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.  

September is finally here—the month western hunters live for. But too many guys blow their shot before they ever see an elk. They march straight to a GPS pin, hike like tourists, and dump their scent into the best country before the day even starts. In this episode of Backbone Unlimited, I break down how to approach your area with discipline, patience, and predator-like intent. We’ll cover why your hunt starts the second you step off the road, how to use morning thermals to your advantage, and why transition zones are funnels you can trust every September. I’ll walk you through my “cast close” approach—working the edges first before pushing deeper, just like fishing a stream. You’ll learn how to stay undetected, preserve a drainage for multiple days of hunting, and build confidence by hunting with intent instead of hope. If you want to stop burning your spots and start stacking real opportunities, this is the mindset and strategy that makes the difference. Because elk hunting isn’t about luck—it’s about approach.

In elk country, no law is more absolute than the law of the wind. You can get away with a missed call, a snapped twig, or a blown setup—but the second an elk catches your scent, the hunt is over. In this episode of Backbone Unlimited, I’m breaking down the science and strategy behind wind and thermals—the invisible force that dictates every move elk make and every decision you should make as a hunter. We’ll cover the daily cycle of thermals, how weather and terrain bend air currents, and why elk bed, feed, and travel where they do. I’ll show you how to plan approaches, setups, and ambushes that keep your scent safe—and how to adapt when the wind inevitably shifts. You’ll also learn how elk use air movement to survive, and how hunters who ignore it end up educating elk instead of killing them. Mastering the law of the wind isn’t optional—it’s the foundation of every successful elk hunt. Respect it, and you stay in the game. Ignore it, and you’ll never know how many elk you blew out before you ever saw them.

Elk hunting success isn’t about luck—and it’s not even always about skill. It’s about persistence. In this episode of Backbone Unlimited, I break down why time in the field is the single biggest factor separating consistent elk killers from the guys who go home empty. We’ll cover the myth of quick success, why most bulls are killed on the back half of a hunt, and how each extra day compounds your chances of opportunity. You’ll learn how to push through the mental grind, manage your energy for the long game, and turn slow mornings into valuable lessons instead of discouragement. This isn’t about highlight reels—it’s about reality. Elk hunting takes grit, patience, and staying power. The hunters who fill tags aren’t the ones who quit on day three—they’re the ones still grinding on day seven, day ten, and beyond. If you can master persistence, you’ll not only stack the odds in your favor—you’ll build the toughness and resilience that carry over into every part of life.

Elk hunting in September isn’t static. The bulls you find on opening day aren’t behaving the same way two weeks later. Hunting pressure reshapes everything—bugling, travel routes, and daylight activity. The difference between success and frustration comes down to whether you adapt as quickly as the elk do. In this episode of Backbone Unlimited, I break down how bulls respond to hunting pressure week by week. You’ll learn what makes opening week so electric, how bulls adjust once trucks and calls flood the mountains, and why mid-September forces them to balance rut intensity with survival. We’ll also cover late-September tactics when bugles fade and bulls rut in silence. If you’ve ever felt like elk “disappeared” after the opener, this episode shows you how pressure shapes their behavior and gives you the tools to stay lethal from the first bugle of September to the last.

What do you do when the bugles stop? In this episode of Backbone Unlimited, I break down how to hunt elk when the mountains go quiet. Silent bulls frustrate even seasoned hunters, but they’re far from unkillable—you just need a different playbook. We’ll cover why elk go silent—pressure, weather, rut timing, and herd dynamics—and how to adapt with woodsmanship instead of relying on bugles. You’ll learn how to read fresh sign, set ambushes in travel corridors, and move with discipline through timber. I’ll show you how to use subtle calling when it matters, how to play the wind with precision, and how to keep your mindset sharp when doubt starts to creep in. By the end of this episode, you’ll have a blueprint for staying lethal in the silence. Because elk don’t vanish when they stop bugling—they just stop giving themselves away. If you can stay patient, hunt smarter, and adapt, you’ll be ready when those quiet bulls slip in like ghosts.