{"podcast":{"title":"Backbone Unlimited Podcast","slug":"backbone-unlimited-podcast-7365967","podcast_index_feed_id":7365967,"rss_url":"https://feed.podbean.com/backboneunlimited/feed.xml","website_url":"https://backboneunlimited.podbean.com","image_url":"https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/image-logo/20847414/BACKBONE_UNLIMITED_PODCASTas0nb.png","author":"Backbone Unlimited","episode_count":100,"summary":"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 effectively. Episodes cover elk hunting strategy, mule deer hunting, bear hunting, public land tactics, archery elk hunting, rifle hunting, e-scouting, scouting, glassing, calling, bedding areas, feed, water, transition zones, mountain fitness, hunt planning, field decision-making, meat care, gear, pack-outs, and the mindset it takes to keep improving season after season. If you’re serious about becoming a more capable western hunter, Backbone Unlimited is built to help you train harder, hunt smarter, and never settle.","last_synced_at":"2026-07-16T22:20:31.830924+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/backbone-unlimited-podcast-7365967"},"episode":{"title":"ELK HUNTING WATER SOURCES - THE WATER SOURCE STRATEGY THAT FINDS BULLS OTHER HUNTERS MISS | 🎙️ EP. 183","slug":"elk-hunting-water-sources-the-water-source-strategy-that-finds-bulls-other-hunters-miss-ep-183","published_at":"2026-05-19T23:35:36+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/backbone-unlimited-podcast-7365967/elk-hunting-water-sources-the-water-source-strategy-that-finds-bulls-other-hunters-miss-ep-183","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/backbone-unlimited-podcast-7365967","url":"https://backboneunlimited.podbean.com/e/elk-hunting-water-sources-the-water-source-strategy-that-finds-bulls-other-hunters-miss-%f0%9f%8e%99%ef%b8%8f-ep-183/","audio_url":"https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/c7b5zkhp49cfg5xa/Elk_Hunting_Water_Sources_-_The_Water_Source_Strategy_That_Finds_Bulls_Other_Hunters_Miss7w7hy.mp3","summary":"In this episode of Backbone Unlimited, Matt Hartsky breaks down how to elk hunt water sources the right way and why most hunters completely misunderstand how bulls actually use water during elk hunting season. This episode covers the difference between destination water, transition water, and hidden security water, how pressure changes elk movement around ponds, creeks, wallows, seeps, and springs, and why the best elk hunting setups are often away from the water itself. Matt explains how wind, thermals, bedding cover, approach routes, and hunting pressure all affect daylight water use, while also teaching how to scout hidden water sources using topo maps, satellite imagery, terrain features, vegetation clues, and elk sign. If you want to become more consistent at finding public land bulls during archery elk season, this episode delivers a complete elk hunting water strategy built around real elk behavior, not guesswork.","meta_description":"In this episode of Backbone Unlimited, Matt Hartsky breaks down how to elk hunt water sources the right way and why most hunters completely misunderstand…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":1063,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/backbone-unlimited-podcast-7365967/episodes/elk-hunting-water-sources-the-water-source-strategy-that-finds-bulls-other-hunters-miss-ep-183/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/backbone-unlimited-podcast-7365967/elk-hunting-water-sources-the-water-source-strategy-that-finds-bulls-other-hunters-miss-ep-183.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}