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.

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🎯 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

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📍 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
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