you hunt in Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, or Colorado, understanding how weather drives mule deer movement from October through November can completely change how you plan your hunts.

Matt explains how early cold snaps, shifting wind, and temperature drops cause does to move first—and how those movements trigger bucks to follow. He covers the patterns before, during, and after a storm, revealing how pressure changes and snow depth determine whether deer stay high or start migrating down. You’ll learn how to identify productive mid-elevation transition zones, how to time your glassing sessions around weather windows, and why post-storm recovery periods often offer the best visibility of the year.

From high-country bachelor groups in early October to full rut activity in November, Matt shows how to read the signals—frost, wind shifts, and barometric drops—that predict deer movement days before most hunters see it coming. He also breaks down how terrain, elevation, and sunlight exposure combine with weather to shape mule deer behavior across the West.

If you’ve ever shown up to a basin that felt empty overnight, this episode explains why—and how to stay one step ahead of every weather front that moves through the mountains. Learn to hunt the rhythm of the weather, not the forecast, and you’ll start finding deer where everyone else just left.

The late season is where the real divide between archery and rifle hunting begins.

In this episode of Backbone Unlimited, Matt Hartsky breaks down how everything changes from mid-October through November—the weather, the animal behavior, and your tactics. As the rut fades and survival takes over, elk and mule deer transition into new patterns that demand totally different approaches. Whether you’re carrying a bow or a rifle, adapting to this phase is the difference between hiking home empty and tagging out when most hunters have already quit.

Matt explains how post-rut elk behavior and the early mule deer rut create two very different challenges on the same mountain. He covers how to adjust your timing, terrain strategy, and decision-making depending on your weapon. Archery hunters will learn how to hunt tighter to cover, manage fickle thermals, and stay deadly quiet when animals are most alert. Rifle hunters will discover how to use reach, glassing strategy, and patience to capitalize on short daylight windows and unpredictable movement.

This episode also dives into judgment and ethics—how to know when to take the shot, when to wait, and how late-season conditions test your discipline more than any other time of year. Matt closes with the mental edge it takes to keep pushing when the mountains turn cold and quiet—because success now isn’t about luck, it’s about grit, strategy, and relentless persistence.

If you’re serious about improving your late season elk and mule deer hunting, this is the deep dive that separates the hunters who adapt from the ones who pack it in early.

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

When elk seem unpredictable, the terrain is telling you exactly where they’re going—you just have to learn how to read it.

In this episode of Backbone Unlimited, Matt Hartsky breaks down one of the most overlooked tactics in elk hunting—how to find and hunt natural funnels that guide elk movement between feeding, bedding, and safety zones. Every herd on the mountain follows a rhythm shaped by food, security, and terrain. By understanding how ridges, saddles, benches, and drainages quietly funnel elk through specific corridors, you can start predicting movement instead of chasing it.

Matt explains how to identify these natural travel routes both on a map and in the field, how wind and timing affect elk use of each funnel, and how to set up effectively for both archery and rifle hunts. From early-morning transitions to late-season travel between habitats, you’ll learn how to intercept elk where terrain forces them to move—and how to read sign, pressure, and thermals to stay one step ahead.

This episode is packed with actionable tips for Western hunters who want to move from guesswork to precision. Whether you’re hunting high-country basins or timbered draws, learning to use natural funnels will transform how you scout, plan, and execute. Elk aren’t random—they’re predictable when you understand the mountain the way they do.

When the bugles fade and the mountains go quiet, most hunters call it a season. But that’s when the real challenge begins.

In this episode of Backbone Unlimited, Matt Hartsky breaks down how to spot and stalk lone bulls after the rut—when survival, not dominance, drives every move they make. You’ll learn how to read post-rut elk behavior, where bulls go to recover after weeks of chaos, and how to use glassing, wind, and terrain to move in without being detected.

Matt walks through every phase of this process in detail—from finding quiet mid-elevation sanctuaries and breaking down north-facing slopes, to planning stalks around shifting thermals and executing calm, precise final approaches. This is elk hunting stripped to its purest form—no calling, no chaos, just patience, discipline, and pure fieldcraft.

If you’ve ever wanted to master post-rut elk hunting or elevate your spot-and-stalk skills across the West, this episode delivers hard-earned insight built on decades of experience. Learn to hunt with intent, move with purpose, and finish with control. Because when the noise ends, the mountain belongs to those who slow down and think like a bull.

October separates hunters who chase elk from those who understand them.

In this episode of Backbone Unlimited, Matt Hartsky breaks down how to glass October bulls in transition zones—the overlooked pockets where post-rut elk recover, feed, and survive when the mountains go quiet. After the chaos of September fades, bulls retreat into small, protected sanctuaries that hold feed, water, shade, and safety. Learning how to find and glass these zones is what turns October from a frustrating lull into one of the most rewarding times of the season.

Matt explains how to identify productive mid-elevation transition areas, how post-rut bulls use them day to day, and how to adjust your glassing position, timing, and angles for maximum visibility without blowing your scent. You’ll learn how light, thermals, and terrain all interact to expose hidden elk—and why patience, not mileage, kills more bulls this month than any other factor.

This episode teaches you how to hunt October elk by reading the land instead of chasing noise. From understanding slope aspect and wind behavior to interpreting subtle movement through your glass, it’s a masterclass in post-rut precision.

If you’ve ever stared across empty drainages in October wondering where all the elk went, this one shows you the truth—they didn’t leave. You just need to learn how to see them.

When the bugles fade and the herds scatter, most hunters think elk season is over. But it isn’t—it just changes form.

In this episode of Backbone Unlimited, Matt Hartsky explains what really happens to elk herds after the rut ends—and how to hunt smarter when the chaos turns quiet. September’s unity gives way to October’s separation as bulls peel off to recover, cows and calves regroup into smaller family units, and pressure, weather, and predators reshape the mountain.

Matt breaks down how herd dynamics fracture after breeding, why bulls vanish into recovery pockets, how cow-calf groups reorganize for safety and efficiency, and how outside factors like temperature swings and hunting pressure accelerate those shifts. You’ll learn how to read this “reset” phase—spotting micro-movements, glassing subtle edges, and identifying those overlooked transition zones that hold elk long after the bugles stop.

This conversation is packed with insight on post-rut elk strategy, behavior, and terrain use across the West—helping you adapt your mindset from chasing sound to interpreting patterns. Because the quiet season isn’t the end of elk hunting; it’s the most calculated phase of it.

If you’ve ever wondered where the elk go after September, this episode will show you they never left—you just have to learn how to see them differently.

After the rut ends and the mountains go quiet, most hunters think the elk have disappeared. The truth is—they’ve just changed the rules.

In this episode of Backbone Unlimited, Matt Hartsky breaks down one of the most misunderstood parts of October elk hunting: how cow and calf movement shifts after the rut and how that change dictates where bulls, pressure, and opportunity all stack up on the mountain.

Matt explains the full post-rut reset—how big herds dissolve into smaller family groups, how those cows and calves move down through elevation bands, and why the transition zone becomes prime habitat through mid and late October. You’ll learn how to identify benches, glades, and slopes that offer the perfect mix of food, cover, and consistent thermals—and why that’s exactly where the herd settles when the chaos fades.

He also dives deep into daily rhythm and survival behavior: how cows time feeding, bedding, and water runs, how weather fronts and frost push movement, and how pressure and predators tighten their range. You’ll hear how understanding the subtle routine of these family groups gives you a roadmap to find bulls nearby—since post-rut bulls always shadow where cows and calves feed and rest.

This episode teaches you to stop chasing sound and start reading the mountain. When you can interpret elk behavior by rhythm, feed, and wind—not bugles—you’ll find more elk in October than most hunters see all season.

If you’re serious about mastering post-rut elk hunting, this is the one to study before heading into the next season.

In October, the mountains change every day—and so do the elk. One day it’s hot and still, the next it’s snowing sideways. Those shifting weather fronts don’t just change how it feels to hunt—they completely rewrite how elk move, feed, and bed.

In this episode of Backbone Unlimited, Matt Hartsky breaks down how to read the sky the same way you read sign on the mountain. You’ll learn how barometric pressure, wind, and temperature swings shape elk movement before, during, and after a front, and how to time your hunts to line up with those exact behavior shifts.

Matt explains how bulls feed aggressively right before a storm, where they hole up when the wind hits, and why the 24 hours after a front passes are often the best hunting window of the entire fall. He covers how to interpret weather-driven elk behavior—from feeding urgency to bedding decisions—and how to predict elevation shifts, thermal changes, and leeward slope movement that most hunters overlook.

If you’ve ever wondered why the elk vanished after a storm, or why a single cold front suddenly fills an empty basin with fresh sign, this episode breaks it all down. You’ll walk away knowing exactly when to push, when to wait, and how to stay one step ahead of every system that rolls through.

For hunters who want to master October elk hunting, this is the playbook for turning bad weather into your best advantage.

Snow changes everything in the elk woods—and in October, it can make or break your hunt.

In this episode of Backbone Unlimited, Matt Hartsky dives deep into how October elk behavior shifts when storms roll in versus when the mountains stay bare. You’ll learn exactly how snow vs no-snow conditions affect elk movement, bedding, and feeding patterns—and more importantly, how to adapt your tactics to stay in the game when everyone else is lost.

Matt breaks down what happens during warm, dry Octobers when elk linger high, scattered across post-rut zones, and how early snow compresses herds, funnels movement, and exposes travel corridors. He explains how to read elevation shifts, glass smarter when visibility changes, and predict where bulls will relocate as forage and pressure collide.

You’ll also hear detailed insight on elk feeding priorities, thermal cover, and survival behavior—why bulls focus on calories and comfort, how weather alters their diet, and how wind, terrain, and hunting pressure shape every move they make. From dry-year patience hunts to snow-year mobility strategies, Matt lays out the blueprint for reading conditions and reacting in real time.

Whether you’re glassing timber edges in a no-snow year or tracking fresh sign through mid-elevation benches after an early storm, this episode gives you the roadmap for adapting your October elk hunting strategy to the conditions in front of you.

By October, the rut is over—and so is the chaos. The bulls that were screaming across the mountain just weeks ago are silent, thin, and focused on survival. That’s when everything about elk behavior changes, and the hunters who understand what drives them now keep filling tags long after everyone else goes home.

In this episode of Backbone Unlimited, Matt Hartsky breaks down exactly what elk eat in October and how their entire survival strategy revolves around food. You’ll learn why bulls shift from high-protein summer forbs to energy-rich shrubs and browse, how frost and slope aspect change feeding patterns, and how to pinpoint the micro-habitats where calories, cover, and moisture come together.

Matt explains how to read terrain for hidden green pockets, identify prime browse zones, and use slope angle, moisture retention, and sun exposure to find active feeding areas when the rest of the mountain looks dead. You’ll also hear how bulls shorten their movement loops, feeding for efficiency instead of distance, and why locating the overlap between good feed and dark timber is the secret to consistent late-season elk hunting success.

This is the episode that teaches you to stop chasing sound and start reading the mountain like a recovering bull—one focused on calories, security, and efficiency. If you want to find elk after the rut, this is how you do it: follow the feed, read the slopes, and match your strategy to their survival instincts.

After the bugles fade and the rut chaos dies down, most hunters walk off the mountain thinking the season’s over. But that silence doesn’t mean the elk are gone—it means their priorities have changed.

In this episode of Backbone Unlimited, Matt Hartsky breaks down the complete post-rut transformation that happens between October and November—how bulls recover, relocate, and survive after the rut ends. You’ll learn why mature bulls vanish into dark timber, what fuels their feeding and bedding choices, and how to adjust your tactics to match their new rhythm.

Matt explains the physiological crash bulls go through after losing up to 30% of their body weight, and how that drives every decision they make through late fall. He dives into post-rut elk feeding patterns, security zones, bedding strategies, and how to recognize the subtle terrain features that reveal where bulls actually live when the mountains go quiet. You’ll also learn how hunting pressure, thermals, and changing cow behavior shape bull movement—and how to plan deliberate, low-impact hunts that work when calling no longer does.

This episode is all about thinking like a bull in recovery—reading sign, interpreting terrain, and hunting with patience instead of noise. It’s one of the most tactical deep-dives into late-season elk hunting you’ll hear, built on decades of real-world experience.

If you’re ready to stop chasing the ghost of September and start finding bulls through the silence of October and November, this one will reshape how you hunt the post-rut forever.

When the bugles fade and the rut chaos dies down, October becomes a thinking man’s month — and mastering ridges and high points is the difference between hiking blind and hunting with purpose.

In this episode of Backbone Unlimited, Matt Hartsky breaks down how to use ridges, thermals, and elevation to your advantage when hunting elk and mule deer in October. You’ll learn how to identify productive ridge systems, where to glass from, and how to dissect mountain country efficiently when animals go quiet and pressure rises.

Matt explains how to spot travel ridges versus dead ridges, why high points are your most valuable observation platforms, and how to think in three dimensions when reading terrain. He dives deep into October wind and thermal management, showing you how to stay in control of scent and position all day long. You’ll also hear when to stay high, when to drop low, and how to transition between patience and aggression depending on what the mountain gives you.

This is one of the most tactical October elk hunting and mule deer hunting breakdowns you’ll hear — packed with real-world methods for turning “empty country” into consistent opportunity. Whether you’re glassing big basins or side-hilling through broken timber, this strategy teaches you how to hunt smarter, move less, and let the terrain work for you.

If you’ve ever felt lost after the rut, this episode will reset your October mindset and show you how to make elevation, wind, and patience your biggest weapons in the mountains.

Most hunters walk past the best elk spots in October—and that’s exactly why they stay full of elk.

In this episode of Backbone Unlimited, Matt Hartsky breaks down the truth about October elk hunting and how to find the hidden pockets where bulls and cows vanish after the rut. The bugles fade, the pressure rises, and the mountains feel empty—but the elk haven’t disappeared. They’ve shifted into overlooked terrain: dark timber pockets, north-facing rims, mid-elevation benches, hidden seeps, burn edges, and the steep, nasty holes no one wants to hike into.

Matt explains how post-rut elk behavior changes the game. You’ll learn why bulls prioritize recovery and security, how thermals, slope, and shade dictate their bedding choices, and why pressure pushes them into places most hunters ignore. He breaks down how to hunt dark timber methodically, how to glass overlooked benches and transition corridors, and how to intercept quiet, cautious elk in the middle of October when calling is no longer the play.

You’ll also hear practical tips for reading subtle sign, managing wind, and hunting these honey holes at the right times of day. Whether you’re running a rifle, bow, or muzzleloader, this episode gives you a full strategy for turning “dead season” into your most productive hunt of the year.

If you’re tired of empty drainages and want to learn how to locate elk long after the rut, this is the October blueprint.

When the mountains freeze and the bugles stop, late-season hunting becomes a game of clues—and the hunters who win are the ones who can read them right.

In this episode of Backbone Unlimited, Matt Hartsky breaks down one of the most important cold-weather skills a hunter can have: judging the freshness of sign when everything’s frozen. After three decades of late-season Western hunts, Matt shares exactly how he reads tracks, droppings, beds, and scent in the snow and frost to determine whether animals are still close—or long gone.

You’ll learn how freezing temperatures preserve sign and why sharp edges, moisture, and melt patterns tell a clearer story than color or shape ever will. Matt explains how to read tracks in snow versus frozen ground, how droppings change in the cold, and how melted beds, frost crystals, and scent clues all layer together to form a reliable system. He also reveals how to factor in environmental influences—sun exposure, wind, slope, and temperature swings—that can make old sign look new or erase fresh trails overnight.

This isn’t theory—it’s a masterclass in late-season elk and mule deer hunting tactics, designed to help you recognize real-time activity and avoid chasing ghosts. Whether you’re glassing ridges after a snowstorm or following frozen sign in timber, you’ll learn how to build your own system for reading the mountain and staying on hot animals when others are wandering blind.

If you’re serious about becoming a smarter, more efficient cold-weather hunter, this episode will teach you how to interpret every clue nature gives you—and how to turn that understanding into late-season success.

In this episode of Backbone Unlimited, Matt Hartsky breaks down everything nonresident hunters need to know about applying for big game tags in Idaho—including the major changes coming for the 2026 season. Idaho has always stood out among Western states for doing things differently, and this year it takes another big step: moving from the old first-come, first-served system to a structured draw for nonresident general elk, mule deer, and pronghorn tags.

Matt explains how the new two-window draw system works, when to apply, and how to avoid the costly mistakes that ruin most applications. You’ll learn how to buy your nonresident hunting license correctly, how to structure your hunt choices, and how Idaho’s new process balances fairness with opportunity. He also walks through how to read the A-tag vs. B-tag elk system, pick smart backup zones, and stay on top of claim deadlines so you never lose a tag you’ve drawn.

For mule deer hunters, this episode dives into Idaho’s unit-specific general tags—why they’re capped, how to select units strategically, and how to use harvest data and returned-tag sales to your advantage. And for pronghorn hunters, Matt outlines Idaho’s fully controlled-hunt system, explaining why every tag is a true lottery and what strategies actually give nonresidents a fighting chance.

Whether you’re planning your first Idaho hunt or refining your multi-state application strategy, this episode gives you a step-by-step understanding of how to navigate Idaho’s evolving draw structure, maximize your odds, and keep yourself in the game every single year.

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.