Tree Rat Time!

Opening day for tree rats is nearly upon us. While many defer their squirrel hunting until the colder months when the woods are bit more hospitable, I know there are just as many that will be out there Sunday looking for our little four footed fuzzy tailed friends.
This little fellow at my house evidently has no clue what he’s setting himself up for!
Today finds me on the hunt for new and different squirrel recipes. My household loves the squirell stew, squirell and dumplings and of course plain old friend squirrel, but I’d like to liven things up a bit - What’s your favorite way to prepare tree rats?

Looking pretty smug isn’t he?

There’s Power in the Pink!

It wasn’t long ago that it would be an odd sight to see a waterfowl hunter or hunt test handler wearing pink, but thanks to Deb West of Waterloo, Illinois, those days are rapidly disappearing. West,  who also owns Brownwaterdogs, is the founder and mastermind behind a new group called The Pink Whistle Society.
Many of my friends and readers here have often heard my wailing and moaning about all of the pink outdoor products aimed at women, and my disdain for them, but this is one pink product that I am proud to wear , support and stand behind!

Pink Whistle Society founder Deb West and her beloved champion hunt test and certified therapy dog Squeler

The Pink Whistle Society made it’s debut in the fall of 2009 at a lady handler seminar held by WISLL HRC in Wisconsin where West participating as trainer.  It started out just as a gift from West to be included in the lady handlers’ bags. A symbol of support , if you will,  of the community spirit found in women handlers .
West told me, “I thought it would be neat to give all the women a pink whistle in their handler bags.  So it grew from there.  I thought it needed a FB page, so I created that.  Then I thought how neat it would be to have pink lanyards and leads…so I looked and found a maker, Fallin’ Feathers in Missouri.  Then we needed pink calls…so it took some doing but we got some awesome ones for the set but they were very cost prohibitive…keep searching, and a friend from St. Louis took the idea to Buck Gardner and he makes them for us now at a reasonable price.  With that being done, they needed to be pink so Gateway Hydrographics in St. Louis dips them for me.  Then we needed a logo…Action Graphics did the artwork for that.  Once we had that they also make the logo on Fox 40 whistles for us.  So now we have a really great little set. “

It is a great, functional, and stylish set – that contains a lead, lanyard, a pink whistle and pink camo call.  These aren’t just pretty, all the items are fully functional and work well during training, handling, and the rigors associated with owning a good retriever.  West shared that Buck Gardner has been great to work with on this project, and the calls from him for this set sound fantastic. The Pink Whistle Society and the popularity of the lanyard and lead sets is growing exponentially in the retriever and waterfowling community. Those who purchase the sets (lead, lanyard, whistle, call, and band),  which retail for a total of 70.00 (65.00 plus 5.00 shipping and handling)  have the added bonus of knowing that proceeds from the sales are split between the HRC Foundation and the Breast Cancer Foundation.

The Pink Whistle Society doesn’t have web site yet, but does operate a Facebook page which can be found here.  Through the miracles of word of mouth and social media marketing West has seen phenomenal growth, not only in the sales of the “Society Sets” but in the popularity of the Pink Whistle Society as a group that provides a place for lady handlers to hang out, share experiences and frustrations, support each other, and celebrate the women who are active in the outdoors, waterfowling, and hunt dog handling.
“It has crossed all boundaries.” Said Deb West, “ I know the logo and the beautiful picture that Debbie Stonebraker did for us have HRC on them, but I have sold many to AKC club members, NAHRA, and other group members as well.  Cancer and cancer survivors don’t care what your club affiliation is.  They know what it stands for and where the money goes, so it has grown farther than I ever imagined.

When asked how the men in the retriever and hunt test community accepted the pink invasion, West shared that many men were buying the sets as gifts for the women in their lives who participate side by side with them in hunting and hunt test activities.  With pride West recalled that renowned dog handler and trainer Chris Akin was seen sporting the Pink Whistle Society set at the HRC Grand last year.  The number of men who happily wear them on the line at hunt tests is rapidly growing.  Men are beginning to realize that issue of breast cancer is not just a woman’s issue. It happens to the women they love most, their mothers, wives, sisters and friends. 

Matt Settlemoir,  “Sam”, and Mark Leahy show their support of the Pink Whistle society. These gentlemen understand that real men CAN wear pink!

Hunt tests are notorious for being very specific regarding the attire that can be worn on the line. I had to wonder if any of the handlers wearing the pink had ever encountered a problem from a line judge who requested that they remove the pink call, whistle, lanyard etc.  When I asked West, who is also an accomplished hunt test judge herself, about this as a potential problem, she happily replied that “At the National HRC meeting in Memphis I presented this to the Executive Committee, and was ask to present it at the General meeting.  It was a great hit.  The PR committee was all a buzz about it.  The Field Reps said they thought it was great!  There was absolutely no talk about it being any problem at the line.  Although I would presume that would be up to the individual judges at each hunt test.  But once people are informed about what it stands for I don’t fear any problems.  One woman just told her judge she was a breast cancer survivor - end of discussion.  I don’t foresee any problems.  If there are it will up to the individual to really handle it the way they see fit, and there are ways to do that most constructively.  I think mainly the guys need to know the symbolism! “

The Pink Whistle Society continues to enjoy support from across the world of hunt testing and waterfowl hunting and also from friends in the art community. Acclaimed artist Debbie Miller Stonebraker has made available a special limited edition print for the Pink Whistle Society. The number 1 of this beautiful signed and numbered print was auctioned at the Annual National HRC meeting this year, fetching a sizeable donation for the HRC Foundation.

Artist Debbie Stonebraker’s gorgeous limited edition art print

Following its debut at the HRC National Meeting, the limited edition print is now available for purchase to the general public by contacting Stonebraker via   .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) . Only 100 editions of this print will be available insuring that it will be another great collector’s piece for those who love retriever art.
Surely at this point you are wishing for and wanting a Pink Whistle Society set for yourself or that special lady handler/hunter in your life. How can you purchase one these great sets for yourself, the lady handler in your life or to honor someone you love who has battled breast cancer?

Contact The Pink Whistle Society or Deb West
Deb West, 101 Paul Simon Dr. Waterloo, IL 62298 to order
Ms. West can also be reached at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) and via her Facebook page and the Pink Whistle Society’s Facebook page.

Don’t you want a good dog and pink whistle too? Gigi Strauss and her award winning retriever “Samson”
Special thanks to the Pink Whistle Society, Gigi Strauss, Matt Settlemoir, Debbie Stonebraker, and Deb West for sharing and allowing use of their photos.

No More Smelly Dogs!

No more itchy, scratchy, smelly, coat blowing dogs at my house! For so many of us in the outdoors, a dog is our constant companion; especially those of us using gun dogs and retrievers.  But dogs are notorious for getting into some of the dandiest messes, and if you‘re like me, my car has that distinct odor of blue mud and wet dog most of the year. Let’s not even talk about the occasional romp through dead stuff.
My oldest dog Dolly has particular issues with skin allergies.  I’m convinced she fancies herself a sensitive and delicate princess. My big boy Buddy is a coat blowing fool. Serious coat blowing…shed fur just swirls around him when he walks.  Luckily, just as I was at my wits end having tried every shampoo and coat product out there on these two, I was introduced to Gigi Strauss of Rainforest Coastal Labs.
Rainforest Costal Labs markets a wonderful line of grooming products for dogs (work pretty well on humans too!)

Caleb - Not only a great HRC Hunt test dog, but a therapy dog as well

I first met Gigi on the HRC hunt test circuit while photographing her beautiful mop haired golden doodle Caleb.  I was amazed at how soft, silky and shiny Caleb’s coat was. Caleb is a hard working, hard training water dog, how in the world did Gigi keep that glorious tangle of golden curls so beautiful? She handed me two bottles of Rainforest Costal Labs Shampoo and smiled.

Gigi Strauss and Tabitha another of her wonderful dogs that serves as very active therapy dog in the St. Louis metro area

Strauss with her crew of award winning HRC retrievers; Cain, Caleb and Samson

Imagine how pleased I was to finally find a shampoo that completely healed up Dolly’s itchy, scratchy, sensitive skin and also kept old thick coated Buddy’s fur blowing at bay. No more sweeping the floors umpteen times a day,  no more looking for new furniture in the color of mud and dust and with a fabric textured to resemble dog fur.
You will be able to say goodbye to a dull coat and red, itchy, ugly skin with Hydrocept™ dog shampoo from Rainforest Coastal Labs. If your dog has sensitive skin, they have your grooming solution. The Hydrocept product line of dog grooming supplies is the first choice of many vets and grooming professionals.  Rainforest Coastal Labs can provide you with just the right shampoo for your four footed friends. The product line includes:
Hydrocept Sensitive Skin/Frequent Use Shampoo—for dogs with sensitive skin and skin allergies – with just a few uses the red, itchy, scratchiness is gone! This premium shampoo is uniquely designed to address the dogs with sensitive, itchy, red, atopic, seborrheic or other skin related issues. Not to mention, is very gentle on the hands of the groomer/handler as this shampoo, like all RFC’s products, this one is soap free. Soothes, reconditions and moisturizes dry, irritated skin and coat.

nothing like a day in river to produce a messy smelly dog! Buddy and his pal Piper chasing around in the Kaskaskia backwaters

Hydrocept Extreme Coat/Outdoor Dog Shampoo—Let’s face it outside dogs are dirty. Water dogs need a bath almost daily it seems, in order to get rid of that funky blue mud, river and lake aroma.  If you have a hard working retriever, gun dog, or herding dog – this product may be an answer to your prayers.
This conditioning shampoo is fortified with extra conditioners and Calendula extract. Originally formulated at the request of a RCL customer with a outdoor working dog that was often wet, this product works extremely well for all dogs that need extra protection from harsh outdoor elements, such as hunting dogs. If you have a long or short hair retriever coat, you will be extremely pleased by this product.
Hydrocept Groomer’s Spa Shampoo - perfect for the discriminating groomer who needs the coats to neither be neither tangled nor too soft or limp to groom through. Even difficult coats, like poodles, you will find grooming to be a breeze. Dogs may not even need “pre-brushing” prior to the bath to get tangles out. The dog’s coat will fluff and dry well, making it more manageable with both clipper and scissor grooming.
I encourage everyone with a four footed friend to hop over to the Rainforest Coastal labs web site and request a free sample. After just a few uses you’ll be singing the praises of Rainforest Costal Labs products as well!

Buddy and Dolly soaking up the sun

Back Up Alarms

I’ve always felt safe wandering the forests, the fields, the backwaters and oxbows.  Many folks have asked me why I am not afraid to spend so much time in the woods alone. I always have to laugh – after all who is going to get me? The boogie man?
I consider myself street smart and savvy about my own personal safety/defense and have yet to have that “internal back up alarm” let me down.
I had an experience though yesterday that initially left me dumbfounded, then angry, very angry.
I was bowfishing a portion of a small local river. It was a sunny Saturday afternoon , folks were out enjoying the river, and the occasional other bowfishers or catfishers would wander by, looking for a nice hole full of gar, carp and catfish.
A young couple passed by, we exchanged pleasantries, the young man bowfishing, the young lady pole fishing. Off they went down river to settle in to enjoy the afternoon as much as my companion   and I had been enjoying the great bowfishing that this stretch of river offers us.
Soon there was great splashing and thrashing in the water down stream from me. I quickly looked, thinking perhaps one of them had gotten into some of the very, very,  large fish that inhabit this stretch of water. What I saw though was the young lady racing towards the bank. In mere moments, her companion came running down the bank seemingly watching the current. As he neared us he shouted – “Have you seen a guy in orange shirt? “  He really didn’t pause to talk but instead rapidly found a suitable crossing and was swimming across the river. Poof – at dead run he disappeared into the willows and woods on the opposite side of the river.
By that time the young lady had reached us and it was easy to tell she was distraught. As always my mother hen personality kicked in as she began to explain the problem.
While she was wading and fishing, she looked up to see a man on the opposite bank exposing himself to her. When the man realized that she did indeed see him, he exposed even more.
My companion and I were outraged that on public water a young girl had been assaulted like this. My companion felt remorseful that he hadn’t realized what was going on and had offered no help to the gentleman who set off through the brush to catch and capture the alleged offender.  We talked with her a short while, helped her to calm down and instructed her to go the visitor center, that was not far away from the scene and report the man, give his description and ask that the staff at visitor center contact law enforcement.
Thankfully the young lady had held her composure enough to retain details of the man’s apparel and appearance so she would be able to provide them with a good description. Eventually we saw her companion return from the woods – he was clearly angry and shaken especially since upon his return he couldn’t find his girlfriend. We relayed to him that she had gone back to the car and was waiting on him so that they could make a report to the authorities.
The longer my fishing companion and I talked about this incident the more outraged I became. This stretch of river is popular with many people for a variety of uses. Often there are families with children at the edges enjoying the good fishing and wading. It’s a place that I am often plundering around alone – with not a thought that anything like this could ever happen.
Frankly, perhaps even shamefully, I had to admit that if that man had approached me in such a manner, I probably wouldn’t have thought twice about launching an arrow at his exposed areas. A gar point to the groin might have made him think twice. (I must add that truly unless I felt my life was in danger I would never shoot an arrow at another person. )
The real lesson in this is that no matter how comfortable we women in the outdoors feel, no matter how safe we feel, and no matter how often we assume that “it won’t ever happen to me” – it can and in the blink of an eye.  It can happen as it did in this case in a fairly well populated and frequently traveled area, or in the back country. We must be vigilant, listen to our internal back alarms, and be ready and able to defend ourselves when something such as this occurs.

This experience made me remember one of my favorite blog entries of Barbara Baird’s, in her blog Babbs in the Woods, titled “Tots Against Tyranny”
Excerpted from the July 2, 2010 entry of Babbs in the Woods at Women’s Outdoor News

“ Just as I wish all women would learn to drive a standard transmission, I wish that all women would learn to shoot a gun.
I find that the older I get, the more I agree with former president of the NRA, Sandra Froman – a lawyer, shooter and widow of a law enforcement officer – when she says,
“I believe there is evil in the world. And I think that good people need to protect themselves from harm, from criminals who seek to deprive them of their life or their liberty.”
Of course, the idealistic, rosy-glasses way of thinking would be to imagine that Allison would never have to find herself in front of or behind the gun for any violent reason.
To deny her the right to use such a tool for either self-defense or sport, though, is unconscionable. ~ Barbara Baird
Barbara Baird is an NRA-certified shooting instructor, teaching pistol courses at the Rolla Shooting Club in Missouri. See her class schedule for summer 2010 at http://www.sheshoots2.com.”

Take Time To Wander

Yes, wander - wander aimlessly with no task, no chore, no assignment in mind. So often it seems that I’ve been encountering folks lately for whom going to the outdoors has become a job, a mission, work, yet another thing to cross off the ever present to do list. Whether it’s hanging trail cams, clearing shooting, lanes, gathering photos and information, there’s always seems to be an underlying reason for stepping out the door.
This happens to me far more often than I’d like. Oh, I spend plenty of time outside - so much in fact it’s maddening to a few of my editors because I’m out there so much and at my desk so little. But I’m working when I’m out there it seems - always taking photographs and notes for one article or another, doing research, getting things ready for folks that I may be guiding. It begins to feel like a have to instead of a want to.
Following a particularly rough stretch of long days and a fair amount of travel, my assistant Adam, very tactfully pointed out that I was looking ragged and was getting a little testy. “When was the last time you just took a day - you know wander around aimlessly?” I couldn’t really come up with an answer.  So heeding his advice that I’m easier to be around, and that my photos are better when I have regular doses of wandering off I went.
I must say it felt good to have no destination in mind, no assignment that I was working to fill, no customer to please. I just wandered, gravel scratching around the back roads, strolling through the forest. The photo ops jumped out at me, simply because I was photographing things for the fun of it - things I wanted to show others I’d found on my walk. My over wrought and over worked brain got a good rest, as I wasn’t trying to think of snappy cut lines, and factual prose to go with what I was seeing.  I didn’t care that I probably should have been hanging trail cams, or making notes about deer movement. I was just outside playing. Outside wandering.
I returned back to the desk and office revitalized, energized, and ready to spit out copy and photos left and right. I might add, I even slept better that night than I had in some time. So please, remember to take time to wander. Gravel scratch around a neighborhood and allow yourself to just enjoy what you come across. Do it with no mission,no chore, no task in mind. Remember what being outdoors means to you and how therapeutic it truly is.

Just a few things I encountered during my wandering