Backbone Unlimited Podcast

Join TEAM BACKBONE at BackboneUnlimited.com and let’s Train Harder, Hunt Smarter and Never Settle.

If you're over 40 and wondering whether backcountry elk hunting is still in the cards, this episode is for you. Matt Hartsky breaks down exactly how to stay lethal in the mountains as a seasoned hunter—covering smart physical training, lighter gear loads, better recovery, strategic pacing, and the mindset shift that makes all the difference. Whether you’re in your 40s, 50s, or beyond, you’ll learn how to hunt elk smarter, not harder, and prove that grit, experience, and discipline still win. Age isn’t your weakness—it’s your edge. Let’s show the mountain you’re not done yet.

Join TEAM BACKBONE at BackboneUnlimited.com and let’s Train Harder, Hunt Smarter and Never Settle.

Pronghorn hunting isn’t easy—and it’s not supposed to be. In this episode of Backbone Unlimited, Matt Hartsky shares 33 years of real-world experience chasing public land pronghorn across the wide-open West. You’ll learn how to scout smarter, use terrain and wind to your advantage, select killable bucks, and stalk with patience whether you're hunting with a rifle or a bow. From water hole setups to glassing tactics and next-level shot execution, this is your complete guide to earning a speed goat the hard way. No fences. No shortcuts. Just honest, DIY pronghorn hunting tips that work.

Join TEAM BACKBONE at BackboneUnlimited.com and let’s Train Harder, Hunt Smarter and Never Settle.

Learn How to Stalk Mule Deer Like a Predator

Archery Elk Hunting Tips From 30+ Years in the Field

Where should you aim to ethically kill an elk with a bow? It’s one of the most searched—and most misunderstood—topics in archery elk hunting.

In this episode of Backbone Unlimited, I break down elk shot placement based on 30+ years of real-world bowhunting experience—not just diagrams or opinions from the internet. If you're serious about making clean, ethical kills and understanding vital zone anatomy, this is the deep-dive you need.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

Exactly where to aim on a broadside, quartering away, frontal, and steep angle shot

How to visualize your exit point and avoid gut shots

Which angles offer high-percentage kills—and which shots to avoid

How to practice for high-pressure shots in real hunting conditions

Why disciplined shot timing and body language reading are critical

How to improve confidence and kill efficiency on public land bulls

Whether you’re a new bowhunter learning how to shoot an elk or a seasoned elk hunter refining your kill zone strategy, this episode is packed with practical, proven advice. If you’ve searched “best archery shot on an elk,” “where to aim on a bull elk,” or “ethical elk shot placement,” you’re in the right place.

This episode will help you draw with confidence, execute clean kills, recover faster, and honor every shot you take in elk country.

Want to Kill More Elk This Season? Start by Understanding Elk Behavior

Whether you're new to elk hunting or have decades of experience, success starts with one thing—knowing what elk are doing and why throughout the entire season.

In this episode of Backbone Unlimited, I break down the five distinct phases of elk season—from early season to late season—so you can stop guessing, adapt your tactics, and finally hunt elk on their terms, not yours.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

How elk behavior shifts from early season to post-rut

Archery and rifle tactics based on real-time elk priorities

When to call, when to go silent, and how to read elk body language

How bulls and cows move, feed, and vocalize throughout each phase

Why most hunters fail to adapt—and how to avoid their mistakes

This is your complete seasonal elk hunting guide—packed with actionable advice for public land hunters. Whether you're dialing in your early season elk hunting strategy, learning how to call elk during the rut, trying to locate post-rut bulls, or chasing elk in the late season, this episode delivers the insight you need to make smarter moves and create more opportunities.

If you're serious about tagging more bulls—and want to understand elk on a deeper level—this episode is a must-listen.

Why Bulls Hang Up—And What to Do Differently

If you’re bowhunting elk and bulls keep hanging up just out of range, this is probably why.

In this episode of Backbone Unlimited, Matt Hartsky breaks down the #1 elk calling mistake most Western bowhunters make—calling too early and from too far away. This single error ruins more close encounters than a bad bugle ever will. And if you’ve had bulls respond, move in, then suddenly go silent… chances are you’ve made this mistake without even realizing it.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

Why calling from 200+ yards away kills your setup

How to get inside the “kill zone” (80–120 yards) before making a sound

How elk use sight, sound, and scent to confirm danger—and how to beat all three

Why outdated advice like “just bugle back” can get you busted

How to call with purpose, not panic

Strategic elk setups for bowhunters on public land

How to move through timber, terrain, and thermals undetected

How to close the gap and create real shot opportunities with less calling

Whether you’re brand new to elk hunting or a seasoned bowhunter struggling with hung-up bulls, this episode will change how you think about calling, movement, and what it really takes to get within bow range.

Elk Hunting & Mindset Training That Actually Matters

Welcome to Backbone Unlimited—I’m Matt Hartsky. This episode isn’t just about elk hunting strategies or backcountry gear. It’s about the deeper, harder lessons that only the wilderness can teach—the kind that don’t show up in books, podcasts, or hunting forums. These are the truths you earn when you’re ten miles in, soaked to the bone, and still pushing forward.

Inside This Episode:

You’ll hear the 5 biggest backcountry lessons that changed my life as a hunter, a father, and a man. These aren’t theories. They’re field-forged truths—shaped by real elk hunts, real pain, and real growth.

We’ll talk about:

How failure, pressure, and grit build better hunters

The mental tools I rely on when the mountain gets brutal

What elk hunting taught me about parenting, business, and grief

Why the backcountry is the ultimate mirror for personal growth

How to apply these hard-won lessons to your own life and hunts

If you’re a public land elk hunter, backcountry grinder, or just a man in a hard season—this episode is for you. It’s raw, real, and built for those who live relentless.

If you're hunting elk on public land this fall and struggling to get into bow range, there’s one tactic most hunters overlook—and it just might change everything: still-hunting. In this episode of Backbone Unlimited, I’m breaking down how to still-hunt for elk the right way—based on over 33 years of boots-on-the-ground Western hunting experience.

Still-hunting is one of the most effective, underused tactics for creating close-range encounters with pressured bulls, especially when calling fails, bugles go silent, and hunting pressure pushes elk into thick cover. But it’s not just about sneaking through the woods—it’s about learning how to move with purpose, read fresh sign, and let the mountain tell you where the elk are right now.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

Recommended For:

If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing everything right but still not finding elk, this episode might be the shift you need. Still-hunting isn’t easy—but when it works, it’s deadly.

Tune in and learn how to slow down, sharpen your awareness, and start killing more elk on public land—one silent step at a time.

Public land hunting isn’t just about tags, bulls, or big bucks—it’s about who you are when no one’s watching. In this episode of Backbone Unlimited, I’m laying out the unwritten rules of public land hunting—what I call the Code of the West. These aren't printed in a game regulations booklet, but they matter just as much. Because in the backcountry, your reputation is built on how you hunt, not just what you kill.

I’m Matt Hartsky, and after 33+ years of hunting the West, I’ve seen the best and worst of public land behavior. If you’ve ever said “It’s public land, I can do what I want,” this episode will challenge your thinking. And if you already believe in hunting with character, this will help you lead by example and pass that mindset on.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

This episode is built for:

The Code of the West isn’t about rules—it’s about respect. And it’s not about being soft—it’s about being someone others would be proud to hunt with.

Listen now to sharpen more than just your tactics—sharpen your standard. Because how you hunt is who you are.

Struggling to tag bulls on public land? You might be following the wrong advice. In this episode, I’m busting the top 3 elk hunting myths that keep DIY hunters stuck, frustrated, and empty-handed. If you’ve been told calling is the only way, that the moon phase controls elk movement, or that bugling scares off bulls—you need to hear this.

I’m Matt Hartsky, founder of Backbone Unlimited. After 33+ years of public land elk hunting across Colorado, Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming, I’ve seen the same myths repeated by well-meaning hunters year after year—and I’ve also watched those myths destroy confidence and ruin otherwise good hunts.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

This episode is built for:

If you’re looking for elk hunting tips for public land that are based on experience—not hype—this is the real talk that cuts through the noise. We’ll help you sharpen your mindset, reset your strategy, and get back to what actually works in the field.

Hit play now and start hunting elk with the confidence and clarity that leads to filled tags—and full freezers.