Episode
MOST ELK HUNTERS ONLY PLAN FOR 2 DAYS - HERE'S THE 10 DAY SYSTEM | 🎙️ EP. 210
- Podcast
- Backbone Unlimited Podcast
- Published
- Jul 16, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 870
- Processing state
not_requested
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Summary
Most elk hunters plan opening morning. Very few build an elk hunting strategy that carries them from day one through day ten. In this episode of the Backbone Unlimited Podcast, Matt Hartsky breaks down a complete day-by-day system for planning and executing a 10-day elk hunt. Instead of treating the entire trip like one long push, you’ll learn how to divide your hunt into four distinct phases: orienting and finding elk during days 1–2, executing on fresh information during days 3–5, managing fatigue and making strategic adjustments during days 6–8, and closing the hunt with full commitment on days 9–10. Matt explains why the first two days should focus on locating elk, reading fresh sign, understanding wind and thermal behavior, identifying bedding and feeding patterns, and confirming both a primary hunting zone and a backup area. You’ll also learn when to stay in productive elk country, when cold sign and zero contact justify a move, and why changing areas after one slow day is often a costly mistake. The middle of a long public-land elk hunt is where many hunters begin making decisions under fatigue, frustration, and doubt. This episode covers how to maintain confidence, manage physical recovery, use midday elk movement, glassing, wallows, and water sources more effectively, and decide whether to continue hunting known elk or make a strategic move while there’s still enough time left to execute. You’ll also hear how to approach the final two days of an elk hunt, why day ten should be hunted with the same urgency as opening morning, and how to prepare pack-out routes, meat-care timelines, food, hydration, recovery, and physical capacity before a bull is ever on the ground. Drawing from 34 years of western elk hunting and guiding, along with 30 years as a professional…