So, I’m sitting in my local mechanic’s waiting room on a plastic chair, next to an old gas station pump. I’m getting a little high off the exhaust fumes coming from the next room, and I’m trying not to listen to the guy talk going on in there because frankly, it makes me embarrassed. Then, my mechanic, named Mike, saunters into the room and asks me if I’m ready for more snow this weekend.
Mike’s a hunter and I told him about having to cancel a rabbit hunt with hunter extraordinaire Marti Davis because of the nasty, slick roads, and he told me that he squeaked in one last hunt before the season closed. However, he didn’t get a rabbit and he attributes the explosion in the coyote population as the reason. In fact, the woman whose property he hunted on told him that she can hear the screams of little bunny foo-foo’s in the summertime when she has her windows open – screaming at being hunted and eaten by coyotes.
And, he looked at me and gave me the best piece of advice I’ve received for a long time: “You know, if you put old metal pieces of cars — like fenders — around the edges of your fields, the rabbits can hide there from coyotes.” Wow! A Clunkers for Rabbits program in the Ozarks. I know where we have an old clunker or two in bits and pieces at our place, and I’m planning on hooking up the trailer to my tractor and tooling on down there to get those pieces. Then, I’ll place them aesthetically around some fields and food plots. And then, I’ll go a’huntin’ next season. Maybe I’ll take old Prissy, my formerly wormy beagle that I inherited last year.
Prissy Baird. She's 14 years old, but she might still hunt!
I can hardly wait to have a reason to run my Kubota around again, other than putting in more food plots. Oh, and the other good thing about Mike’s place? I got away with a $57.23 bill – almost unheard of these days – for a new little windshield wiper runner doohickey in my old Suburban. Of which, I’m imagining, will offer marvelous fenders for foo foo’s in the future.
~Barbara Baird
Publisher/Editor Barbara Baird is a freelance writer in hunting, shooting and outdoor markets. Her bylines are found at several top hunting and shooting publications. She also is a travel writer, and you can follow her at https://www.ozarkian.com. View all posts by Barbara Baird
Mike! I always appreciate the attention you give to my vehicles and I’ve never had to bring one back. You always do it right, and last time, you gave me a book to read! For local readers, that’s Mike’s Car Care Center, 681 W Lions Club Dr, Rolla, MO 65401-4453. Phone: (573) 368-5523. I like going to Mike’s shop. I like smelling fumes, actually, and I like the old Mayberry community feeling I get when I go there … and when Mike says he’s going to fix a vehicle, he fixes it. And, they always treat you like a lady and actually, it was a customer with the potty mouth, not Mike or the guys there.
I am sorry about the fumes. As far as the customers (guys) one thing i have learned is you cannot control their mouths. HAHA I appreciate your business and glad you was satisfied with the service. Thank You Mike’s Car Care Center