An Interesting Question...

© 2009 Albert A Rasch

Late last night I was trying to catch up with the many blogs I read. I would like to say that the quality of the bloggers affiliated with Outdoor Bloggers Summit is exceptional! The truth is that the writing steadily improves and quite frankly I think in many cases surpasses that of professionals in the traditional sectors!

My many friends out there, I want you all to know that I do read just about every post that comes out, but I am limited to the number of comments I can type out! So please know that I am there with y'all almost every day even though I may not comment.

I was going through Deer Passion's Blog when I bumped into this:

Julia said...
Sorry to post twice, I just landed on your blog. I'm not a hunter (which you'll know if you read my first comment). But all of the hunters I've met in my life talk about how much they love the wildlife they hunt. And yet I rarely hear about hunters off-season going out just to appreciate wildlife the way many of us non-hunters do. I don't fully understand that. Am I just reading that wrong? I hate to make generalizations. For me, there's nothing more captivating that being out on the trails, seeing the hawks and eagles and deer and the bobcats (they live in my area) -- especially since this time of year there tends to be calm, owing to the fact that is off-season for much game. It's sometimes easier to get close to the animals and be a part of their world in a non-threatening way. I've read posts about guys in utter despair after deer season, planted in the chair watching hunting shows. If you appreciate the outdoors and wildlife as much as I do, you just want to be out there, hunting or not. Or so it would seem.

OK, I understand and appreciate Julia's perspective.

I answered back immediately without giving it much thought; (I'm from the ready, shoot, aim, school of verbal repartee):

Julia,

First of all, thanks for stopping by our fellow OBS member Deer Passion. We always appreciate new readers and good questions.

Many of us do have off season pursuits, I fish, restore habitat, camp, garden, tend my bees, grow hickories for planting in public places, I try to hog hunt, and pick up trash at the preserves and public spots I frequent. I also teach kids about the outdoors, including fishing, hunting, trapping, bio diversity, perma-culture, ecology, ethics, and morality; not to mention the basics like logic, reading writing, and arithmetic.

You make an interesting comment though about how much you appreciate the outdoors when you are out there. I would suggest that you also try to educate those around you that don't take the time to really see what's out there.

We Sportsmen, like Deer Passion, NorcalCazadora, The Suburban Bushwacker, and all my friends at the Outdoor Bloggers Summit see the outdoors, and all its splendor, everyday. Because we LOOK for it!

As I was writing I thought that Julia really deserved a better, more thought out answer. So I added:

You have motivated me to write a more thorough explanation, Please look for it sometime after 9PM 2/24/09 on my blog The Rasch Outdoor Chronicles.

And here I am.

I am firmly of the opinion that outdoorsmen have a greater ability to find the natural beauty they seek where ever they are. Whether it's peregrines in New York City, deer in the suburbs, or squirrels racing along a power line, we tend to see them long before anyone else does.

We also have a vested interest in maintaining the wild spaces around us. We are the ones that that fund the great outdoors for the use of many.

......................................

I've been sitting here for over an hour wracking my brain for a better answer than what I wrote yesterday. I wrote the last two thoughts out, but I don't know any better way to explain what I feel and do in the outdoors than to invite Julia to read my archives.

I already listed some of the things I do.

I feel like I have not explained myself thoroughly enough, but I am also feeling that I am trying to justify something.

And you know something, I don't feel that I need to justify anything I do. If it isn't obvious then I don't mind explaining, but this is coming dangerously close to justification.

Maybe some of my friends might lend a hand here.


Best Regards,
Albert “Afghanus” Rasch
The Rasch Outdoor Chronicles
Albert Rasch In Afghanistan

The Range Reviews: Buffalo Bills Beef Jerkey

© 2009 Albert A Rasch

I love dried meats. Especially biltong. American style beef jerky is another snack that I love, but only if it is made right.

Buffalo Bills Country Cut Beef Jerky

When Doug at Jerky.com gave me a call and offered to let me try some of Buffalo Bill's Beef Jerky, I said yes with alacrity!


The first thing I noticed was the enticing aroma that wafted ever so tantalizingly from the now open package. It smelled beefy and rich, as if it were freshly made moments before. The texture was dry, flexible, and definitely not oily or greasy.

I looked around me to make sure none of the locusts were near me, one whiff of this delectable treat, and I would be left with nothing but the inside of the bag to lick. I took a piece out and gave it a connoisseurs inspection. Meaty looking with bits of spice clinging to it. Again the smell was delicious. There was only one thing left to do.

Rich and meaty, it is a delicious treat!

I popped it into my mouth. Could my new friends at Jerky.com have steered me wrong? Not on your life. Buffalo Bills Country Cut Beef Jerky has a wonderful beef flavor, enough spice to be hot but not overbearing, it's chewy but not tough, and did I mention tasty?

Pineapple Jerky

Well there's more. Doug also sent me their new Pineapple Jerky. When I opened the zip lock seal on the package, I almost fell over! The smell was intoxicating! Think of tropical beaches, tiki huts, and pina coladas. The taste is out of this world too. It has a light glaze of honey that adds to the overall flavor. It's a little tart and nicely sweet and quite frankly went well with the beef jerky I was having. Jerky.com definitely has a winner with this one.

Great on the trail!

You will find a great variety of jerkys at Jerky.com, from venison and elk jerkys, to ostrich and buffalo. They have assortment packs called Variety Combos, and the Ultimate Gift Pack which is an insulated cooler packed with 11 of Buffalo Bill's finest products and a thick slice of Jerky.com gourmet pineapple jerky.

Jerky.com has free shipping on most items.

Buffalo Bills Country Cut Beef Jerky 1/2 Pound: $15.99 with Free Shipping
Pineapple Jerky 1/4 Pound: $9.99 with Free Shipping

The Range Reviews: CMMG 28rd Immortal Magazines

© 2009 Albert A Rasch

Once again I have more to tell from the 2009 SHOT Show.

As I have mentioned previously, 60 percent of firearm and accessory sales are now garnered by the "Tactical" segment. Who would have thought that fifty years after its inception, the AR15 would be "America's Rifle!"

Many of us, who up until now, have not paid close attention to this segment, have been surprised by the incredible growth. I for one, am pleased to see this phenomenal growth in the shooting arena!




While cruising the "Tactical" section I stopped at the CMMG booth. Lucas Stephenson, representative of CMMG, showed me the newest magazine from CMMG. It is their 28rd magazine with stainless steel anti-tilt follower and triple braided wire spring.



Available in your choice of Mil-Spec phosphate gray or Black Teflon body.

CMMG claims that no other magazine offers greater performance under extreme conditions. It has their new stainless steel anti-tilt follower which features superb stability, minimal drag and unmatched durability.

The new CMMG braided wire spring gives 40% additional pressure over standard USGI springs. A nano-ceramic plated braided wire spring protects for over 400+ hours against salt sea spray. The twisted, multi-strand construction eliminates the magazine from ever taking a set. According to CMMG, no single strand chrome silicon spring can compare! This magazine spring can be altered to allow 30rds by removing 1-2 coils from the spring with a cutoff wheel. Remember, that CMMG cannot sell their magazines in states where their purchase is restricted.

SKU Number: M-I30
MSRP: $29.95

Disassembly is easy:

Pry magazine floorplate up and out.

Slide the floorplate out.

And the components are laid out for cleaning.

Rock and Roll Baby!

CMMG also has their components available for retrofiting and repair of magazines.

CMMG Braided Spring with SSAT Follower

CMMG's new Stainless Steel Anti-Tilt, or SSAT follower.

Also new from CMMG is their Stainless Steel Anti-Tilt, or SSAT follower. The stainless offers some level of corrosion resistance, while the anti tilt engineering keeps the follower from binding on the way up or while reloading the magazine. the SSAT follower also provides the greatest strength with the lowest drag. If you are retrofitting the follower to your own magazines, the follower drops straight in and secures to bottom of standard mag spring for ease of installation.
This is a great buy for all those milsurp magazines you have picked up over the years.

SKU Number: M-SSAT
MSRP: $2.50

CMMG Braided Wire Replacement Spring

Helping out all the folks that already have magazines, CMMG has made their braided wire replacement spring available for purchase. Combined with the new CMMG SSAT follower, CMMG's new braided wire spring delivers AK reliability in an AR15 mag. The braided spring gives 40% additional pressure over standard USGI springs so rapid fire misfeeds are less likely. Nano-ceramic coating on the braided wire protects it against salt spray for 400+ hours. This is likely the the last spring you will ever need! The braided wire springs are run to maximum length and may be customized by cutting off 1-3 coils, if necessary. This ensures optimum performance for those running mags fully loaded or downloaded.

This is another great retrofit for milsurp magazines in your stock.
SKU Number: M-30-BW
MSRP: $5.95

CMMG is yet another American company striving hard to produce quality merchandise for the American people. They have a wide variety of upper receivers, barrels, buttstocks, and accessories for the AR15 platform. As with many other manufacturers of AR15 components and systems, CMMG is working very hard at catching up with the extreme demand for their merchandise.

I'll be putting this magazine through its paces this weekend. I don't expect any problems whatsoever. If it performs as well as it looks, it will be a definite winner in my book!

Regards,
Albert A Rasch
The Hunt Continues...

Yet Another Blog of Note

My friends,

Here is a new (to me) blogger from way up yonder there in Alaska. Hodgeman has been freezing his tail off up there in the beautiful North for close to a decade now. He write exceptionally well, and by golly I think he's a pretty darn good photographer too.

Here's an example of what I mean: Matter of Definition.

And here is the main link "Hodgeman’s Thoughts."

Everyone take a ride up to the Interior of Alaska and let's give him a warm Outdoor Bloggers Summit welcome and invite him to join our merry band!

Enjoy!

Albert A Rasch

Animal Magnetism: American Crocodiles Looking for Love

Fortuitously, the American crocodile has increased its numbers, to the point that folks are having more numerous encounters with them. In order to avoid any problems, the "nuisance" crocs are relocated, there in lies the problem...

FWC Biologists Use Magnets to Keep Nuisance Crocodiles Away

February 23, 2009
Contact: Gabriella B. Ferraro, 772-215-9459

Magnets usually attract, but the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) want magnets to do just the opposite. FWC biologists are studying if magnets can keep state-endangered American crocodiles from returning to situations where they are not welcome, primarily in neighborhoods in Miami-Dade and Monroe counties.

Crocodile-human interactions have increased as the crocodile population has recovered. One technique to resolve these conflicts is translocation. This involves capturing the crocodile and moving it to suitable crocodile habitat as far away as possible, in an attempt to keep it away from an area. However, translocation is seldom effective. FWC biologists have found that translocated crocodiles will travel an average of 10 miles per week to return to their capture site, in a practice called "homing." Others never make it because they are hit and killed by vehicles as they cross roads. Some may be killed by other crocodiles at the release site or during their journey back.

In an effort to break the "homing" cycle, FWC biologists have initiated a new study. Crocodile agents have been instructed to attach magnets to both sides of the crocodile's head at the capture site. It is hoped the magnets will disorient the crocodiles and disrupt their navigation, so they can't find their way back to the capture site. The magnets are removed from the crocodile's head upon release. Agents will also secure a colored tag to the crocodile's tail, so returning crocodiles can be identified later.

"Scientists in Mexico have reported success in using magnets to break the homing cycle," said Lindsey Hord, FWC crocodile response coordinator. "The results of the study are promising. If it proves successful here, we could gain an effective technique to resolve crocodile-human conflicts."

If a nuisance crocodile continues to return to the capture site, or its behavior presents an unacceptable risk to people, under certain circumstances, it could be removed from the wild and placed into captivity.

You should never approach a crocodile, and if you see one that concerns you, call the FWC's Statewide Nuisance Alligator Hotline at 866-FWC-GATOR (866-392-4286) to report the animal.

To learn more about the American crocodile in Florida visit MyFWC.com/crocodile.


Regards,
Albert A Rasch
The Hunt Continues...