KEOTA 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. 

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 For bonus drops and raw in-the-field episodes, look for "The Outdoor Drop" releases.
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Remember, stay aligned with the outdoors.

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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 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.

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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 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.

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

Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube 
Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook @KeotaOutdoors  
 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.

In this episode, Luke is back in the saddle alongside his trusty homemade full strut decoy, kicking things off with an important update to Missouri’s 2026 turkey season regulations, specifically impacting youth hunters.

From there, Luke dives deep into historical turkey harvest data across the Midwest, breaking down trends in Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska, and Illinois. While searching for patterns in population health and harvest success, one thing becomes clear—each state tells a very different story. Variations in bag limits, nonresident regulations, and season structures may all play a role in shaping these trends over time.

The good news? Turkey populations across much of the Midwest appear to be holding strong.

If you're heading out into the woods this spring, stay safe, enjoy the hunt, and good luck chasing gobblers. Don’t forget to share your success photos—we’d love to see them!

Thanks for listening to The Keota Outdoors Podcast

Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube 
Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook @KeotaOutdoors  
 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.

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.

Thanks for listening to The Keota Outdoors Podcast

Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube 
Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook @KeotaOutdoors  
 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.

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 Keota Outdoors Podcast

Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube 
Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook @KeotaOutdoors  
 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.

 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 Keota Outdoors Podcast

Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube 
Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook @KeotaOutdoors  
 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.

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 Keota Outdoors Podcast

Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube 
Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook @KeotaOutdoors  
 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.

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 Keota Outdoors Podcast

Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube 
Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook @KeotaOutdoors  
 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.