HOW TO HUNT ELK FUNNELS | STOP GUESSING WHERE ELK GO IN OCTOBER | 🎙️ EP. 77

When elk seem unpredictable, the terrain is telling you exactly where they’re going—you just have to learn how to read it. In this episode of Backbone Unlimited, Matt Hartsky breaks down one of the most overlooked tactics in elk hunting—how to find and hunt natural funnels that guide elk movement between feeding, bedding, and safety zones. Every herd on the mountain follows a rhythm shaped by food, security, and terrain. By understanding how ridges, saddles, benches, and drainages quietly funnel elk through specific corridors, you can start predicting movement instead of chasing it. Matt explains how to identify these natural travel routes both on a map and in the field, how wind and timing affect elk use of each funnel, and how to set up effectively for both archery and rifle hunts. From early-morning transitions to late-season travel between habitats, you’ll learn how to intercept elk where terrain forces them to move—and how to read sign, pressure, and thermals to stay one step ahead. This episode is packed with actionable tips for Western hunters who want to move from guesswork to precision. Whether you’re hunting high-country basins or timbered draws, learning to use natural funnels will transform how you scout, plan, and execute. Elk aren’t random—they’re predictable when you understand the mountain the way they do.