After the rut ends and the mountains go quiet, most hunters think the elk have disappeared. The truth is—they’ve just changed the rules. In this episode of Backbone Unlimited, Matt Hartsky breaks down one of the most misunderstood parts of October elk hunting: how cow and calf movement shifts after the rut and how that change dictates where bulls, pressure, and opportunity all stack up on the mountain. Matt explains the full post-rut reset—how big herds dissolve into smaller family groups, how those cows and calves move down through elevation bands, and why the transition zone becomes prime habitat through mid and late October. You’ll learn how to identify benches, glades, and slopes that offer the perfect mix of food, cover, and consistent thermals—and why that’s exactly where the herd settles when the chaos fades. He also dives deep into daily rhythm and survival behavior: how cows time feeding, bedding, and water runs, how weather fronts and frost push movement, and how pressure and predators tighten their range. You’ll hear how understanding the subtle routine of these family groups gives you a roadmap to find bulls nearby—since post-rut bulls always shadow where cows and calves feed and rest. This episode teaches you to stop chasing sound and start reading the mountain. When you can interpret elk behavior by rhythm, feed, and wind—not bugles—you’ll find more elk in October than most hunters see all season. If you’re serious about mastering post-rut elk hunting, this is the one to study before heading into the next season.