Ep. 1: Early Season Bow Hunting, Target Bucks, and the Quest Hunt Competition

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

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.