Guest Blogger: Rick Kratzke of Whitetail Woods

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I recently invited Rick Kratzke of Whitetail Woods to write a piece for The Rasch Outdoor Chronicles. Rick is a deer hunting enthusiast from Connecticut. When he's not hunting deer, he is either hunting turkeys, scouting for antler sheds, or like the majority of us, working so he can go hunting. I appreciate his taking the time to write a wonderful piece for the Chronicles.

A Proud American Deer Hunter
© Rick Kratzke

I would like to start by saying I felt honored to be asked if I was interested in a guest post for Albert's blog and I did not even think twice about saying yes. I would right now return the offer if he so wishes to.

Now when I asked if he had any subjects in mind, Albert said I'm the deer hunter so maybe something about springtime whitetails. Well, this is a time of year for some of us when we go out in search of those treasures called shed antlers. I know I have been collecting them as long as I have been hunting. To me antlers are like finger prints, there are no two pairs alike.

This time of year is also a good time to do your early season scouting, maybe that is why I don't find as many sheds as I could be finding because I spend half the time studying the terrain and deer trails that I come across. You can never learn to much about these magnificent animals you have earned the right to be considered America's number one big game animal to hunt.

I have been so consumed by them that a lot of people who know me honestly think I am obsessed and I have to say I totally agree with them. My wife Heidi can attest to that because when we go anywhere she is always telling me there is no deer out there so keep my eye's on the road. How can you not love something as magical as a whitetail deer? I can recount numerous times sitting in my treestand and looking back and forth not seeing anything only to have them standing right under your stand and you didn't even hear them coming. I always say they are ghosts of the woods.

The way I see it and tell everyone I speak to is that just being out in the whitetail woods and seeing them in their own natural habitat and have then not even know I am there is worth it and if I'm hunting and I fill a tag well than I just consider that a bonus. I don't take anything for granted and I feel none of us should. We have to remember that if we as human beings don't take care of our environment which includes everything that lives in it and around it than it will not last forever.

This brings me to one more subject that I feel very strongly about, and that is OUR 2nd AMENDMENT RIGHTS as AMERICANS. Through all these years, men and women have fought and died to protect these rights that we sometimes take for granted. We must never forget what our ancestors have done for us. In my most humble opinion, I feel that no matter what anyone else says, or does, or tries to change, my 2nd Amendment rights will not change, they will not be revised, and I will do what I see fit for myself and my family.

With all that being said, I am proud to be an American and live in the United States of America, and I am also proud to consider myself a Whitetail Deer Hunter who does what he can to preserve the deer habitat for my son's and others to enjoy.

I sincerely hope you like my post and please visit "Whitetail Woods" and "The Rasch Outdoor Chronicles" often.

Thank you,

Rick Kratzke
Whitetail Woods
http://whitetailwoods.blogspot.com

The Range Reviews: Tool Logic Survival II

© 2009 Albert A Rasch

Tool Logic's wallet sized Survival II

Here's a little gem for my friends that are city bound dwellers and are always looking for that little edge.

The Survival II is a small multi-purpose tool set that conveniently fits into your wallet.

Components

It contains a small knife, tweezers, toothpick, an LED light, and the case is also a whistle. The whistle is pretty sharp and piercing by the way! Which brings to mind the adage, "Never hand a child a whistle and expect anything less than an exuberant attempt at having your eardrums blown!" My little helper Jeffery reminded me of that.

The case has a lanyard hole, and on the side opposite the whistle and light, there is a magnesium alloy firestarter. The whole package weighs less than two ounces!

The Integral Knife

The knife is a 2 inch, chisel ground,and serrated blade. The AUS 8A stainless steel is sharp enough to cut through rope or someone's forearm. Keep in mind that if you are going to sharpen it, which I suggest you do, you sharpen on one side only. This requires extra care if you are going to use a sharpener like the Sterling Sharpener. Lay the flat side on one of the carbide bits and draw it carefully through, maintaining the proper angle.

LED Light

The LED light is adequate for lighting keyholes, circuit breaker boxes, and other things of that nature, and it is powerful enough to ensure sure footing in front of you. It is not designed for, nor will it cast a beam of light to any great distance.

Tweezers

The tweezers and toothpick do an adequate job at their respective tasks, though I will refrain from any graphic demonstrations of the tooth pick at work.

The Survival II is also available with a compass and an eight power lens in lieu of the led light.

This is not the do-all to end-all, but it is exactly what it is designed for. A wallet portable assortment of useful tools that might be all you can access in a moment of crisis or an emergency.



Tool Logic
Survival II
MSRP: $24.95

1-800-483-8422
1-805-339-9725

Save the Florida Panther Day!

I just Received a News Release from The FWC:

Governor Crist proclaims March 21
Save the Florida Panther Day

Florida Gov. Charlie Crist has issued a proclamation, extending greetings and best wishes to all who observe Save the Florida Panther Day March 21.

In the proclamation, Crist noted "It is proper and fitting for all Floridians to pause and reflect on the plight of the Florida panther and the task of preserving this rare component of Florida's diverse natural resources as a legacy to generations of Floridians yet to come."

The proclamation also said preservation of the Florida panther, which also is the state's official animal, "…is the will of the people and therefore a mission of their government..."

The Florida Legislature has designated the third Saturday in March as the annual Save the Florida Panther Day.

The Florida panther once ranged across the southeastern United States, but now is confined to South Florida. About 100 Florida panthers remain in the wild, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).

The FWC and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officials say the cats' numbers have risen slightly in the past two decades, largely as a result of better habitat and genetic management and additional public land purchases. .

Florida funds part of the panther research and protection effort through the sale of Florida panther specialty license plates. Eighty-five percent of the money collected from those sales is deposited in the FWC's Florida Panther Research and Management Trust Fund to help fund the species' recovery from the threat of extinction.

To view the governor's proclamation or to learn more about Florida panthers visit PantherNet at MyFWC.com/panther.

Media Contact:
(FWC) Judy Gillan 850-921-4484
(FWS) Layne Hamilton 239-353-8442, Ext. 227

Blogs of Note: Half Loaded

© 2009 Albert A Rasch,

Here's another blog I found in my evening traipse through the netherworld of the internet. Half-Loaded writes good solid posts on a variety of firearm related issues, including some pretty good reviews.

This is her latest: Tactical Flashlight

Stop by, and say hello!

Regards,
Albert A Rasch
The Hunt Continues...

The First Amendment Prevails! For a Change...

From the "I Can't Believe I'm Actually Reading This!" file:

Local anglers' shop, "The Complete Angler" won an important battle against onerous city officials.

In what can only be called a ridiculous waste of tax payer money, the city of Clearwater, Florida "...cited (the owner) for the painting, (then the) shop owner Herb Quintero covered it with a banner of the First Amendment. The city then warned him the banner violated city code."

Fortunately, "U.S. Magistrate Elizabeth Jenkins recommended that a federal judge grant the temporary injunction against the city, finding that the shop is likely to prevail in its lawsuit against the city."

At least this time the ACLU helped the good guys!

See the whole article here.