Backbone Unlimited Podcast

THE ONE HABIT THAT TRANSFORMED MY ELK HUNTING | 🎙️ EP. 177

In this episode, Matt Hartsky breaks down the one habit that completely changed his elk hunting results—and it has nothing to do with tactics, gear, or calling.
After 34+ years of hunting and guiding Western big game, Matt shares the turning point that exposed what was really holding him back. Despite putting in the effort, covering ground, and doing everything most hunters believe it takes to be successful, the results weren’t consistent. The issue wasn’t effort—it was something far more subtle that shows up in every hunt.
This episode dives into why so many hunters fall into autopilot without realizing it, how they unknowingly repeat the same mistakes, and why pushing harder rarely fixes the problem. Matt explains how missed opportunities often come from overlooking what’s happening in real time, and how a single shift in approach can change everything—from positioning and decision-making to overall consistency in the field.
If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing everything right but still struggling to find elk consistently, this episode will challenge how you think about effort, awareness, and what actually matters when you’re hunting.
 

MULE DEER HUNTING: THE FASTEST WAY TO FIND A BUCK ANYWHERE | 🎙️ EP. 176

In this episode Matt Hartsky breaks down the fastest way to consistently find mule deer bucks anywhere you hunt in the West. Drawing from more than three decades of experience hunting and guiding Western big game, Matt explains why most hunters aren’t failing due to lack of effort—but because they’re spending too much time in the wrong country with no system behind their decisions.
This episode challenges the common approach of wandering, hoping, and committing emotionally to spots that simply don’t hold deer. Instead, Matt lays out a clear, repeatable framework built on one key principle: speed comes from elimination. He explains how to quickly identify low-probability terrain, move efficiently through country, and focus only on areas that actually support mule deer behavior in real time.
You’ll learn how to break down a new unit fast, when to stay and when to leave, and how to prioritize multiple basins instead of wasting days in one unproductive area. Matt also dives into the core conditions that dictate where mature bucks live, including wind and thermals, hunting pressure, feed quality, and security cover. These non-negotiables form the foundation for making better decisions in the field.
The episode also covers how to recognize when you’re getting close, what signs actually matter, and how to shift from reacting to anticipating movement so you can position yourself effectively before opportunities happen.
If you’ve ever felt like you’re putting in the work but still not finding deer, this episode will help you cut through the guesswork and start making faster, more confident decisions in the field.
#muledeerhunting #publiclandhunting #backboneunlimited

BEAR HUNTING WITH JOSH KIRCHNER - WHAT YOU'RE GETTING WRONG ABOUT BEAR BEHAVIOR | 🎙️ EP. 175

Bear Hunting with Josh Kirchner - What You're Getting Wrong About Bear Behavior is a ground-level conversation with one of Western hunting's most analytical minds on what actually separates hunters who find bears consistently from those who don't.
Josh Kirchner of Dialed In Hunter has built his reputation on process-driven Western hunting — and spring bear hunting is where that process is most exposed. In this episode, we go deep on bear behavior, terrain interpretation, and the mental adjustments most hunters never make. Josh has been called a "landscape interpreter" — and this conversation will change how you see the mountain.
About Josh Kirchner:
Josh is the founder of Dialed In Hunter and one of the most recognized voices in Western hunting. He specializes in spot-and-stalk black bear hunting in Arizona and across the West.
Josh's Links: Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@DialedinHunter Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/dialedinhunter
Josh's Books - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D8K32BFH?binding=paperback&qid=1778284272&sr=8-1&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tpbk
Josh's Website - https://dialedinhunter.com/

WINNING ELK HUNTING STRATEGY FOR PUBLIC LAND ELK HUNTERS | 🎙️ EP. 174

In this episode Matt Hartsky breaks down a complete, repeatable elk hunting system built specifically for public land hunters who are tired of inconsistent results. If you’ve ever felt like you’re bouncing from drainage to drainage, finding elk one day and losing them the next, this episode explains why—and more importantly, how to fix it.
Matt walks through a simple but powerful five-step cycle that can be applied every single day in the field: locate, evaluate, position, execute, and adjust. This isn’t a one-time tactic or a situational trick. It’s a structured system designed to keep you in elk consistently instead of constantly trying to relocate them. Throughout the episode, he explains how pressure, terrain, wind, and timing all influence elk behavior on public land, and how most hunters fail not from lack of effort, but from lack of structure.
You’ll learn why finding sign isn’t enough, how to determine if a situation is actually winnable before making a move, how to position yourself ahead of elk movement instead of reacting to it, and why execution breaks down in the final moments of most encounters. Just as importantly, Matt emphasizes the adjustment phase—how to learn quickly from every outcome so you can improve in real time and stay connected to elk throughout your hunt.
This episode is built for Western public land elk hunters who want to eliminate guesswork, build consistency, and hunt with intention. Whether you’re scouting, e-scouting, or already in the middle of a season, this cycle gives you a clear framework to follow so every decision you make has purpose.
Elk hunting doesn’t reward effort alone. It rewards structure. And this episode gives you the system to make that happen.

HOW TO FIND ELK IN 4 EASY STEPS - ELK HUNTING STRATEGY | 🎙️ EP. 173

In this episode Matt Hartsky breaks down how to find elk using a simple, repeatable 4-step system that works across Western public land. Instead of relying on luck, random movement, or chasing fresh sign, Matt explains how to approach elk hunting with structure and clear decision-making.
He walks through the core foundation of consistently finding elk, starting with choosing the right ground based on what elk actually need to survive—security, food, and wind advantage. From there, he explains how elk move through their daily patterns of feeding, transitioning, and bedding, and why most hunters stay one step behind by hunting where elk were instead of where they are going.
Matt then dives into positioning—how wind and terrain work together, how elk use those features to their advantage, and how you can set up in a way that forces opportunity instead of hoping for it. Finally, he ties everything together with a system for eliminating guesswork, including his proven 5-minute basin evaluation that helps you quickly determine whether an area is worth your time.
This episode is built for hunters who are tired of inconsistent seasons and want a clear, practical framework they can apply immediately—whether they’re e-scouting from home or hunting deep in elk country.

IF YOU HAVE KILLED ZERO ELK, DO THIS FIRST | 🎙️ EP. 172

In this episode Matt Hartsky speaks directly to the hunter who has put in the time, covered the miles, and done everything they thought was right—but still hasn’t killed an elk. This isn’t about motivation or effort. It’s about understanding why hard work alone isn’t translating into results, and what’s actually missing beneath the surface. After more than 34 years of hunting and guiding Western big game, Matt breaks down a pattern he’s seen over and over again.
Most hunters aren’t failing because they lack skill or toughness. They’re failing because they’re building their hunts on the wrong foundation. They chase tactics, bounce between strategies, and react to what’s happening in the moment without ever developing a clear structure behind their decisions. This episode takes a step back from the noise and focuses on something far more important—how elk actually live, move, and survive in pressured environments. You’ll start to see why so much “good-looking” country feels empty, why being close to elk doesn’t always lead to opportunities, and how small misalignments in positioning and decision-making quietly end hunts before they ever begin.
Matt also breaks down why most hunters lose opportunities right when things start to come together, how pressure changes elk behavior more than most people realize, and why staying in the wrong area too long can cost you an entire season. More importantly, he explains what separates hunters who struggle year after year from those who consistently find success. This isn’t about quick fixes or shortcuts. It’s about seeing the bigger picture clearly—and understanding the shift that has to happen before everything else starts to fall into place.

IF I STARTED ELK HUNTING TODAY, I'D DO THIS! | 🎙️ EP. 171

In this episode Matt Hartsky breaks down exactly how he would approach elk hunting if he had to start completely over today—with no past experience, no proven spots, and no habits to rely on. Instead of chasing tactics, gear, or quick fixes, Matt walks through a different approach built around understanding how elk actually live, move, and survive on the landscape.
Most hunters spend years trying to piece together success by copying strategies, focusing on calling, or forcing encounters in areas that don’t truly support elk. But without a foundation, even the right tactics fall apart. Drawing from more than 34 years of Western hunting experience, Matt explains why elk behavior—not tactics—should be the starting point, and how focusing on location, wind, positioning, and decision-making can dramatically shorten the learning curve.
This episode is about eliminating wasted time and building a system that actually works in real elk country. Matt shares how to identify areas that truly hold elk, how terrain and wind dictate every encounter, why finding elk matters more than forcing early success, and how to make better decisions by knowing when to move and when to stay committed.
If you’ve ever felt like you’re putting in the effort but not seeing results, this episode will help you refocus on what actually matters and give you a clearer path forward.

BLACK BEAR HUNTING - HOW TO GET CLOSE | 🎙️ EP. 170

In this episode Matt Hartsky breaks down how to improve your stalking success when hunting black bears, focusing on the phase where most opportunities are lost—closing the distance.
Spotting a bear is only the beginning. What you do next determines whether that encounter turns into a clean shot or another blown opportunity. Most hunters don’t fail because they can’t find bears—they fail because they rush the stalk, misread behavior, or move at the wrong time.
Drawing from more than 34 years of Western hunting experience, Matt walks through a structured approach to stalking black bears that emphasizes control, patience, and disciplined decision-making under pressure. He explains how to read a bear before you move, how to use terrain to your advantage as distance closes, and why slowing down at the right moment is often what separates success from failure.
This episode also covers wind management during a stalk, how to avoid unnecessary exposure, and how to move in a way that matches the bear’s behavior instead of reacting to it. The goal is to build a repeatable system that keeps you composed when adrenaline hits and the situation feels rushed.
If you want to become more consistent on spot-and-stalk black bears, this episode will help you clean up the mistakes that quietly ruin most stalks and give you a more controlled, effective approach in the field.

ELK HUNTING - MOST ELK HUNTERS QUIT RIGHT BEFORE IT HAPPENS | 🎙️ EP. 169

In this episode Matt Hartsky breaks down a moment every elk hunter eventually faces—but almost no one recognizes when it’s happening. The hunt hasn’t fallen apart. The country isn’t empty. And yet something starts to shift.
After more than 34 years of hunting and guiding Western big game, Matt explains why elk hunting often feels like it’s not working… right before it does. He walks through what’s actually happening during those quiet stretches when there are no bugles, no sightings, and no clear confirmation that you’re in the right place. Most hunters misread that silence, and the decisions they make in that moment quietly end their season.
This episode focuses on how pressure, expectations, and time begin to influence your behavior in the field. Matt explains why effort alone isn’t enough, how subtle mindset shifts can completely change outcomes, and why many hunters walk away from opportunities they were much closer to than they realized.
If you’ve ever felt like you were doing everything right but nothing was happening, this episode will give you a different way to interpret those moments—and help you stay in the hunt when it matters most.

THE EVENING ELK HUNTING PROBLEM (AND SOLUTION) | 🎙️ EP. 168

In this episode Matt Hartsky breaks down one of the most misunderstood and costly mistakes in elk hunting—misreading evening thermals and getting busted without ever knowing why. Most hunters assume evening wind becomes predictable, but in real mountain terrain it rarely behaves that cleanly. That gap between what you think the wind is doing and what it’s actually doing is where encounters fall apart.
After more than 34 years of hunting Western elk, Matt explains how evening thermals truly transition, why airflow becomes unstable during that window, and how elk consistently use those conditions to their advantage. What feels like random wind shifts are often tied to terrain features, temperature changes, and timing that most hunters overlook.
This episode focuses on helping you recognize when conditions are working against you before it costs you an opportunity. Matt walks through how small changes in wind direction can expose you, why certain setups fail late in the day, and how to adjust your movement and positioning when thermals become unpredictable.
If you’ve ever had elk disappear, blow out, or vanish in the evening without warning, this episode will give you a clearer understanding of what’s actually happening—and how to stay in control when it matters most.