The late season is where the real divide between archery and rifle hunting begins. In this episode of Backbone Unlimited, Matt Hartsky breaks down how everything changes from mid-October through November—the weather, the animal behavior, and your tactics. As the rut fades and survival takes over, elk and mule deer transition into new patterns that demand totally different approaches. Whether you’re carrying a bow or a rifle, adapting to this phase is the difference between hiking home empty and tagging out when most hunters have already quit. Matt explains how post-rut elk behavior and the early mule deer rut create two very different challenges on the same mountain. He covers how to adjust your timing, terrain strategy, and decision-making depending on your weapon. Archery hunters will learn how to hunt tighter to cover, manage fickle thermals, and stay deadly quiet when animals are most alert. Rifle hunters will discover how to use reach, glassing strategy, and patience to capitalize on short daylight windows and unpredictable movement. This episode also dives into judgment and ethics—how to know when to take the shot, when to wait, and how late-season conditions test your discipline more than any other time of year. Matt closes with the mental edge it takes to keep pushing when the mountains turn cold and quiet—because success now isn’t about luck, it’s about grit, strategy, and relentless persistence. If you’re serious about improving your late season elk and mule deer hunting, this is the deep dive that separates the hunters who adapt from the ones who pack it in early.