ELK HUNTING HAS CHANGED IN 2026 - HOW HUNTERS ARE STILL FINDING BULLS | 🎙️ EP. 154

Backbone Unlimited Podcast · Mar 31, 2026 · 19m

In this episode of Backbone Unlimited, Matt Hartsky breaks down why elk hunting feels different across the West in 2026—and what serious hunters need to understand to keep finding bulls. With extremely dry winters, reduced snowpack, earlier green-up, and increasing public land pressure, elk are using the landscape differently than many hunters are used to. Basins feel quieter, traditional spots seem empty, and daytime activity can feel inconsistent—but that doesn’t mean the elk are gone. Drawing from more than 34 years of Western big game hunting experience, Matt explains how drought…