Backbone Unlimited Podcast

Backbone Unlimited
  • 5.0 (8)
  • WILDERNESS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Host Matt Hartsky shares real-world hunting tactics, backcountry elk hunting tips, shed hunting, gear reviews, wildlife adventures, and hard-earned lessons on grit, discipline, and mental toughness. For hunters, outdoorsmen, and anyone committed to living untamed and conquering challenge. Learn public land hunting strategies, preparation, backcountry fitness, elk behavior, survival skills, and mindset tactics that help you thrive — in the wild and in life. New episodes weekly on elk hunting, big game strategies, western hunting, gear, preparation, training, family, and the relentless pursuit of more. #ElkHunting #BackcountryHunting #ShedHunting #HuntingPodcast #WesternHunting #PublicLandHunting #RelentlessLiving #BackboneUnlimited

  1. 7H AGO

    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 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 expands—but gradually, not dramatically. Matt dives into what truly controls travel distance, including energy balance, terrain resistance, food distribution, snow conditions, and seasonal progression. He explains the difference between daily loops and full seasonal relocation, how benches and sidehills reduce travel cost, how snow compresses movement into corridors, and how to recognize whether bears are stable or transitioning. When you understand how far black bears travel—and why—you stop hunting empty space and start hunting predictable movement.

    13 min

  2. 1D AGO

    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 than three decades of chasing elk and mule deer sheds across the Rockies, Matt explains why terms like “hard winter” and “mild winter” don’t automatically point you to stacked antlers. Winter severity is a macro condition, but shed density is a micro result driven by how animals adjust their movement, bedding time, travel efficiency, and energy conservation under stress. Matt walks through why mild winters often increase movement and spread antlers across a wider footprint, while harsh winters can tighten daily loops and concentrate sheds—but only in terrain that solves multiple survival constraints at once. He also addresses the die-off myth, why mortality zones rarely match true shed zones, and how winter stress reshapes behavior in subtle ways that most hunters overlook. This episode is built around behavior and prediction, not guesswork, and will help you stop chasing weather headlines and start reading real patterns on the landscape.

    12 min

  3. 2D AGO

    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. After more than three decades of Western black bear hunting, Matt explains that the issue is rarely a lack of bears. It’s almost always a glassing problem. Too many hunters pick big, scenic viewpoints and assume elevation equals opportunity, when in reality bears reveal themselves in very specific terrain under very specific spring conditions. Matt walks through the most common glassing mistakes, including focusing on shaded slopes, steep country, or massive views that hide the actual feeding zones bears prefer. He explains how angle, aspect, warmth, and green-up drive bear visibility, and why south- and southwest-facing slopes, burns, benches, and transition edges consistently produce sightings when timed correctly. The episode also covers positioning, light direction, blind spots, midday movement, and the patience required to let bears reveal themselves. If you want to stop glassing empty country and start finding bears with intention, this conversation will sharpen your spring strategy fast.

    11 min

  4. 3D AGO

    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 them. After more than three decades in the Rocky Mountains, Matt has watched hunters cover excellent winter range and migration routes only to come up empty while someone else finds bone in the same basin. The hard truth is that most missed sheds are not a location problem—they are a perception problem. This episode shifts the focus from terrain to mindset and visual discipline. Matt explains how the human brain filters out static, irregular objects in complex backgrounds and how confirmation bias, fatigue, and late-day speed quietly sabotage your search. He breaks down why angle and shadow matter, why so many antlers sit within 10–20 feet of travel routes, and how experienced shed hunters use sidehilling, visual resets, and intentional pauses to force their brains to truly see what’s in front of them. If you’ve ever finished a long day feeling like you should have found something, this conversation will change how you approach every hillside from here forward.

    12 min

  5. 4D AGO

    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 for bears is often labeled gimmicky or low-percentage, but most failures happen because hunters misunderstand how black bears respond to sound, calories, and risk. Matt reframes the entire tactic around bear behavior instead of hunting myths, explaining why black bears move for efficiency—not curiosity—and how calling only works when it aligns with that reality. You’ll learn when predator calling makes sense and when it doesn’t, including why spring green-up and early fall offer the best windows while bears are actively covering ground for food. Matt dives into location strategy, setup discipline, wind management, and why seeing downwind is critical. He explains the difference between blind calling and calling to a spotted bear, how long to stay on a stand, what sounds to use, and why most bears respond quietly and late. This episode breaks predator calling down to its functional core so you can turn it into a repeatable, behavior-based tool instead of a gamble.

    21 min

  6. FEB 9

    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 harness holsters and firearm solutions combine secure retention, rugged construction, and streamlined accessibility — giving you reliable carry and quick access whether you’re glassing ridges or moving through rough country. Use code BACKBONE for 10% off: https://www.venandiholsters.com/?ref=BACKBONE   In this episode of Backbone Unlimited, host Matt Hartsky interviews Brian Wortman, the founder of Venandi Holsters. They discuss the importance of functional and simple gear for backcountry hunting, Brian's military and law enforcement background, and how it shaped his approach to holster design. The conversation covers the unique features of Venandi Holsters, safety concerns in the field, and the significance of testing gear before heading out on hunts. Brian shares customer stories that highlight the effectiveness of his products and emphasizes the importance of American-made craftsmanship.

    40 min

  7. FEB 4

    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 come fall. Too many hunters treat spring as a time to rush intensity, chase exhaustion, or copy generic fitness plans that don’t translate to real mountain demands. Matt explains why spring is the most important phase for building long-term durability, not short-term fatigue. The conversation focuses on what it means to build a true base of mountain fitness. Matt explains why aerobic capacity, connective tissue strength, joint resilience, and movement quality matter more in spring than max effort workouts or extreme conditioning. He walks through how the work you do in the spring sets the ceiling for how hard you can safely train later in the year and how well your body holds up during long days, steep climbs, and heavy pack-outs. This episode also covers common spring training mistakes backcountry hunters make, including training too hard too soon, ignoring single-leg strength, and skipping foundational movement patterns that protect knees, hips, and ankles under load. Matt explains how to approach volume, consistency, and progression so fitness actually compounds instead of breaking you down. Built for elk and mule deer hunters who want to show up to the season stronger, more resilient, and better prepared, this episode reframes spring training as the foundation of successful mountain performance. If you hunt hard and train with purpose, this conversation will help you build the kind of fitness that carries you deeper, longer, and safer into the backcountry.

    23 min

  8. FEB 3

    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 decisions without outside confirmation. Solo hunting removes the safety net. There’s no partner to validate your instincts, slow down bad calls, or share the mental load when things go quiet. Every decision — when to stay, when to move, and when to wait — falls entirely on you. Matt walks through seven critical mindset and strategy principles that help solo hunters stay confident instead of reactive. He explains why most solo hunting mistakes aren’t tactical failures, but mental ones driven by doubt, impatience, and the urge to force momentum. The episode reinforces why confidence in solo hunting must come from process, preparation, and terrain-based thinking — not constant feedback or immediate results. The conversation covers how to manage doubt when there’s no one to sanity-check your decisions, how to avoid panic moves when activity disappears, and how to stay committed to good setups even when silence makes you uncomfortable. Matt also explains why quiet days are often the most valuable learning days for solo hunters and how those slow periods sharpen judgment if you know how to use them. This episode is built for Western hunters who spend real time alone in elk and mule deer country and want to hunt with more patience, clarity, and confidence. If you’ve ever questioned good decisions simply because no one was there to confirm them, this conversation will change how you think about solo hunting — and how you hunt when it matters most.

    23 min
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5
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

Host Matt Hartsky shares real-world hunting tactics, backcountry elk hunting tips, shed hunting, gear reviews, wildlife adventures, and hard-earned lessons on grit, discipline, and mental toughness. For hunters, outdoorsmen, and anyone committed to living untamed and conquering challenge. Learn public land hunting strategies, preparation, backcountry fitness, elk behavior, survival skills, and mindset tactics that help you thrive — in the wild and in life. New episodes weekly on elk hunting, big game strategies, western hunting, gear, preparation, training, family, and the relentless pursuit of more. #ElkHunting #BackcountryHunting #ShedHunting #HuntingPodcast #WesternHunting #PublicLandHunting #RelentlessLiving #BackboneUnlimited

Information

  • Creator
    Backbone Unlimited
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    100
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Backbone Unlimited Podcast

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