Backbone Unlimited Podcast

THIS ELK HUNTING TACTIC CHANGED EVERYTHING - HOW I STARTED KILLING MORE BULLS | 🎙️ EP. 7

What if your success in elk country came down to one overlooked detail—where you’re set up before daylight?
In this episode, I break down the one tactic that changed everything for me in elk hunting. It's not a gimmick. It's a real-world strategy based on elk behavior, pressure, thermals, and terrain. Once I started targeting transition zones between nighttime feeding and bedding areas, everything changed. I went from chasing bugles to being where the elk already want to go—and the results followed.
I'll walk you through:
What most hunters do wrong in the first hour of daylight
How to e-scout and identify "kill zones"
What kind of slope to target and why it works
How to move in the dark without blowing elk out
A subtle calling sequence that brings bulls in without overcalling
If you're tired of being one ridge too late or one bugle behind, this episode will change how you think about your approach.
Want to dive deeper? Check out our membership at BackboneUnlimited.com for full access to exclusive training, tactics, gear, and community.
Train harder. Hunt smarter. Live relentless.

5 ELK HUNTING TIPS EVERY NEW ELK HUNTER MUST KNOW | 🎙️ EP. 6

New to elk hunting? This episode is your fast track to avoiding the rookie mistakes that ruin hunts. Whether you’re chasing bulls in big country for the first time or still trying to notch your first tag, I’m breaking down 5 essential tips every new elk hunter needs to hear.
From e-scouting strategies and calling discipline to understanding elk behavior and managing your gear—we cover the foundational skills that separate frustrated hunters from successful ones.
I’ve spent 33+ years hunting elk across the West. These are the exact lessons I wish someone had told me when I started.
In this episode:
The #1 mistake new elk hunters make
How to find elk on public land—without luck
Why calling can kill your hunt
The mental edge that keeps you in the game
What gear matters (and what doesn’t)
🎯 Learn faster. Hunt smarter. Stay in the game longer.
Want to take your training, mindset, and gear prep to the next level?🔥 Join TEAM BACKBONE — the tribe for relentless hunters.
20% off site-wide
Monthly exclusive t-shirts
Full access to our member-only digital vault
Direct advice from Matt Hartsky
Private group + monthly gear giveaways
Subscribe now and share this with your hunting buddies.Let’s get more elk hunters across the finish line.

HOW TO CALCULATE CALORIES FOR ANY BACKCOUNTRY HUNT | 🎙️ EP. 5

Fueling right can be the difference between tagging out—or tapping out.
In this episode of the Backbone Unlimited Podcast, Matt Hartsky breaks down the exact calorie formulas, rules of thumb, and real-world strategies every backcountry hunter needs to stay in the fight.
Whether you're chasing elk deep in the Rockies or grinding out high-mileage days in remote terrain, understanding how to calculate your daily calorie needs is a critical edge. No more guessing. No more crashing. Just the math, the method, and the mission-ready meal planning that supports true mountain grit.
🎯 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
How to calculate your Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) using the Mifflin-St Jeor equation
How to estimate calories burned per hour while backpack hunting
What your Total Daily Energy Expenditure (TDEE) really is during a hard hunt
A fast and effective rule-of-thumb for caloric needs based on your bodyweight
The best calorie-dense foods for long hunts (nuts, jerky, oil additives, more)
Smart hydration and electrolyte strategies that prevent bonking and cramping
Why testing your backcountry food system ahead of time is non-negotiable
🗻 Whether you're a first-time DIY hunter or a seasoned grinder looking to level up your nutrition game, this episode delivers a field-tested system to fuel your body, sharpen your mind, and carry your mission to the finish.
🔥 Join TEAM BACKBONE for exclusive hunting resources, a private community, direct access to Matt, and members-only gear:👉 BackboneUnlimited.com/membership
🎧 Subscribe now for more episodes on public land hunting, elk prep, mindset, gear, and relentless living—in the wild and in life.
 

MASTERING WIND AND THERMALS FOR MOUNTAIN HUNTING | 🎙️ EP. 4

Mastering Wind & Thermals for Mountain Hunting
The wind is invisible—but it decides everything.
In this episode of the Backbone Unlimited Podcast, Matt Hartsky breaks down how wind and thermals work in the backcountry—and how to use them to outsmart big bulls. If you’re tired of blown stalks and busted herds, this is your tactical edge.
From understanding how air moves through drainages and ridges, to building daily hunt plans based on thermals—not guesses—this episode will sharpen how you approach every mountain hunt.
🎯 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
• What thermals are and how they shift hour by hour• Why wind + terrain is the most overlooked combo in elk hunting• How to predict thermal changes using sun angle and slope direction• Real hunting mistakes Matt has made—and what they taught him• How to stalk smarter by using downhill, uphill, and crosswind setups• When to circle wide, when to hold back, and how to test wind constantly• Mapping strategies to predict scent flow and make better decisions
🎧 Subscribe for more episodes on elk hunting tactics, backcountry preparation, and relentless living in the wild and in life.
🧢 Gear that backs the mission at BackboneUnlimited.com
 

HOW TO HYDRATE FOR BACKCOUNTRY HUNTING | 🎙️ EP. 3

Hydration can make or break your hunt—and most hunters get it wrong.In this episode of the Backbone Unlimited Podcast, Matt Hartsky breaks down the hydration mistakes that ruin backcountry hunts—and how to fix them before they cost you an opportunity at a bull.
From hot archery elk hunts to freezing rifle packouts, hydration and electrolyte balance play a bigger role than most hunters realize. If you've ever cramped up, bonked early, or felt off despite training hard—your hydration strategy may be the real issue.
🎯 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
Why cramping, dizziness, and fatigue often come from poor hydration—not lack of fitness
The truth about caffeine use on the mountain and how it quietly drains your system
Why drinking only water is a mistake—and how electrolyte loss leads to performance crashes
A proven hydration plan for mountain hunters (before, during, and after the hunt)
How to use SaltStick electrolyte capsules and why they’re ideal for hunters
How to spot dehydration—and overhydration—before it shuts you down
The overlooked link between fuel, hydration, and mental grit in the backcountry
🎧 Subscribe for more episodes on elk hunting preparation, mindset, fueling strategies, and living relentless in the wild and in life.
🧢 Support the mission at BackboneUnlimited.com

THE REAL REASONS BACKCOUNTRY HUNTERS QUIT | 🎙️ EP. 2

Why do most hunters quit in the backcountry?It’s not the job. It’s not the weather. It’s not the family waiting back home. In this episode of the Backbone Unlimited Podcast, Matt Hartsky reveals the real reasons most hunters tap out early—and what you can do to make sure you’re not one of them.
After decades chasing elk, mule deer and Western big game in some of the toughest terrain in the West, Matt breaks down what separates hunters who finish the hunt from those who hike out empty—and often, broken.
This episode dives deep into the physical, mental, and emotional walls hunters face during DIY backcountry elk hunting, and why success in the mountains starts long before opening day.
🎯 In this episode:
The mindset shift that keeps you in the hunt
Why most hunters aren’t ready for the “discomfort wall”
How poor fitness and nutrition quietly end hunts
Shed light on fuel failure, hormonal crashes, and the danger of under-eating
Mental toughness vs. physical endurance—and how to build both
Tools to fight isolation, self-doubt, and loneliness in the field
How to reframe suffering so it drives you forward instead of breaking you
The truth about what it really takes to finish a multi-day public land hunt
📍 If you're planning a public land elk hunt, preparing for your first multi-day backcountry hunt, or just tired of quitting before you succeed—this episode is your blueprint.
🧢 Grab the Backcountry Prep Guide for free at: BackboneUnlimited.com🔔 Subscribe for more episodes on elk hunting, mindset, and relentless living in the wild and in life.

WHO IS BACKBONE UNLIMITED? THE STORY BEHIND THE BRAND | 🎙️ INTRO

Who is Backbone Unlimited — and what does it really mean to live with backbone?In this powerful intro episode, host Matt Hartsky shares the raw, real-life story behind Backbone Unlimited—a brand, a mindset, and a mission rooted in relentless living, western hunting, and personal growth forged through tragedy, grit, and experience.
Matt opens up about his 33+ years of experience as a Western big game hunter, outdoorsman, wildlife photographer, and strength and nutrition coach, as well as his time as a professional runner, bodybuilder, and the founder of a long-standing gym. But this episode goes far beyond the resume.
He shares what led him to create this platform—from chasing elk, mule deer, and Western big game to carrying the unshakable weight of losing his oldest son to suicide. Backbone Unlimited isn’t just about hunting—it’s about mental toughness, preparation, healing through the outdoors, and refusing to settle for a lesser life.
If you’re into:
Western elk and mule deer hunting
DIY public land hunts
Strength, mindset, and preparation for backcountry hunting
Outdoor healing and grit-driven living
Or just finding a tribe of real people who live without limits—
This episode is your introduction to what Backbone Unlimited is all about.
🎧 Subscribe to the Backbone Unlimited Podcast on Spotify, Apple, or YouTube.🧢 Support the mission → BackboneUnlimited.com

HOW TO KILL AN ELK EVERY YEAR ON PUBLIC LAND | 🎙️ EP. 1

Killing an elk every year on public land isn’t luck—it’s a system.
In this episode of the Backbone Unlimited Podcast, Matt Hartsky—33-year veteran western hunter and strength coach—breaks down the essential tactics, strategies, and mindset shifts that consistently put elk on the ground, year after year.
Whether you’re new to elk hunting or have gone too many seasons without punching a tag, this no-fluff episode cuts through the noise. It’s not about hype—it’s about what works. From preseason e-scouting to late-season grind, Matt shares real-world experience forged through decades of chasing elk in the most rugged public land terrain.
🎯 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
• The #1 reason most hunters fail to fill an elk tag—and how to fix it• How to use e-scouting the right way to eliminate guesswork before the season• Why physical preparation and mental grit matter more than fancy gear• The overlooked mistake that gets hunters winded every single year• Proven strategies to locate elk, adjust to pressure, and close the deal• How to build a repeatable process that increases your success rate every season• What Matt has learned from over 30 elk kills and three decades on public ground
If you’re tired of hoping and ready to start killing elk on purpose—not by chance—this episode will give you the roadmap.
🧠 Hunt smart.💥 Train hard.🧢 Show your Backbone at BackboneUnlimited.com
🎧 Subscribe now for weekly episodes on elk hunting, preparation, grit, and relentless living—in the wild and in life.