# IF I STARTED ELK HUNTING TODAY, I'D DO THIS! | 🎙️ EP. 171

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/backbone-unlimited-podcast-7365967/if-i-started-elk-hunting-today-i-d-do-this-ep-171
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/backbone-unlimited-podcast-7365967/if-i-started-elk-hunting-today-i-d-do-this-ep-171.md
Podcast: [Backbone Unlimited Podcast](https://stenobird.com/podcast/backbone-unlimited-podcast-7365967)
Published: 2026-04-17T18:30:00+00:00
Episode link: https://backboneunlimited.podbean.com/e/if-i-started-elk-hunting-today-id-do-this-%f0%9f%8e%99%ef%b8%8f-ep-171/
Audio file: https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/9tiqtrnp29v5yhh9/If_I_Started_Elk_Hunting_Today_Id_Do_This_auf98.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/backbone-unlimited-podcast-7365967/episodes/if-i-started-elk-hunting-today-i-d-do-this-ep-171
Duration seconds: 759

## Resource

In this episode Matt Hartsky breaks down exactly how he would approach elk hunting if he had to start completely over today—with no past experience, no proven spots, and no habits to rely on. Instead of chasing tactics, gear, or quick fixes, Matt walks through a different approach built around understanding how elk actually live, move, and survive on the landscape. Most hunters spend years trying to piece together success by copying strategies, focusing on calling, or forcing encounters in areas that don’t truly support elk. But without a foundation, even the right tactics fall apart. Drawing from more than 34 years of Western hunting experience, Matt explains why elk behavior—not tactics—should be the starting point, and how focusing on location, wind, positioning, and decision-making can dramatically shorten the learning curve. This episode is about eliminating wasted time and building a system that actually works in real elk country. Matt shares how to identify areas that truly hold elk, how terrain and wind dictate every encounter, why finding elk matters more than forcing early success, and how to make better decisions by knowing when to move and when to stay committed. If you’ve ever felt like you’re putting in the effort but not seeing results, this episode will help you refocus on what actually matters and give you a clearer path forward.

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## Transcript

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