Luke sits down with Max in the mancave to swap stories from an action-packed stretch of hunts. Max kicks things off with a recap of his Colorado rifle mule deer trip, where he and his family got a close encounter with a great public-land buck—but the hunt takes a tough turn when the shot doesn’t connect as hoped. Then the guys shift gears to whitetail season in Missouri, where the rut is heating up. Luke shares the story of multiple close calls with his target buck, and just hours before recording, he finally got an arrow in him. With the outcome still uncertain, the two talk through the shot, tracking plans, and the rollercoaster that is deer season.

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Remember, stay aligned with the outdoors.

Kiley’s back — and he did exactly what he said he would in Episode 1. After breaking down early-season whitetail strategies on the very first Outdoor Aligned episode, Kiley put that plan into action and tagged a 147-inch 8-pointer on September 18th.

In this episode, Kiley walks through the full story — from scouting and patterning the buck, to his second sit with a thunderstorm rolling in, and the long, rain-soaked recovery that followed. Luke and Kiley also look ahead to the rut, swapping plans and stories about target bucks and close encounters that keep the fire burning.

It’s a story of strategy, patience, and proof that sticking to the plan pays off.

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Remember, stay aligned with the outdoors.

In this episode of The Outdoor Aligned Podcast, Luke and Max tell the full story of “Ghost,” the 187-inch mule deer that closed out their annual Colorado spot-and-stalk hunt. After a long, careful stalk, a less-than-ideal shot led to a restless night and a big decision — calling in a big game tracking hound to help recover the deer the next morning. The story comes full circle when the guys finally lay hands on a buck they’d known from the year before, with trail cam photos and close encounters adding to the history behind this giant.

From there, Luke recounts a long, exhausting stalk on another buck that came heartbreakingly close, before wrapping up with this episode’s “One That Got Away” — the tale of a 200-inch whitetail deadhead they narrowly missed finding themselves.

This episode has everything — strategy, emotion, and the reality of western bowhunting. Tune in for one of the most memorable hunts yet from the Outdoor Aligned crew.

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Remember, stay aligned with the outdoors.

In this episode of Outdoor Drop, Luke and Max sit down in the camper to recap days 3 through 6 of their annual Colorado spot-and-stalk mule deer hunt. The trip hasn’t been easy — a shed antler punctured a tire, a few arrows disappeared into the corn, the heat has been brutal, and for a while, the deer just weren’t cooperating.

But persistence pays off. Late in the trip, the guys turn up the big buck they spotted on day one and make a careful stalk through the open country. This time, everything comes together. Tune in to hear the full story of the successful harvest, the ups and downs along the way, and what makes this hunt one they’ll never forget.

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Remember, stay aligned with the outdoors.

In this episode of the Outdoor Drop, Luke and Max sit down by the camper to recap the first two days of their annual spot-and-stalk mule deer hunt.

Day one kicked off with a big buck sighting that set the tone for the trip. What followed was a long, intense day of heat, sweat, and stealth as we tried to close the distance on that deer in a thick cornfield. It was an adrenaline-filled stalk that came close — but not close enough.

Grab a chair by the fire and join us as we relive the start of another memorable hunt, talk strategy, and share what we’ve learned from the early action in mule deer country.

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.
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Remember, stay aligned with the outdoors.

In this episode of the Outdoor Aligned Podcast, Luke sits down with longtime friend and hunting partner Max Grogan to swap stories from a busy early season and look ahead to their favorite trip of the year.

We start with Max’s archery antelope season, where long days on the prairie brought plenty of challenges but no punched tag. From there, we head to the mountains to hear about his recent archery elk hunts — early season bulls that were tight-lipped, run-ins with other hunters deep in the timber, and the ups and downs of hunting during the muzzleloader overlap. Max shares the story of a close encounter with a herd bull at 40 yards that didn’t quite go his way.

Finally, we shift gears into the future with our upcoming annual spot-and-stalk archery mule deer hunt. With past success and this year’s excellent habitat conditions from all the rain, hopes are high for big deer and plenty of exciting encounters. We’re fired up for what’s ahead and look forward to bringing you along for the ride.

If you’re into antelope, elk, or mule deer bowhunting — or just love the camaraderie of a hunting camp — this episode is packed with stories, lessons, and excitement for the season.

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.
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Remember, stay aligned with the outdoors.

In this very first episode of the Outdoor Aligned Podcast, Luke sits down with longtime friend and dedicated bowhunter Kiley Harpster to talk all things early season whitetail.

We dive into strategies for hunting whitetails in September, how Kiley uses trail cameras to understand deer movement, and the specific bucks he’s targeting this fall. Kiley shares the details of his game plan — which deer he has in mind, the properties they’re living on, and how he’s going to go after them when the conditions line up.

From there, we shift into his involvement with the Quest Hunt Competition, discussing the success he and his partners have had in past seasons and what makes the contest such a fun challenge. That leads us into a recap of last season’s highlight: on September 19th, Kiley harvested an absolute giant whitetail. We break down the strategy, the history he had with that deer, and how the hunt unfolded — with the buck itself right there in the studio with us.

If you’re into early-season tactics, chasing target bucks, trail cam strategy, or competitive deer hunting, this episode is packed with stories and insight that will get you fired up for fall.

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 [email protected]
Remember, stay aligned with the outdoors.

In this first Outdoor Drop episode, Luke heads out for a solo morning dove hunt with his dog, Timber. It turned out to be an incredible morning — we dropped 15 doves, even if only one made it on camera.

Along the way, I break down my dove hunting setup, how Timber is progressing as a hunting companion, and why mornings like this remind me why I love being in the field. Sometimes it’s not just about the birds in the bag, but about the experience, the lessons, and the time spent with your best four-legged friend.

This is what Outdoor Drop is all about — raw, unfiltered hunts straight from the field.

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 [email protected]
Remember, stay aligned with the outdoors.

Welcome to the very first episode of the Outdoor Aligned Podcast!
 
 In this kickoff episode, host Luke Long introduces himself and shares the story behind the podcast — a place for everyday outdoorsmen to talk hunting, fishing, and everything in between. From early memories with his dad, to lifelong lessons learned in deer stands, duck blinds, and on the water, Luke explains why now is the time to start documenting these experiences.
 
 You’ll hear about the mission behind Outdoor Aligned, the difference between biweekly episodes and in-the-field bonus drops, and a glimpse into the long list of outdoor topics coming your way — whitetails, waterfowl, food plots, shed hunting, trot lines, turkeys, and more.
 
 If you’re someone who lives and breathes the outdoor lifestyle — not just one season, but all of them — this podcast is for you.
 
 Thanks for tuning in to the start of something special. And remember:
 Stay aligned with the outdoors.

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 [email protected]
Remember, stay aligned with the outdoors.