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.

Luke sits down in the mancave with Kale McCubbins to tell the story of his incredible Missouri whitetail — a main frame 10-point with a 15-inch double beam, nearly 18 inches of antler broken off, and a final score pushing 180 inches. Kale only had a couple trail camera pictures and a hunch the buck was still in the area, so he trusted his instincts and used some creative tactics to stay in the game.

On November 13, a little confusion in the stand led Kale to draw on what he thought was a different buck — but the mistake turned into the hunt of a lifetime when the arrow found its mark on this big, mature Missouri whitetail.

In this episode, Luke and Kale break down the chaos, the quick decisions, and the wild emotions that come with sealing the deal on a true backwoods giant.

If you love big buck stories, honest hunting talk, and good old-fashioned deer camp storytelling, this one’s for you.

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.