On this episode of Keota Outdoors, Luke sits down in the mancave with Bailey Small, owner of Small Kennels, to talk all things gun dogs. As one group of dogs graduates from Bailey's four-month Basic Gun Dog Training Program and heads home to their owners, another group is just beginning the journey.

Bailey breaks down exactly what owners can expect from the Basic Program, what skills their dogs will learn, and why building a solid foundation is so important. The conversation then shifts to the Advanced Gun Dog Training Program, where dogs are transformed into dependable hunting companions that are ready for the field. While they may not quite understand English, they're about as close as it gets!

Luke and Bailey also discuss Bailey's recent experience stepping outside his comfort zone by entering hunt tests. As a trainer dedicated to constantly improving his craft, Bailey shares what he learned from the experience and how it helps him continue producing better gun dogs for his clients.

To wrap things up, Bailey shares details about the upcoming Small Kennels Pre-Season Bash, where clients, friends, family, and fellow waterfowl fanatics are invited to enjoy live music, great food, cornhole, and kick off the upcoming waterfowl season together.

Whether you're looking for your first gun dog, considering professional training, or simply love watching good dogs work, this is an episode you won't want to miss. 

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Remember, stay aligned with the outdoors.

 On this episode of Keota Outdoors, Luke sits down in the mancave with Patrick Tompson, owner of Tompson Land and Whitetail, to dive deep into one of the most important aspects of whitetail habitat management—food plots.

As summer food plot season reaches its peak, Patrick shares the knowledge he's gained from planting and managing food plots for clients across the Midwest. From clover and soybeans to corn, cereal grains, brassicas, and everything in between, Patrick explains what it takes to grow healthy, productive food plots that keep deer on your property throughout the year.

Luke also brings plenty of questions from his own experiences, discussing the successes and struggles he and his dad have faced while planting food plots on their farm. The conversation begins with one of the most dependable food sources available—clover. Patrick explains why clover remains a favorite among land managers, how to establish it successfully, and why it can thrive even in less-than-ideal soil conditions with proper maintenance.

The conversation then shifts to soybeans and corn, breaking down the role these high-energy food sources play during the late season when deer need them most. Finally, Luke and Patrick discuss the challenges of planting fall food plots in the Midwest, where August and September droughts can make establishing a successful stand difficult. Patrick shares practical strategies for maximizing moisture, improving germination, and increasing your chances of growing a productive fall plot.

Whether you're planting your very first food plot or looking to improve your existing habitat, this episode is packed with practical advice that will help you create better deer habitat and set yourself up for a successful hunting season. 

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Remember, stay aligned with the outdoors.

On this episode of Keota Outdoors, Luke sits down in the mancave to talk about what's keeping him busy this summer as deer season inches closer. Trail cameras are hitting the woods, mature bucks are starting to reveal themselves, and it's time to begin building this year's hit list. Luke shares his current trail camera strategy, what he's looking for this time of year, and how he's preparing for the upcoming whitetail season.

The second half of the episode dives into one of the most controversial topics in Missouri hunting today—Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). Luke recently had the opportunity to participate in a CWD discussion hosted by the Missouri Department of Conservation alongside approximately 30 hunters, landowners, business owners, outdoor enthusiasts, and other stakeholders from across the state. The meeting provided an open forum to discuss CWD, MDC's management efforts, and the concerns and opinions of those directly impacted.

Luke recaps what was discussed during the meeting, shares how the conversation changed his perspective on MDC's approach to managing CWD, and breaks down the new Missouri CWD regulations that will take effect beginning in 2026. Whether you agree with the changes or not, this episode aims to provide insight into the reasoning behind them and encourage an informed conversation about the future of deer hunting in Missouri. 

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Remember, stay aligned with the outdoors.

On this episode of Keota Outdoors, Luke sits down in the mancave to talk about one of his biggest hunting obsessions—trail cameras. 

Luke has been running trail cameras since he was a young boy and still loves the anticipation of letting a camera soak in the woods for weeks at a time. Whether it's a mature buck, a surprise visitor, or a target deer showing up for the first time, you never know what might walk in front of the lens. 

Luke breaks down his trail camera strategy throughout the year, including summer setups on trails, food plots, and mineral sites before transitioning to scrapes, mock scrapes, and key travel corridors by October. He also discusses how he combines traditional SD card cameras with cellular trail cameras to gather information and hunt more effectively. 

The conversation then shifts to one of the hottest topics in the hunting world right now: Iowa's proposed trail camera restrictions. The proposal would prohibit all trail cameras—both SD card and cellular models—on Iowa public land, and the Iowa DNR is even considering additional restrictions on cellular cameras used on private land. 

If you're interested in trail camera brands, camera placement strategies, deer hunting tactics, or the future of trail camera regulations, this is an episode you won't want to miss. 

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On this episode of Keota Outdoors, Luke and Max sit down to recap Luke's recent Colorado Merriam’s turkey hunt—an unforgettable mountain adventure that ended with a pile of elk sheds and his very first Merriam’s gobbler.

Luke shares the story of a camping trip to the Colorado mountains with his dad, where long days of hiking and covering country resulted in a great collection of elk sheds and plenty of memories. The turkey hunt started with an exciting first morning that featured a close encounter with a gobbler that never showed himself, leaving Luke wondering what could have been.

Determined to find more birds, Luke made a move to a new area the following day. That decision proved to be the turning point of the hunt when he located a gobbler late that afternoon and managed to get him roosted for the next morning. What followed was one of the most intense turkey hunting experiences of his life. With more than 100 gobbles heard at 150 yards and closer, Luke finally made an aggressive move that paid off, ending with a beautiful Merriam’s gobbler standing just 15 yards away.

The conversation then shifts to an important topic for sportsmen and women across Colorado. Max discusses a proposed amendment to the Colorado Constitution that would establish the right to hunt and fish, helping protect outdoor traditions, conserve wildlife resources for future generations, and ensure wildlife management remains rooted in sound conservation practices. Supporters are currently gathering signatures to place the amendment on the ballot, making public participation critical.

If you're passionate about turkey hunting, shed hunting, mountain adventures, truck camping, conservation, or simply hearing a great hunting story, this is an episode you won't want to miss.

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On this episode of Keota Outdoors, Luke sits down with Max to talk about a recent Wyoming backcountry spring black bear hunt that turned into an unforgettable adventure. What began as a planned 10-day hunt quickly became a crash course in adapting to changing conditions, learning fresh country on the fly, and reacting to the sign they were seeing in real time.

Max explains how he and his hunting buddy encountered multiple bears throughout the trip, including several sows with cubs that they chose to pass. After covering miles of rugged Wyoming backcountry and hunting several different areas, Max’s buddy finally located a lone bear that gave them the opportunity they had been waiting for. The hunt came together with a successful stalk and an impressive 505 yard shot to seal the deal.

The guys dive into the lessons learned throughout the trip, including why staying open-minded and adaptable is critical during western hunts. While e-scouting can be incredibly valuable before a hunt, Max discusses how reality in the mountains can look completely different once boots hit the ground. Fresh sign, food sources, and current bear activity ultimately dictated where they focused their time.

If you’re interested in DIY western hunting, backcountry adventures, spot-and-stalk bear hunting, and authentic hunting stories from the mountains, this is an episode you’ll enjoy. Great hunting podcasts thrive on authentic storytelling and real lessons learned in the field.

Thanks for listening to The Keota Outdoors Podcast

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Remember, stay aligned with the outdoors.

On this episode of Keota Outdoors, Luke sits down in the mancave with new friend Truman Kinsey — better known to many as “MoGobbles.” Truman is an extremely passionate turkey hunter who carries a deep appreciation and connection for the wild turkey and the adventures that come with chasing them across the country. 

Luke and Truman swap stories from this spring’s turkey season, including a couple successful hunts for big longbeards and the unforgettable moments that came with them. One hunt, in particular, took an unexpected turn when Truman found himself calling 911 just minutes after tagging his bird. 

The conversation then shifts toward Truman’s upcoming turkey tour — a wild stretch of 4 states in 11 days — and the adventure, dedication, and passion it takes to live life around spring turkey season. Truman is also currently working on a turkey hunting book, and listeners will get to hear a small excerpt from the project during the episode. 

If you love turkey hunting stories, chasing eastern gobblers, and hearing from people who truly live for the spring woods, this is an episode you won’t want to miss. 

Thanks for listening to The Keota Outdoors Podcast

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On this episode of Keota Outdoors, Luke brings you another “Outdoor Drop” edition — podcasts recorded right in the middle of the action. Settled against the base of a big hickory tree during an evening turkey hunt in north Missouri, Luke reflects on an unforgettable day chasing hard-gobbling eastern longbeards.

An action-packed morning brought two different gobblers inside 25 yards, creating the kind of close encounters turkey hunters dream about. Unfortunately, the hunt didn’t end the way he had hoped — but as every passionate turkey hunter knows, sometimes the hunts that don’t end with a punched tag are the ones you remember forever.

This episode is quiet, calm, and filled with the natural sounds of the spring woods — singing birds and the peaceful atmosphere that keeps hunters coming back season after season. If you enjoy hearing real hunting stories, close encounters with big eastern gobblers, and the beauty of spring turkey season in the Midwest, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

Thanks for listening to The Keota Outdoors Podcast

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Remember, stay aligned with the outdoors.

On this episode of Keota Outdoors, Luke and his buddy Walker kick back in the man cave to share recent turkey hunting adventures from an unforgettable spring season. Walker and his hunting partner made the trip from central Louisiana to chase North Missouri longbeards, and the trip delivered with exciting hunts and successful tags punched. They wrapped it all up the right way—with a famous spring turkey and mushroom fry at camp.

Luke also dives into his own Missouri opener, where a morning full of gobbles led to an action-packed hunt and a big triple-bearded gobbler hitting the dirt. The twist? He got it done using the controversial but completely legal method of reaping. Luke and Walker break down exactly how the hunt unfolded, why reaping can be an effective tactic, and why it deserves more respect in the turkey woods.

If you enjoy turkey hunting stories, spring camp traditions, wild game cooking, and honest conversations about hunting culture, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

Thanks for listening to The Keota Outdoors Podcast

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Remember, stay aligned with the outdoors.

On this episode of the Keota Outdoors Podcast, Luke sits down in the mancave with Patrick Thompson, a whitetail land specialist, to break down the newly proposed changes to Missouri’s nonresident deer hunting regulations. Together, they thoroughly examine the Missouri Department of Conservation’s recently published survey and discuss each potential regulation change in detail.
Luke and Patrick cover the possible positives and negatives these updates could have on Missouri deer hunting, including impacts on hunting pressure, opportunity, overall experience, and the age structure of Missouri whitetails. Their goal is simple: finding what’s best for the future of deer hunting in Missouri and the long-term quality of the herd.
They believe some of these proposed changes could positively benefit Missouri’s mature buck population and improve the overall hunting experience across the state.
Be sure to check out the MDC survey and make your voice heard before the April 20th deadline.

Thanks for listening to The Keota Outdoors 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 [email protected]  
Remember, stay aligned with the outdoors.