In this episode of the Outdoor Aligned Podcast, Luke sits down in his mancave to talk all things turkey hunting as the season quickly approaches.

He breaks down the latest Missouri regulation changes, including new rules affecting non-resident hunters, updated bag limits, and increased tag prices. Luke also dives into the recent changes to shooting hours—highlighting the shift to all-day hunting on private land and the continued 1 PM cutoff on most public land.

The conversation expands into broader wildlife management topics, including recent predator hunting regulation changes involving coyotes and raccoons, and how these decisions may be tied to improving turkey populations across the state.

Luke also tackles the controversial topic of “reaping” turkeys—where hunters use a decoy to close the distance on a bird. While some consider it unsportsmanlike, Luke shares why he enjoys the adrenaline rush it brings, when he chooses to use it, and tells a few thrilling stories from the field.

Finally, he discusses decoy strategies, emphasizing that success doesn’t always come from the most expensive gear. From budget setups to key details like realistic sizing and using a real tail fan, Luke shares what’s actually worked for him over the years.

If you’re getting ready for turkey season or just enjoy hearing real hunting stories and strategies, this episode is for you.

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On this episode of The Outdoor Aligned Podcast, Luke sits down in the mancave with his buddy Kiley Harpster to talk everything deer.

Kiley shares the full story behind his 7-year-old, 147” 10 pointer he arrowed in December of 2025. This buck was never a “superstar” on trail camera and stayed low on his radar for years — until the end of the 2025 season when Kiley shifted his focus to age and maturity. Once he committed to hunting this deer, it didn’t take long to capitalize.

The craziest part? Kiley has sheds from this buck dating all the way back to the 2021 season, including antlers from when the deer was 3, 5, and 6 years old. Recently, he even picked up the final shed from his 2025 bow kill — bringing the entire story full circle.

From there, the guys dive into shed season 2026. As of early March, Kiley believes 40–50% of bucks are still carrying antlers based on trail camera intel. Luke shares that he’s found 16 sheds so far this season, and spirits are high heading into the back half of the grind.

To wrap things up, Kiley talks about attending the Quest Hunt Competition banquet, where he and his teammate placed 7th overall in Missouri with two outstanding archery bucks. They discuss the future of Quest under new ownership and why competitions like this keep bowhunters motivated.

This episode is all about patience, maturity, long-term deer history, and the moments that make it all worth it.

Thanks for listening to The Outdoor Aligned Podcast

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For bonus drops and raw in-the-field episodes, look for "The Outdoor Drop" releases.
Questions, guest ideas, or feedback? Email outdooraligned@gmail.com
Remember, stay aligned with the outdoors.

On this episode of The Outdoor Aligned Podcast, Luke sits down with friend Tyler Cooper of Missouri — a consistently successful whitetail hunter with a passion for chasing mature bucks.

The guys kick things off by diving into the upcoming shed season. They break down how to set realistic goals and expectations when it comes to shed hunting. While “miles for piles” often holds true, the number of sheds you find can depend on several factors — from property layout and deer density to timing and pressure. This conversation keeps it honest and relatable for the everyday outdoorsman.

From there, Tyler shares details about his new Whitetail Consulting business, primarily serving North Missouri. Using his background in forestry and years of whitetail experience, Tyler works with landowners to help them effectively and efficiently manage and hunt for mature deer. If you’re interested in working with Tyler, reach out to him on Facebook or give him a call at 636-699-5814.

To wrap up the episode, Tyler breaks down his incredible 2025 deer season. He brings both of this year’s archery bucks into the mancave to share the stories behind them. Both are big, mature deer — and one comes with a wild backstory and awesome history that you won’t want to miss.

If you’re fired up about shed season, chasing mature whitetails, and learning from real-world experience, this episode is for you.

Thanks for listening to The Outdoor Aligned Podcast

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For bonus drops and raw in-the-field episodes, look for "The Outdoor Drop" releases.
Questions, guest ideas, or feedback? Email outdooraligned@gmail.com
Remember, stay aligned with the outdoors.

On this episode of The Outdoor Aligned Podcast, Luke sits down with his friend Andrew Helton, a professional forester from Missouri, to break down Timber Stand Improvement (TSI) and invasive species control—and why nearly every property can benefit from it.

They dive into why proper TSI is so important for overall land health and how it can dramatically improve wildlife habitat for species like whitetail deer, turkeys, and quail, while also increasing the long-term financial value of your timber.

Luke and Andrew also discuss common invasive species in Missouri, including multiflora rose, autumn olive, and bush honeysuckle, and practical ways landowners can start battling these invasions on their own properties. The conversation expands into non-native or low-value tree species like honey locust, black locust, elm, and eastern red cedar, and how they often take more from your farm than they give.

To wrap things up, Andrew shares insight into his personal “play farm,” where he experiments with different land management strategies. What was once an old cattle farm is now a highly diversified property holding five coveys of quail along with strong deer and turkey numbers.

No matter the size of your property, anyone can improve their land using some of the methods discussed in this episode. If you’re into land management, habitat improvement, or making your ground work better for wildlife and your future, give this episode a listen.

Thanks for listening to The Outdoor Aligned Podcast

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For bonus drops and raw in-the-field episodes, look for "The Outdoor Drop" releases.
Questions, guest ideas, or feedback? Email outdooraligned@gmail.com
Remember, stay aligned with the outdoors.

On this episode of the Outdoor Aligned Podcast, Luke is riding solo on the drive home from a hunting trip in Louisiana, recapping four days of duck hunting with his good friend Walker. The hunts were tough and the ducks were scarce, but chasing birds in new areas with good friends made the trip more than worth it.

Luke also talks about taking a big boar hog using a thermal scope, Walker’s impressive black lab and the solid work she does retrieving, and the excellent Cajun-style meals cooked back at the river camp. From wild game to good food and even better company, this trip had it all.

Luke also gives a shoutout to Walker’s TikTok page, where he shares his Cajun cooking videos. Even when the hunting is slow, the memories, laughs, and meals make it a trip to remember.

Thanks for listening to The Outdoor Aligned Podcast

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Questions, guest ideas, or feedback? Email outdooraligned@gmail.com
Remember, stay aligned with the outdoors.

In this episode of The Outdoor Aligned Podcast, Luke sits down in the Mancave with family friend Brent Bernhardt to talk all things upland bird hunting, bird dogs, and getting back into waterfowl hunting.

Brent grew up hunting during the good ol’ days of quail hunting here in Missouri and spent much of his life chasing quail and pheasants behind bird dogs. He shares stories from decades in the uplands and explains how his hunting has evolved over time — including a recent transition to hunting with a new dog, a female black lab.

This season, Brent has been quail hunting his lab as she learns the art of pointing, while also getting back into duck hunting to give her more opportunities to retrieve. Luke and Brent swap stories from a great bird season, touching on the challenges, the wins, and the special moments that only happen when hunting with dogs.

Luke also talks about hunting his dog Timber during her first season and how she’s done an excellent job retrieving ducks and geese.

If you love bird hunting, bird dogs, and hearing real stories from the field, this episode is packed with great conversation and memories.

Thanks for listening to The Outdoor Aligned Podcast

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For bonus drops and raw in-the-field episodes, look for "The Outdoor Drop" releases.
Questions, guest ideas, or feedback? Email outdooraligned@gmail.com
Remember, stay aligned with the outdoors.

On this episode of the Outdoor Aligned Podcast, Luke sits down in the mancave with his longtime waterfowl hunting buddy Bailey Small. The two dive into the 2025 waterfowl season so far — the highs, the lows, and the unforgettable hunts, including a Canadian goose band that highlighted the recent part of the season.

Luke and Bailey talk through the challenges and rewards of chasing migrating birds on Missouri’s public land conservation areas, sharing real-world experiences that every public-land hunter can relate to.

Bailey also opens up about his dog Rip and the journey behind Small Kennels, his gun dog training business. With five years of experience and a reputation for producing high-quality dogs, Bailey breaks down his training programs, his approach to developing reliable gun dogs, and how he manages to hunt so many days during the season.

If you’re into ducks, geese, public land, or gun dogs — this one’s for you.

Thanks for listening to The Outdoor Aligned Podcast

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For bonus drops and raw in-the-field episodes, look for "The Outdoor Drop" releases.
Questions, guest ideas, or feedback? Email outdooraligned@gmail.com
Remember, stay aligned with the outdoors.

On this episode of The Outdoor Aligned Podcast, Max and Luke sit down to break down the second attempt at filling Luke’s Colorado deer tag—an impromptu trip that turned into an unforgettable adventure.

After heading back to Colorado for one more shot, Luke found himself in the middle of three action-packed days of spot-and-stalk hunting, filled with close encounters on big mule deer and impressive whitetails. The terrain, the stalks, and the unpredictable moments kept the energy high and the pressure on.

But persistence paid off. Luke ultimately connected on a heavy, unique, battle-worn whitetail buck—an old warrior busted up from a season of fighting. Taking him on the ground, with a bow, at 30 yards made the moment even more special.

In this episode, you’ll hear the full story: the history behind the buck, how each stalk unfolded, what nearly went wrong, and how the entire trip came together in a big way.

If you love raw hunting stories, ground-level encounters, and the payoff of grit and determination, this is one you won’t want to miss.

Thanks for listening to The Outdoor Aligned Podcast

Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube
Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook @TheOutdoorAlignedPodcast
For bonus drops and raw in-the-field episodes, look for "The Outdoor Drop" releases.
Questions, guest ideas, or feedback? Email outdooraligned@gmail.com
Remember, stay aligned with the outdoors.