Turkey Hunting, River Cleanup & Outdoor Tradition with Richard Whiteside

Send us Fan MailAlex 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 & Introductions3:38 — Illinois Hunting Tax Proposal7:02 — Sports Update: Cardinals, Royals & NCAA Tournament10:18 — Segment 2: Richard Whiteside on Turkey Hunting12:12 — Turkey Population & Breeding Season Observations21:57 — Segment 3: Hunting Tough Gobblers & Spur Length23:42 — Memorable Turkey Hunts & Hunting Strategy25:51 — Current River Cleanup Event39:49 — Bonus Segment: Patience, Wild Turkey Recipes & Final Stories42:40 — Wild Turkey Cooking Tips with RichardMissouri Hunting Heritage Federation:https://www.mhhf.us/To follow American Roots Outdoors Podcast:https://www.facebook.com/groups/448812356525413To learn more about American Roots Outdoors:https://americanrootsoutdoors.com/https://www.facebook.com/AmericanRootsOutdoors/To follow Alex Rutledge:https://www.facebook.com/americanrootsalex/To follow Wayne Lach:https://www.facebook.com/wayne.lach.5To follow Mike Crase:https://www.facebook.com/mike.craseMissouri Hunting Heritage Federation:https://www.mhhf.us/To follow American Roots Outdoors Podcast:https://www.facebook.com/groups/448812356525413To learn more about American Roots Outdoors:https://americanrootsoutdoors.com/https://www.facebook.com/AmericanRootsOutdoors/To follow Alex Rutledge:https://www.facebook.com/americanrootsalex/To follow Wayne Lach:https://www.facebook.com/wayne.lach.5To follow Mike Crase:https://www.facebook.com/mike.crase