Episode Details

What terrain should you target during rifle elk season? A north-facing slope or a big patch of dark timber can look promising on a map, but what makes it worth hunting?

In this episode of the Backbone Unlimited Podcast, Matt Hartsky breaks down how to identify terrain that gives elk food, security and room to avoid hunting pressure. Learn what to look for in timbered benches, steep sidehills, hidden feeding areas, saddles and finger ridges—and how hunter access affects which spots elk actually use.

We cover reading topo maps, adjusting to weather, glassing thick cover and using fresh elk sign to decide where to spend your time. If you’re struggling to narrow down a mountain during rifle season, this episode will help you choose where to start and when to move.

📙 Elk Hunting E-Book Series (the complete elk hunting system — locating elk, reading pressure, wind and thermals, positioning, calling, and bowhunting execution) → https://backboneunlimited.com/collections/elk-hunting-series-e-books 📋 Elk Hunt Plan Audit — I'll personally review your specific unit, dates, access, terrain, pressure, wind strategy, and hunt approach before you head into the field → https://backboneunlimited.com/pages/elk-hunt-plan-audit

👥 Team Backbone — Weekly coaching calls, ongoing elk hunting guidance, the full member vault, and a community of serious western hunters → https://backboneunlimited.com/pages/membership

🦵 Backbone Unlimited Training Plans — Built specifically for the physical demands of mountain elk hunting: legs, lungs, durability, and the ability to handle hard miles under load → https://backboneunlimited.com/pages/training

🥩 Nutrition Plans — Get leaner before season, fuel long days in the mountains, and dial in your hunting-season performance → https://backboneunlimited.com/pages/nutrition