I am pleased to introduce to everyone one of my blogging mentors Albert A Rasch. Albert has helped me out on a number of occasions answering some of my crazy questions about blogging and posting some of my contest stuff. Needless to say Albert has been a great influence on me the past couple of years. Thanks Albert.

So cozy up to you laptop and learn more about one of the outdoor blogging greats. If you haven't already I suggest you check out his blog The Rasch Outdoor Chronicles I think you will enjoy it.




Ben, thanks for having me on Ben G Outdoors! As you know, I'm a big fan of both Ben G Outdoors and Abnormal Outdoors, I only wish there were more hours in the day to read not only your blogs, but the other few dozen I follow!

1. Why did you start Blogging?
Besides the fact that I like to hear myself wax eloquent on any number of subjects, I really thought that I could share some of the things I've learned and experienced. I don't know about the rest of y'all, but I have a hard time getting together with like minded folks in my neighborhood, and blogging is much like kicking back at the neighborhood watering hole and talking with friends. You know Ben, so much happens to us on a daily basis that we many times just file it away and ultimately forget about it. With some luck - and a good back-up system - this will be available to educate and entertain my great-grandchildren, and to guide important world leaders years henceforth!


2.Who were the people that influenced you when you first started Blogging?
Man, I have to say the SBW-The Suburban BushWacker, Holly Heyser-NorCalCazadora, Othmar Vohringer-Outdoors with Othmar, Phillip Laughlin at The Hog Blog, and Rick Kratzke-Whitetail Woods, influenced me in different ways. Michael Riddle of Native Hunt also motivated me in ways that are too numerous to mention.
The beauty of it is that we all influence each other in a myriad of ways and in different directions. SBW's wit, humor, and perspicacity is something that I wish I could emulate, Holly has a journalist's keen eye and sense for the proper turn of phrase and getting to the gist of an issue, Othmar's intellect and acumen is all encompassing. Philip is a writer and journalist also, has a good 'ol boy exterior that belies his razor sharp intellect, and he shoots like nobody's business. His graciousness and generosity are something I will never forget. Mike's confidence in my writing, though wildly misplaced, has always made me strive to do better! And finally, Rick's down to earth and homespun bonne'ami spirit is wonderful to share and experience. I consider them all my personal friends, and without blogging I would never had a chance to meet so many fine hunters and outdoorsmen. And like them, there are dozens of others that I respect and learn from each and every day!

3. What aspect of Blogging do you enjoy the most?

Didn't I mention that already? Hearing myself talk? Hmmm, I thought I did....  No only kidding! LOL! ... OK just a little.
Seriously, when I know I've put together a good post, I feel great! I'm convinced that I write twenty fairly passable posts for every hundred that get on screen. Of those twenty, five are what I consider really good posts! Now, when I get a good run of comments on what I think is a good post, that's just icing on the proverbial cake.
I gave your question more thought Ben, and I remember that I also love helping folks out with new blogs and new ventures. I'm a banner junkie and really enjoy putting them up for folks. And you know about the Saturday Blog Rodeo, that's been one of my favorite series! It's my way of helping out the bloggers I appreciate. Lately I've been highlighting some blogs outside of the normal outdoor genre, simply because I appreciate what they're doing too. And many of us have other interests also. Hopefully I'll turn someone on to a blog or other experience that they would otherwise not know existed.


4. What in your opinion are some must read outdoor blogs?
Well Ben, I would like to tell you, but I have a post scheduled on that very subject! I suppose I could be persuaded to share a few with you on Ben G Outdoors! It really depends on what you're after in your own mind. When I'm in the mood for well written literature, I go straight to Home on the Range(I have a crush on B...). Intellectual discussion on hunter's rights: Galen Geer's The Thinking Hunter. Real hunting advice with a deep understanding of the art: Hodgeman's Thoughts. I'll fill you in on my top ten or twenty in a week or two.


5. Could you provide us with some of the tricks you use to keep coming up with new informative and good content on your blog?
If I told you, I would have to kill you...
Oh what the heck, it's not like it's a real secret. Sometimes its a word that pops out at me and sets off a train of thoughts. On occasion it is real knowledge that I have and think, "Gee, folks ought to know this stuff too." Here is a little trick I use that may be of some help to others. Open up a new blog post. Write something, anything, and start to develop an idea around it. When you've tired of it or decided that you've written enough save it as a draft. Come back to it later when you remember, or have time and edit it. Add more information, take stuff out, and reword phrases that don't quite sound right. I have over one hundred twenty drafts that I have put together that I go to get inspired. Some have sat for... A long time. Others a week or two. The cold weather camping post that is coming up has sat since November. I've tweaked it and worked on it for some time, finally deciding that it needed to be split into two parts.

6. Who introduced you to the outdoors?

My dad loved to surf fish for stripers off Long Island when I was very young. Unfortunately we were never in a position to continue that as I grew up. But whenever the opportunity arose where we might be near water, my parents always allowed me to fish. So I started out as a fisherman! It was on a long flight to Europe that I developed a real desire and love for hunting. Jim Carmichael accompanied me all the way on a family trip to Spain on a big jumbo 747! You can imagine what a story about elephant hunting in Botswana does to an impressionable twelve year old. I remember as if it was only yesterday his recounting of the charge by a rogue female elephant. Only at the last moment did he reluctantly pull the trigger on his 458 Model 70 Winchester, driving that 500 grain solid through the matriarch's brain, dropping her mere feet from where he was standing. To this day I still get goosebumps as I recall that story...
I kept that tattered and dog-eared issue of Outdoor Life my mother gave me before we boarded that flight for years, only losing track of it when I finally left home on my own adventures.

7. Have you passed along your passion for the outdoor to anyone?

That's a very big part of The Rasch Outdoor Chronicles, but it is during the daily face to face with people that I use to express my passion for the outdoors. I take every opportunity to talk about hunting, fishing, camping, and all the other outdoor activities I pursue. I make it my responsibility to educate and elucidate whenever the conversation comes up.
At home, Bubby is the fisherman, Jordan is the gunfighter, and Mom is the camping buff; I would like to think that my love for them and those activities inspired their passions.

8. What is your favorite type of hunting and why?
I really like hog hunting; probably because it's year round, invariably exciting, and you can hunt them in any number of ways! On horseback with spears, on foot with handguns, long range with scoped rifles, up close with big bore shotguns, blackpowder, dogs, you name it, and you can do it with pigs!

9. Can you tell us about your most memorable hunt?
That would have to be the time I met a couple of good ol' boys with dogs the size of four wheelers, with a penchant for chasing big trophy boar hogs through the Florida swamps! It was touch and go let me tell you, and I came close to ending up skewered like Vietnamese rat on a stick! I tell the whole story on Hogs and Dogs.


10. Other than Blogging and hunting what takes up your time?
Just keeping the friendly, neighborhood suicide bombers from messing up my idyllic sojourn in Afghanistan...

Finally if there is anything else you would like to add about Blogging, the outdoors, or life in general?
Ben, I'm glad you asked. (Albert takes deep breath.)
Friends, take responsibility. Take responsibility for your life, your actions, and your loved ones. Make it a point to try to do the right thing. Do the little things that on the surface seem inconsequential, but make a big difference if enough of us do it. Have civic pride. Stand and salute when the American flag goes by. Take your kids fishing. Take the neighbor's kids fishing. While you're at it, take the neighbor fishing too. Say thank you and please, even though you've had a long hard day and you really just want to strangle the clerk behind the counter. Keep kids on the straight and narrow when they're around you, remember you're the adult. And finally, remember your friends, neighbors, and strangers overseas serving in our armed forces you are their lifeline and anchor!
Ben thanks again for having me on Ben G Outdoors! I have enjoyed and appreciate the time we've spent together, and the opportunity to introduce myself to your readers.

Albert A Rasch

Well Albert, It has been a pleasure and I am so glad you accepted the task of interviewing with Ben G. Outdoors. Oh and I really enjoy your blog. If you missed it before here it is again The Rasch Outdoor Chronicles