When the bugles fade and the mountains go quiet, most hunters call it a season. But that’s when the real challenge begins. In this episode of Backbone Unlimited, Matt Hartsky breaks down how to spot and stalk lone bulls after the rut—when survival, not dominance, drives every move they make. You’ll learn how to read post-rut elk behavior, where bulls go to recover after weeks of chaos, and how to use glassing, wind, and terrain to move in without being detected. Matt walks through every phase of this process in detail—from finding quiet mid-elevation sanctuaries and breaking down north-facing slopes, to planning stalks around shifting thermals and executing calm, precise final approaches. This is elk hunting stripped to its purest form—no calling, no chaos, just patience, discipline, and pure fieldcraft. If you’ve ever wanted to master post-rut elk hunting or elevate your spot-and-stalk skills across the West, this episode delivers hard-earned insight built on decades of experience. Learn to hunt with intent, move with purpose, and finish with control. Because when the noise ends, the mountain belongs to those who slow down and think like a bull.