By Allen Hamrick
There are legends and those destined to be legends who are born into this world, find their place and pursue their purpose. There are men and women who, from an early age, were taught to be self sufficient and need no one to survive, those who would take action when all seemed hopeless and do it continually. From blazing trails west to fighting wars, men and women who have received the call of the wild have made vast changes in future events and passed into history. With names like Annie Oakley, Paulina Brandreth, Osa Johnson, and Jessica Taylor Byers, it would be a hard list to earn a place on, but one local girl just might do it in her lifetime. Her name is Kendra (Huntress) Taylor; she got her first white tail deer at age 4 and hasn’t looked back. Now at age 8, she has claimed one more deer, a bobcat and in her latest hunt, her first turkey. At age 8, she can already out shoot most adult hunters and take her kills from hoof to dinner plate. Kendra is also an avid trout angler who can fill a fry pan quick. She is raised by super parents Kenny and Jessica Taylor with the occasional tag in from grandparents Ken and Teresa Taylor. Adventure is in her soul – walking into the woods in the early dawn hours while the sun is still sleeping behind the horizon is her time to hunt, her time to be a part of the circle of life.
It was the wee hours of the morning when Kendra got up for the day of the hunt. On this day, it was Grandpa Ken who took his turn as the hunt guide for the day’s pursuit. Outfitted with camouflage, Kendra, with her 4-10 and guide, set off into the woods to bring home the elusive turkey. It was dark and the only thing that can comfort a hunter in the dark is light. In the early morning hours, the woods are quiet and every sound a hunter hears raises their suspicion as to just what was making the sounds. Soon, the sun started peeping up sending its rays through the trees and everything changed. The unsuspecting turkey had wondered into Kendra’s zone, her gaze set on a broad shot, but it needed to be just a little closer. Patiently she waited, laying quiet and still as the big tom very slowly walked into her sight. The tom was on edge – it knew something was off but just wasn’t sure what. Its eyes scanned the woods as it slowly stepped on the forest floor like it was walking on nails. A little closer Kendra thought as her nerves became like banjo stings, her trigger finger just slightly off the trigger waiting. Her pulse was pounding as grandpas teeth gritted in anticipation. The only sound in the woods was the crackling of the tom’s footsteps on the dry leaves; it was as if the world was getting ready to explode. Finally ol’ tom was within range. Kendra’s finger began its pull on the trigger and the silence was soon over as the air was filled with the shrieks of birds surprised by the sudden boom. Kendra had hit her mark, but tom, with all he had left, ran over the hill. In pursuit were Kendra and Grandpa Ken. She fired one more shot and the hunt was over. With her nerves unwinding and grandpa catching his breath, she held high her first turkey and it will certainly not be her last. Remember the name Kendra Taylor – she may be the next Annie Oakley with her own stories told all over this country. She is a legend in the making.
