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Artwork for Backbone Unlimited Podcast

Backbone Unlimited Podcast

Backbone Unlimited
Elk Hunting
Elk
Backbone Unlimited
Mule Deer
Thermals
Hunting Strategies
Elk Behavior
Hunting Tactics
Public Land Hunting
Team Backbone
Hunting Pressure
Wind
Terrain
Mule Deer Hunting
Black Bear
Backcountry Hunting
Elk Movement
Elk Camp 2026
Archery
Glassing

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 st... more

PublishesDailyEpisodes100Foundeda year ago
Number of ListenersCategories
WildernessSports

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Artwork for Backbone Unlimited Podcast

Latest Episodes

Starting fresh on a new elk unit is one of the most disorienting situations in the sport — and most hunters respond by loading waypoints near the closest trailhead, glassing the biggest open basins they can reach, and burning the first two days on co... more

YouTube

Finding elk sign doesn’t mean you’ve found the bull.

You can spend days hunting a torn-up wallow, a heavy rub line, or fresh-looking tracks—and never lay eyes on an elk. That’s the sign trap: treating evidence of where elk were as proof of where the... more

YouTube

The Best Training Tool for Elk Hunting

Most elk hunters don’t fail because they didn’t work hard enough before season. They fail because their training didn’t prepare them for what elk hunting actually demands.

Steep climbs. High elevation. Consecut... more

YouTube

August is one of the best months of the year to locate mature mule deer bucks — but finding a big velvet buck is only valuable if you understand what his summer pattern is actually telling you.

In this episode of the Backbone Unlimited Podcast, Matt... more

YouTube

Key Facts

Accepts Sponsors
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Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Josh Kirchner
Voice of Dialed In Hunter, bear hunting expert
Dialed In Hunter
Episode: BEAR HUNTING WITH JOSH KIRCHNER - WHAT YOU'RE GETTING WRONG ABOUT BEAR BEHAVIOR | 🎙️ EP. 175
Brian Wortman
Owner and founder of Venandi Holsters
Venandi Holsters
Episode: VENANDI BINO PACK HOLSTERS: BUILT FOR HUNTERS WHO DEMAND MORE | 🎙️ EP. 128
Eric Christensen
Owner and founder of Kapture Gear
Kapture Gear
Episode: DIGISCOPING FOR THE WESTERN HUNTER: THE KAPTURE GEAR SOLUTION | 🎙️ EP. 122
Saxton Hartsky
Founder of Wildborn Outdoors
Wildborn Outdoors
Episode: SAXTON HARTSKY | 🎙️ EP. 104

Host

Matt Hartsky
Host focused on western big-game hunting, coaching, and training systems; lead voice behind Backbone Unlimited content and coaching ecosystem.

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 26 ratings
  • One of the best around

    I have listened to just about every post-rut elk hunting podcast out there and this one is by far the most straightforward, no BS, densely informational one that I’ve found. I bought the E-book on late season elk hunting from Matt Hartsky (not sure if I spelled that right) and I read through it all. I was impressed by the amount of information delivered in a step-by-step, easy to understand, no BS kind of way. I don’t understand why this podcast doesn’t have more listeners. If you’re tired of ot... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Scorpion1118259
    United Statesa month ago
  • Great tactics and tips

    Stumbled on this while driving to an elk hunt. It’s like a coach giving you all the things you need to think about before going into a game against a really tough opponent. Solid info.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Trouthike
    United States9 months ago
  • Great podcast

    Really enjoy it , it really gave me new thoughts about how to hunt. Keep it up

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    LC BG listener
    United States10 months ago
  • Great podcast

    Really enjoy it

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    LC BG listener
    United Statesa year ago
  • Refreshing, and honest

    I recently found Matt and Backbone unlimited on YouTube, and it’s great to hear a professional western hunter who’s podcast dives straight into the good info without trying to promote 40 of the latest new products and services. Thanks Matt, and keep it up!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Goianski
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners praise practical, no-fluff tactical content that emphasizes system thinking over gimmicks.
Feedback highlights growing confidence in applying the host's process to open-season plans.
Fans appreciate how coaching is woven into the content, not just promos.
Audiences value actionable steps, map-reading, and terrain-based strategies for public-land hunts.
Commenters note clear, experience-based insights from decades in the field.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#110
United States/Sports/Wilderness
Apple Podcasts
#201
Canada/Sports/Wilderness
Apple Podcasts
#44
Israel/Sports/Wilderness
Apple Podcasts
#84
India/Sports/Wilderness

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

DIGISCOPING FOR THE WESTERN HUNTER: THE KAPTURE GEAR SOLUTION | 🎙️ EP. 122
Q: Eric, what do you think are some of the most common mistakes you see hunters make when they're trying to record hunts?
A major issue is not being familiar with your system or phone settings, resulting in misaligned shots, poor framing, and lost moments. Hunters often rush to attach gear, forget to landmark or prepare properly, and struggle with understanding magnification, lighting, and how changes in camera settings affect image quality. Education and practice with the system, plus using the app to manage lens behavior, can dramatically improve results.
STILL RELYING ON LUCK? HOW SUCCESSFUL WESTERN HUNTERS CONTROL AND EXECUTE THEIR HUNTS | 🎙️ EP. 118
Q: What change did you make in your approach after your Utah deer hunt?
He discusses embracing patience, reducing rushing shots, and focusing on mature animals, which reshaped his approach to subsequent hunts.
STILL RELYING ON LUCK? HOW SUCCESSFUL WESTERN HUNTERS CONTROL AND EXECUTE THEIR HUNTS | 🎙️ EP. 118
Q: How did you stay calm after the first bear shot missed, and then recover for the follow-up?
He describes recognizing the miss, taking a deep breath, staying calm, and using the scope to re-locate the animal, which allowed a precise, ethical follow-up shot that finished the hunt.
STILL RELYING ON LUCK? HOW SUCCESSFUL WESTERN HUNTERS CONTROL AND EXECUTE THEIR HUNTS | 🎙️ EP. 118
Q: What gave you the confidence that waiting the first night was the right call?
He explains that waiting avoided an unethical wound and ensured a solid recovery window, turning a potentially regretful choice into a disciplined, ethical decision that paid off when the follow-up shot dropped the bear.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Backbone Unlimited Podcast

What is Backbone Unlimited Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A focused western hunting show that emphasizes a systems-based approach to finding elk, mule deer, and black bears on public land. Episodes blend field tactics (terrain, wind, thermals, sign reading), planning and map-work with practical fitness and conditioning guidance, plus coaching and product education from a single host and his Backbone Unlimited ecosystem. Content often blends actionable hunting strategies with promotions for training plans, ebooks, and coaching services, making it a cohesive resource for serious, results-driven hunters who want repeatable processes and measurable progress.

Where can I find podcast stats for Backbone Unlimited Podcast?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Backbone Unlimited Podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Backbone Unlimited Podcast and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Backbone Unlimited Podcast get?

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What are the audience demographics for Backbone Unlimited Podcast?

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How many subscribers and views does Backbone Unlimited Podcast have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Backbone Unlimited Podcast has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Backbone Unlimited Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Backbone Unlimited Podcast:

1. Elk Hunt
2. Pursuit With Cliff - Cliff Gray
3. Big Hunt Guys
4. Eastmans' Elevated
5. Elk Talk

How many episodes of Backbone Unlimited Podcast are there?

Backbone Unlimited Podcast launched a year ago and published 100 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Backbone Unlimited Podcast?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Backbone Unlimited Podcast?

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What guests have appeared on Backbone Unlimited Podcast?

Recent guests on Backbone Unlimited Podcast include:

1. Josh Kirchner
2. Brian Wortman
3. Eric Christensen
4. Saxton Hartsky

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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