THREE DECADES OF BLACK BEAR HUNTING BOILS DOWN TO THIS ONE MOVEMENT RULE | 🎙️ EP. 133

Backbone Unlimited Podcast · Feb 21, 2026 · 13m

In this episode Matt Hartsky breaks down how far black bears actually travel to feed—and why misunderstanding that distance causes hunters to miss bears even when they’re in the right unit. After more than three decades of Western hunting, Matt explains that black bear movement isn’t random and it isn’t personality-driven. It’s energy math. Early spring bears are calorie-depleted and highly efficient. When food is close and accessible, their daily movement can stay tight and repeatable, sometimes within a small radius for days at a time. As green-up spreads and snowlines recede, that range…