Stop Guessing. Start Hunting With a System.
If youβre tired of wasting seasons, second-guessing your decisions, and feeling overwhelmed by Western big game hunting, Team Backbone gives you a structured system for reading terrain, pressure, wind, thermals, bedding, feed, and movement so you can hunt with more confidence and make better decisions in the field.
Cancel anytime. Start immediately. Built for elk, mule deer, bear, and Western public land hunters.
Team Backbone is built for Western big game hunters who want a repeatable decision-making system for elk, mule deer, and bear hunting on public land.
You can hike hard, glass long, buy good gear, and still waste a season if you donβt know how to read pressure, wind, terrain, feed, bedding, access, and movement together. Team Backbone gives you a structured way to think through those problems before you burn days chasing random sign, random advice, and random hope.
TEAM BACKBONE WILL HELP YOUπ
- Build better hunt plans before season
- Understand where animals should be based on terrain, pressure, feed, bedding, and security
- Adjust when the mountain changes
- Stop bouncing from spot to spot without a reason
- Bring real questions to live calls
- Learn from actual hunt scenarios
- Get better every month, not just during season
Inside Team Backbone, you learn how to hunt with structure.
WHO TEAM BACKBONE IS FOR
TEAM BACKBONE is built for Western big game hunters who are tired of guessing and want a structured, repeatable way to find and hunt elk, mule deer, and bear.
If youβve ever felt like youβre putting in the effort but not getting consistent resultsβ¦ this is for you.
This is for hunters who:
Want a clear system instead of random tips
Are willing to learn how terrain, wind, pressure, and movement actually work
Want to make better decisions in real time, not just follow a plan
Are serious about improving season after season
Value experience, structure, and real-world application over theory
This is not about shortcuts, gimmicks, or βone trickβ tactics.
Itβs about understanding how animals move, how pressure affects them, and how to position yourself correctlyβday after day, in any unit you hunt.
If youβre ready to stop wandering and start hunting with purpose, youβll fit right in here.
WHAT YOU GET INSIDE
A Structured Training System
Step-by-step breakdowns of how to locate, evaluate, and hunt elk, mule deer, and bear using real-world strategyβnot guesswork.
The Classroom (Training Vault)
In-depth lessons covering terrain, wind & thermals, pressure, movement patterns, scouting, and in-season decision makingβorganized so you can actually follow and apply it.
Live Team Calls
Regular live sessions where we break down real hunting situations, answer your questions, and help you adjust your approach so youβre not stuck figuring it out alone.
Private Community (Skool Platform)
A group of serious hunters working to improveβshare experiences, ask questions, and learn from others who are running the same system.
Real-World Hunting Scenarios
Breakdowns of actual situations youβll face in the fieldβso when it happens, you already know how to think through it.
Ongoing Updates & New Training
This isnβt static content. New lessons, breakdowns, and insights are added regularly so you continue improving over time.
WHY LEARN FROM MATT?
Iβve been hunting and guiding Western big game for over 34 years.
Elk. Mule deer. Bear. Public land. Different states, different conditions, and a lot of seasons that didnβt go as planned.
And thatβs where this comes from.
Not theory. Not secondhand information. Not something I read somewhere else.
This is built from real experienceβfiguring out what actually works, what consistently fails, and why.
Over time, I stopped chasing random tactics and started focusing on what actually controls animal movement:
- Terrain
- Wind and thermals
- Pressure
- Feed and security
Thatβs when things started to become repeatable.
Iβve also spent over 30 years as a strength, conditioning, and nutrition coach. My entire career has been built around helping people improve through structure, not guessworkβand that same approach is exactly what this system is based on.
This isnβt about giving you a handful of tips and hoping they work.
Itβs about helping you understand how to think in the field so you can make better decisionsβno matter where you hunt.
If youβre looking for shortcuts, this probably isnβt for you.
But if you want a proven, experience-based system that you can apply season after season, youβre in the right place.
WHY THIS IS DIFFERENT THAN RANDOM HUNTING CONTENT
Most hunting content is built around tips, tactics, and opinions.
Try this call.
Hunt this spot.
Look for this sign.
And sometimes that works.
But most of the time, it leaves you guessingβbecause it doesnβt explain why something works or when to use it.
Thatβs the difference.
TEAM BACKBONE isnβt built on random tactics.
Itβs built on a system.
A way to:
Identify the right country quickly
Understand how animals are using it
Adjust to wind, thermals, and pressure
Position yourself correctly
And make decisions in real time
So instead of reacting and hoping something worksβ¦
youβre making decisions based on what actually matters.
This is the same process Iβve developed over decades of hunting and guiding Western big gameβand itβs designed to be repeatable no matter where you hunt.
You wonβt find fluff, filler, or generic advice inside.
Everything is built around one goal:
π Helping you think clearly, move with purpose, and hunt with a system you can rely on.
Because when you understand how to make the right decisions consistently⦠everything changes.
WHAT YOU GET π
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The Classroom
Step-by-step lessons that teach you how to connect terrain, wind, thermals, pressure, scouting, movement, and execution into one repeatable hunting system.
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Live Team Calls
Join live coaching calls where we break down real hunting situations, answer member questions, review strategy, and help you apply the Team Backbone system to your own hunts.
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Private Skool Community
Ask questions, share hunt plans, get feedback, and learn alongside serious Western hunters who are working through the same terrain, pressure, scouting, and decision-making challenges.
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Hunt Planning Tools
Worksheets, checklists, and frameworks that help you build better plans before season and make better adjustments during season.
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Member Content Vault
A growing library of exclusive lessons, call replays, strategy breakdowns, worksheets, checklists, and seasonal hunting tools you can use before, during, and after the season.
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20% Off Site-Wide
Save 20% on Backbone Unlimited e-books, coaching calls, apparel, training resources, camps, and future products for as long as you remain a member.
CHOOSE YOUR LEVELπ
TEAM BACKBONE
Team Backbone is How You Learn The System
π For hunters who want structure, clarity, and a repeatable system for Western big game.
What You Get:
β Full access to the Backbone Training System inside Skool
β Step-by-step modules covering behavior, terrain, wind, pressure, and planning
β Training that applies to elk, mule deer, and black bear
β Weekly live team calls (teaching + Q&A + real scenario breakdowns)
β Access to the private community of serious Western hunters
β Checklists, worksheets, planning tools
β Member-only content vault lessons
β 20% Off Site-wide
Inside The Training System
Youβll work through:
- Foundations of Western big game behavior
- Finding animals under pressure
- Terrain-based movement patterns
- Wind and thermals across different environments
- Scouting that actually translates to season
- Hunt planning and execution
- In-season adjustments when things go wrong
What This Does For You
You stop guessing.
You stop relying on luck.
You start understanding how animals actually use terrainβand how to put yourself in position.
Price:
$29.95/month
TEAM BACKBONE ELITE
Team Backbone Elite Gives You Direct Access to Matt + Faster Results
π For hunters who want direct feedback, faster improvement, and a higher level of accountability.
Everything in TEAM BACKBONE PLUS:
β Monthly small-group coaching call (deeper dive, smaller setting)
β Direct access to Matt for questions and guidance
β Priority Q&A on live calls
β Hunt plan review (submit your plan, get real feedback)
β Elite-only advanced breakdowns and strategy sessions
What This Does For You
This is where things accelerate.
Instead of wondering if your plan makes senseβ¦
π Youβll know.
Instead of repeating the same mistakesβ¦
π Youβll fix them.
Instead of hoping things come togetherβ¦
π Youβll build a plan based on real-world conditions, terrain, and pressure.
Price:
$49.95/month
Which One Should I choose?
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Choose Team Backbone if:
You want the system, training, live calls, community, and planning tools to help you hunt with more structure, make better decisions, and become a more consistent Western hunter.
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Upgrade to Team Elite if:
You want everything inside Team Backbone plus Mattβs feedback on your actual hunt plan, direct guidance on your questions, priority coaching support, and a higher level of accountability as you prepare for season.
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER YOU JOIN?
The moment you join, you will receive a welcome email with instructions for joining Skool (free to you) and get immediate access to the TEAM BACKBONE platform.
Youβll start with the core system training so you understand how to approach terrain, wind, pressure, and movement the right way from the beginning.
From there, you can move through the classroom at your own pace, jump into the community, and get on live calls where we break down real hunting situations and answer your questions.
Nothing is locked behind βlevelsβ or delayed access.
You can start applying the system right awayβso when you step into the field, youβre not guessingβ¦ youβre making decisions with purpose.
A Simple Path for Your First 30 Days Inside Team Backbone:
Week 1: Start with the core system training
Week 2: Learn how terrain, pressure, wind, thermals, bedding, feed, and movement connect
Week 3: Use the worksheets to build or improve your hunt plan
Week 4: Bring your questions to a live call and start applying the system to your own hunting situation
"I built Team Backbone because most hunters donβt need more random tips. They need a better way to think. After 34+ years hunting and guiding Western big game, and over 30 years coaching people through structured improvement, I know the difference between effort and execution. This membership is where I teach the system behind better decisions."
~ Matt Hartsky
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I cancel anytime?
Yes. Team Backbone is month-to-month, and you can cancel anytime.
Is this only for elk hunters?
No. Team Backbone is built for Western big game hunters, including elk, mule deer, bear, and other public land hunting situations.
Do I need to be an advanced hunter?
No. The system is designed to help hunters build better structure, whether you are still learning or have years of experience.
What is Skool?
Skool is the private platform where the Team Backbone classroom, community, lessons, discussions, and updates live. It is free to use once you join.
What is the difference between Team Backbone and Elite?
Team Backbone gives you the system, classroom, community, live calls, worksheets, vault, and discount. Elite adds more direct access to Matt, hunt plan feedback, priority questions, and a higher level of coaching support.
What happens after I join?
You receive a welcome email with instructions for joining Skool and get immediate access to the Team Backbone platform.
Is this worth joining outside of hunting season?
Absolutely! The best hunters are built before the season starts. Team Backbone helps you improve your planning, e-scouting, terrain reading, fitness preparation, gear decisions, and decision-making before you ever step into the field.
Stop Guessing. Start Hunting With a System.
If youβre ready to build better plans, understand Western big game movement, adjust to pressure, and hunt with more confidence, Team Backbone is where that process starts.