My name is Taylor Lauren Rather. I am 14 years old. I’m an honor roll student at Halifax County Senior High school in Halifax, VA. I like to spend time with my friends and family. My brothers name is Joshua, he is 18 years old and I like to hunt and fish with him. We like to go ride 4-wheelers in the mud with our friends, fish, hunt, camp and I like to spend time with my pets which include 2 dogs, 6 bunnies, 10 cats and 1 fish. I love animals and the outdoors. I also have a passion for drawing, photography and videotaping my adventures.
At the age of 11, I shot my first turkey. It weighted 21 ½ lbs. with spurs measuring 1 and 2/16 inches each. The beard was 10 inches long. I used a Remington 870, 20-gauge shotgun. This was also my very first turkey hunt. My brother and I shot our first turkeys on the same day. It was a very special day to me. Ha, Ha, he shot a Jake.
That same year in November 2005 during muzzlerloader season I shot my first deer, an eight point buck. I used a Thompson Center-Thunder Hawk .50 cal. with 80 grains of powder and a .295 power belt bullet. It was a 75 yard shot and he dropped in his tracks. My brother had bow hunted this same deer during bow season. Josh was happy that I got my first deer, but was disappointed that he didn’t get him first.
It has always been my dream to get the “turkey grand-slam” and to hunt other birds such as ducks, geese and dove. It is my goal to also hunt elk, mule deer, black bear, prong horn and moose.
I think all animals are beautiful and I enjoy watching them. I would like to fly in a helicopter one day and take pictures from the air of wild life.
After high school, I would like to go to Virginia Tech to study to become a veterinarian or a similar field as a Wildlife Biologist.
I encourage my friends and others to spend time in the outdoors.
Taylor Lauren Rather
