Shows / Backbone Unlimited Podcast
Backbone Unlimited Podcast
Backbone Unlimited is a western hunting podcast for public-land hunters who want to stop guessing and build a better system for finding elk, mule deer and black bears, beating pressure, reading sign, understanding wind and thermals, and making cleaner decisions in the mountains.
Hosted by Matt Hartsky, Backbone Unlimited combines 34+ years of western big game hunting experience with decades of strength, conditioning, and nutrition coaching to help hunters prepare smarter and hunt more…
Episodes
- Backbone Unlimited Podcast
YOU DREW AN IDAHO NON-RESIDENT ELK TAG, NOW WHAT? 90 DAY PUBLIC LAND ELK HUNTING PLAN | 🎙️ EP. 147
In this episode of the Backbone Unlimited podcast, Matt Hartsky breaks down exactly what to do after drawing an Idaho elk tag as a non-resident. Drawing a tag…
- Backbone Unlimited Podcast
IS KAPTURE THE BEST DIGISCOPING SYSTEM FOR WESTERN BIG GAME HUNTING? 1 YEAR REVIEW | 🎙️ EP. 146
Kapture delivers one of the simplest, strongest digiscoping systems on the market, letting you lock your phone to your bino or spotter in seconds. Their rugged…
- Backbone Unlimited Podcast
MOST SPRING BEAR HUNTERS MISS THIS CRITICAL MOVEMENT PATTERN | 🎙️ EP. 145
In this episode of the Backbone Unlimited podcast, Matt Hartsky breaks down one of the biggest missing links in consistent spring bear success: understanding…
- Backbone Unlimited Podcast
THE BLACK BEAR HUNTING SYSTEM I USE TO FIND SPRING BEARS EVERY YEAR | 🎙️ EP. 144
In this episode of the Backbone Unlimited podcast, Matt Hartsky breaks down one of the most frustrating experiences in spring bear hunting: spending long days…
- Backbone Unlimited Podcast
BLACK BEAR HUNTING WITHOUT BAIT | BEAR BEHAVIOR WINS HUNTS | 🎙️ EP. 143
In this episode of the Backbone Unlimited podcast, Matt Hartsky breaks down how to hunt black bears without bait and why many hunters struggle when they try to…
- Backbone Unlimited Podcast
SPRING BEAR HUNTING TIPS - IS HE FEEDING OR TRAVELING? WILL HE STAY OR GO? | 🎙️ EP. 142
In this episode of the Backbone Unlimited podcast, Matt Hartsky breaks down one of the most misunderstood questions in spring bear hunting: how to tell whether…
- Backbone Unlimited Podcast
THE BEST TIME OF DAY TO HUNT BLACK BEARS | MOST HUNTERS GET THIS WRONG | 🎙️ EP. 141
In this episode of the Backbone Unlimited podcast, Matt Hartsky breaks down the best time of day to hunt black bears and why many hunters misunderstand how…
- Backbone Unlimited Podcast
THE PATTERN SUCCESSFUL SHED HUNTERS DON'T TALK ABOUT | 🎙️ EP. 140
In this episode of the Backbone Unlimited podcast, Matt Hartsky breaks down one of the most overlooked truths in shed hunting: why some areas consistently…
- Backbone Unlimited Podcast
THE NUMBER ONE BLACK BEAR HUNTING SECRET TO KILL MORE BEARS | 🎙️ EP. 139
In this episode of the Backbone Unlimited podcast, Matt Hartsky breaks down one of the most misunderstood forces in spring bear hunting: how black bears…
- Backbone Unlimited Podcast
SHED HUNTING MISTAKES YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW YOU'RE MAKING | 🎙️ EP. 138
In this episode of the Backbone Unlimited podcast, Matt Hartsky breaks down a hard truth most shed hunters never talk about: shed hunting is often a game of…
- Backbone Unlimited Podcast
MOST HUNTERS MAKE THESE FATAL BEAR HUNTING MISTAKES EVERY SPRING | 🎙️ EP. 137
In this episode of Backbone Unlimited, Matt Hartsky breaks down the spring bear hunting mistakes that quietly cost hunters opportunities across the West. Many…
- Backbone Unlimited Podcast
THE PATTERN THAT PREDICTS WHERE DEER AND ELK ANTLERS HIT THE GROUND | 🎙️ EP. 136
In this episode Matt Hartsky breaks down how deer and elk actually travel right before they drop their antlers—and why misunderstanding this final behavioral…
- Backbone Unlimited Podcast
THE NUMBER ONE REASON BEAR HUNTERS CAN'T FIND SPRING BLACK BEARS | 🎙️ EP. 135
In this episode Matt Hartsky breaks down how to actually find black bears in spring—not with guesses or internet shortcuts, but by understanding what bears are…
- Backbone Unlimited Podcast
SHED HUNTING PRESSURE MAP: WHERE ANTLERS DROP WHEN ANIMALS GET PUSHED | 🎙️ EP. 134
In this episode Matt Hartsky breaks down one of the most overlooked forces in shed hunting: how human pressure changes where antlers actually end up. Most…
- Backbone Unlimited Podcast
THREE DECADES OF BLACK BEAR HUNTING BOILS DOWN TO THIS ONE MOVEMENT RULE | 🎙️ EP. 133
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…
- Backbone Unlimited Podcast
SHED HUNTING TIPS: HOW WINTER SEVERITY CHANGES ANTLER DENSITY | 🎙️ EP. 132
In this episode Matt Hartsky breaks down how winter severity really impacts shed density—and why it misleads Western shed hunters year after year. After more…
- Backbone Unlimited Podcast
BEAR HUNTING GLASSING GUIDE | WHERE TO LOOK TO FIND BEARS | 🎙️ EP. 131
In this episode Matt Hartsky breaks down where to glass for spring black bears—and why so many hunters spend full days behind optics without ever spotting one…
- Backbone Unlimited Podcast
SHED HUNTERS BEWARE: YOU'RE PROBABLY MISSING ANTLERS | 🎙️ EP. 130
In this episode Matt Hartsky tackles one of the most frustrating realities in western shed hunting: you are likely walking past antlers without ever seeing…
- Backbone Unlimited Podcast
BLACK BEAR HUNTING TIPS: HOW TO CALL BEARS IN CLOSE | 🎙️ EP. 129
In this episode Matt Hartsky breaks down how to call black bears with a predator call in a way that actually works in real hunting conditions. Predator calling…
- Backbone Unlimited Podcast
VENANDI BINO PACK HOLSTERS: BUILT FOR HUNTERS WHO DEMAND MORE | 🎙️ EP. 128
Venandi Holsters crafts precision-fit, purpose-built bino pack holsters and gear carriers designed for hunters and outdoor professionals. Their innovative bino…
- Backbone Unlimited Podcast
SPRING TRAINING: BUILD A REAL BASE OF MOUNTAIN FITNESS FOR BACKCOUNTRY HUNTING | 🎙️ EP. 127
In this episode Matt Hartsky breaks down what spring training should actually look like for backcountry hunters who want to perform better in the mountains…
- Backbone Unlimited Podcast
SOLO HUNTING: 7 TIPS TO HUNT ELK AND MULE DEER WITH CONFIDENCE | 🎙️ EP. 126
In this episode Matt Hartsky breaks down what really determines success when you’re hunting elk and mule deer alone: your ability to make clear, disciplined…
- Backbone Unlimited Podcast
MASTER ELK HUNTING COUNTRY: HOW TO READ TERRAIN TO KILL MORE BULLS | 🎙️ EP. 125
In this episode of Backbone Unlimited, Matt Hartsky breaks down one of the most misunderstood reasons elk hunters struggle year after year—misreading terrain…
- Backbone Unlimited Podcast
7 ELK AND MULE DEER HUNTING MISTAKES I WISH I KNEW SOONER | 🎙️ EP. 124
In this episode of Backbone Unlimited, Matt Hartsky shares seven hard-earned hunting mistakes he made over 34 years pursuing elk and mule deer—mistakes that…
- Backbone Unlimited Podcast
BUILD THESE 6 OFF SEASON HUNTING SKILLS TO ACTUALLY KILL MORE ELK AND MULE DEER | 🎙️ EP. 123
In this episode of the Backbone Unlimited Podcast, Matt Hartsky breaks down the off-season hunting skills that actually lead to more elk and mule deer on the…
- Backbone Unlimited Podcast
DIGISCOPING FOR THE WESTERN HUNTER: THE KAPTURE GEAR SOLUTION | 🎙️ EP. 122
Kapture delivers one of the simplest, strongest digiscoping systems on the market, letting you lock your phone to your bino or spotter in seconds. Their rugged…
- Backbone Unlimited Podcast
HOW I PLAN A WESTERN HUNTING YEAR: ELK, MULE DEER, TAGS, TRAINING, SCOUTING | 🎙️ EP. 121
In this episode of the Backbone Unlimited Podcast, Matt Hartsky breaks down how he plans an entire western hunting year—from tag applications and long-range…
- Backbone Unlimited Podcast
ADVANCED ELK HUNTING STRATEGY: HOW TO BECOME A CONSISTENT KILLER | 🎙️ EP. 120
Elk Camp 2026 is your chance to learn, train, and run real-world scenarios alongside experienced elk hunters, Matt & Saxton Hartsky, in the mountains. Spots…
- Backbone Unlimited Podcast
BUILD A WESTERN TAG STRATEGY THAT WORKS | 2026 BIG GAME HUNTING APPLICATION GUIDE | 🎙️ EP. 119
HUNT PLANNING with EAST 2 WEST HUNTS: East 2 West Hunts provides premium Western big-game application services with deep expertise in elk, mule deer, and…
- Backbone Unlimited Podcast
ELK HUNTING - WHERE TO START - A BEGINNER'S COMPLETE GUIDE | 🎙️ EP. 117
In this episode of Backbone Unlimited, Matt Hartsky tackles one of the most common and overwhelming questions new hunters ask: Where do I start with elk…
- Backbone Unlimited Podcast
WHY ELK HUNTING FEELS SO HARD | THE MINDSET MISTAKE MOST HUNTERS MAKE | 🎙️ EP. 116
In this episode of Backbone Unlimited, Matt Hartsky breaks down one of the most common and rarely discussed reasons elk seasons implode early: showing up with…
- Backbone Unlimited Podcast
UNDERSTAND ELK MOVEMENT | WHY MOST HUNTERS NEVER FIND THEM | 🎙️ EP. 115
In this episode of Backbone Unlimited, Matt Hartsky breaks down the single biggest root cause behind failed elk seasons: not understanding elk movement. Every…
- Backbone Unlimited Podcast
STILL RELYING ON LUCK? HOW SUCCESSFUL WESTERN HUNTERS CONTROL AND EXECUTE THEIR HUNTS | 🎙️ EP. 118
In this episode of Backbone Unlimited, Matt Hartsky sits down with Cody Calkins, a New Mexico firefighter and dedicated Western hunter, to break down a full…
- Backbone Unlimited Podcast
THE GOLDEN RULE OF ELK HUNTING YOU MUST KNOW | 🎙️ EP. 114
In this episode of Backbone Unlimited, Matt Hartsky breaks down what he believes is the most unforgiving and season-ending mistake elk hunters make: misreading…
- Backbone Unlimited Podcast
ELK CALLING MISTAKES YOU CAN FIX TODAY | 🎙️ EP. 113
In this episode of Backbone Unlimited, Matt Hartsky breaks down one of the most emotionally charged and misunderstood parts of elk hunting: when to call, when…
- Backbone Unlimited Podcast
BAD E-SCOUTING | THE HIDDEN REASON YOUR ELK SEASON FAILED | 🎙️ EP. 112
In this episode of Backbone Unlimited, Matt Hartsky breaks down one of the most common—and most painful—reasons elk hunters burn days without ever getting into…
- Backbone Unlimited Podcast
HUNTING TOO FAST | HOW RUSHING YOUR ELK HUNT BLOWS OPPORTUNITIES | 🎙️ EP. 111
In this episode of Backbone Unlimited, Matt Hartsky breaks down one of the most painful and overlooked reasons elk seasons fall apart: unrealistic time…
- Backbone Unlimited Podcast
FATIGUE KILLS ELK HUNTS | DISCIPLINE AND GRIND WHEN THE SEASON GETS TOUGH | 🎙️ EP. 110
In this episode of Backbone Unlimited, Matt Hartsky tackles one of the most overlooked reasons elk seasons fall apart: fatigue, discipline, and burnout. Gear…
- Backbone Unlimited Podcast
HOW TO BUILD REPEATABLE ELK KILLING SYSTEMS | 🎙️ EP. 109
In this episode of Backbone Unlimited, Matt Hartsky breaks down one of the most overlooked reasons elk seasons fall apart for Western hunters: not having a…
- Backbone Unlimited Podcast
HOW TO FIX THE 8 REASONS ELK HUNTERS DONT KILL BULLS - 8 PART COMPILATION | 🎙️ EP. 108
In this 8-part Backbone Unlimited compilation, Matt Hartsky breaks down the most common—and most costly—reasons elk seasons fall apart for Western hunters…