River Bottom Alarm Clocks

The Tin Star started opening day of the 2009 deer season in fine form. At 61 degrees with the hint of fog in the air and a light breeze in the trees, there was promise of interesting things to come.

The predawn stillness found the deer camera at the feeder busily popping its flash to allow illumination of ????? feeding on the dried corn kernels. Approaching dawn finally allowed sufficient ambient light to see a extraordinary size doe busily ingesting its protein breakfast.

Just as ole Sol began to cogitate eye peeking over the east horizon, a large flock of turkeys came off their overnight roost on the nearby San Gabriel river and began to trumpet their joy at being alive another day. One throaty "gobble" after another wafted with the pureness of nature's "wake up" alarm.

As the morn passed, a flock of maybe 25 crows began to circle the corn while screeching mocking taunts as to which would first sample the yellow feast around the feeder. Suddenly without warning, a hawk swooped into their midst as if to declare his/her defiance of their superior numbers. The crows went nuts....and if one could interpret their avian indignation...it would surely approximate the human equivalent of "HOLY SHIT!"

Things eventually settled down, but the hawk continued for a spell to glide thru the trees while loudly whistling his paean of triumph over the ebony marauders.

About 8:15A, the ole ranch hand was about ready to close the chapter on another opening morning when my river bottom alarm clocks began to filter from the surrounding brush toward the beckoning deer feeder manna.

Opportunity offered became "opportunity" taken as the ole fat boy leveled his newly acquired 7mm-08 downrange and let loose with one them lead lined sofa piller eliminators. Scratch one Rio Grande genre turkey.

Dang if ALL that herd of grasshopper wranglers didn't decide to hang round for the funeral? Brother opportunity whispered in the ear of the wannabe Daniel Boone again and round "two" planted ole gobblewski right where it stood.

Awesome morning...soul satisfying outdoor experience....and fresh meat for the table. Only way to top this is if the beautiful bride volunteers to dress out the groceries....yeah right!