my cardiologist, (Did you think he would be named anything else? This is Alabama.) on Monday. Dr. Bubba is a dedicated turkey hunter which puts him on the slightly insane side of hunting. I mean can you imagine going out in the dark of pre-morning and sitting hidden in thickets and brush like a rabbit while you try to call in a gobbler? Not with these things out looking for a rabbit dinner. Everything likes rabbits.
One thing is for certain, I won’t be needing a stress test when I see him.


The dogs were off running the second rabbit of the morning when I spotted him along a path “we” had already trod. I pulled out my pocket rocket and fired two shots before snapping repeatedly. There is a marked drop-off in accuracy beyond arms reach with the short little barrel, the distance you would be handing over your wallet. I had no intentions of getting that close to this bad boy.

A quick check showed that a chip had broke off of the hammer. So, I had a wounded but still deadly, 49 inch, 10 rattles and a button, throughly ticked-off timber rattler. So, who should show up but the dogs having lost the rabbit decided to give the “boss” a hand with whatever had him so stirred up.

Like 2 year olds, the more I yelled “No!”, the more determined they became to see what was up. At times my voice hit notes only achieved by sisters finding what you had lost in her underwear drawer. Dixie came through the thicket that the snake was laying on the edge of. She actually stepped over the snake. I tensed up expecting the strike that never came. I finally got Julie, Dixie and Lucy up the trail, away from the snake. Kate showed up minutes later running up the same trail the rattler was on. I don't know how she could have avoided him.

I boxed the dogs and went back with a shovel.

Usually when I’m opening the vehicle tail gate in the morning before getting the girls out of their pen, Maizie would be barking in anticipation. Today, not a sound other than the rustling movements as the dogs lined up along the fence looking to see if they would get lucky. They did, especially Dixie.

The Turkey hunters were complaining some about how quick the birds had seemed to wise up. Well, they must have knew the Spring Season was over because I saw two along the side of the road and heard the big birds most of the morning. I hope ya’ll turkey hunter's wear snake chaps though that won’t do you to much good if you sit on him.

All total three races. The girls weren’t all that rusty, thought they lost the cabin rabbit when he doubled back twice on the hard clay road before making a pretty decent leap into a heap of pine debris that the dogs would skirt while looking for him.


I should have been home by 10 but I had to wait till Tiny and Mikie came in from fishing on the lakes in Pittsview. I needed to use their cell phone. Yes, I know I have a CallWave special, that's what I needed their phone for; to call my number, so I could find where I dropped the phone while following the dogs