Turkey Hunting, River Cleanup & Outdoor Tradition with Richard Whiteside

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Alex Rutledge and the American Roots Outdoors crew welcome back hillbilly barber, outdoor writer, and river conservationist Richard Whiteside from Donovan, Missouri for a packed episode. The guys kick off with a discussion on a controversial Illinois bill that would tax ammunition and require serial numbers on every round — and what it could mean for hunters across the Midwest. Then they dive deep into the 2026 spring turkey season: why gobblers are quiet, how the warm weather has pushed the breeding cycle weeks ahead, and what that means for hunters heading into youth season. Richard shares gripping stories of outsmarting pressured birds, including a gobbler that took three days to pattern, and the moment he realized sometimes you have to "deer hunt" a turkey. The crew also covers the River Master's Elite Series smallmouth bass tournament schedule, plus details on Richard's Current River County Line Trash Bash cleanup event. In the bonus segment: wild turkey recipes, raising heritage breed turkeys, a father-son hunting lesson, and a closing scripture to cap off a great show.

Chapter Markers:

• 1:26 — Show Open & Introductions
• 3:38 — Illinois Hunting Tax Proposal
• 7:02 — Sports Update: Cardinals, Royals & NCAA Tournament
• 10:18 — Segment 2: Richard Whiteside on Turkey Hunting
• 12:12 — Turkey Population & Breeding Season Observations
• 21:57 — Segment 3: Hunting Tough Gobblers & Spur Length
• 23:42 — Memorable Turkey Hunts & Hunting Strategy
• 25:51 — Current River Cleanup Event
• 39:49 — Bonus Segment: Patience, Wild Turkey Recipes & Final Stories
• 42:40 — Wild Turkey Cooking Tips with Richard

Missouri Hunting Heritage Federation:
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