In this episode of Backbone Unlimited, Matt Hartsky breaks down one of the most emotionally charged and misunderstood parts of elk hunting: when to call, when to stay silent, and how calling actually helps—or destroys—your opportunities. Overcalling and undercalling ruin more elk encounters than bad shooting, bad wind, or poor setups, and it usually happens because hunters try to force elk into a script instead of responding to what the elk are actually doing in the moment.
This episode explains why elk calling is completely situational and must match your role as a solo hunter or part of a team, the mood of the bull, herd dynamics, terrain, wind, thermals, distance, and pressure level. Matt breaks down why calling without evaluating the situation leads to blown stalks, educated bulls, and silent exits—and why most calling mistakes come from emotion, excitement, or frustration rather than strategy.
You’ll learn why solo hunters need a completely different calling approach, how excessive calling pins your exact location, and why silence is often your most powerful tool. The episode dives deep into understanding real cow talk versus “performative” calling, explaining why authentic cow sounds are subtle, irregular, and boring—and why that realism is exactly what makes elk commit.
Matt also clarifies the critical difference between calling that draws elk in and calling that simply gives you away. This episode provides a practical, field-tested framework to fix both overcalling and undercalling, helping you understand when to let a bull work, when to apply pressure, and when to shut up and let terrain, wind, and patience do the work.
If you’ve ever blown a setup by calling too much, missed opportunities by calling too little, or felt confused about what elk calling should actually sound like in real hunting situations, this episode brings clarity. It’s about learning to work with elk behavior instead of against it—and turning calling into a strategic advantage instead of a liability.
