In this episode of Backbone Unlimited, Matt Hartsky breaks down one of the most misunderstood transitions in all of elk hunting—post-rut elk behavior. When October rolls around and the bugles fade, most hunters walk into the woods wondering where the elk went. The same basins that were loud with bulls a week earlier suddenly fall silent. But they didn’t disappear—they changed everything about how they move, feed, and survive. Matt explains how bulls shift from high-energy rut mode to pure recovery. He dives deep into where they go after breeding season, how their priorities flip from dominance to survival, and why traditional September tactics fall flat in October. You’ll learn how to locate post-rut bedding zones, recognize subtle feeding patterns, and use terrain and thermals to your advantage when bulls go quiet. This episode covers how hunting pressure, early snow, and dropping temperatures shape bull movement across the West. From mid-elevation timber to shaded north slopes, Matt breaks down how to identify recovery areas most hunters overlook—and how to adjust your glassing and stalking approach to match the elk’s new rhythm. If you’ve ever hunted through October and thought the elk had vanished, this conversation will change how you see the season. It’s not about chasing bugles anymore—it’s about reading sign, trusting stillness, and anticipating recovery patterns before other hunters even realize what’s happening. Learn how to adapt your mindset, slow your pace, and hunt the quiet season with precision. Because when everyone else thinks the mountain has gone silent, that’s when the smartest hunters start filling tags.