Taylor—was a young boy in Hornbeak, Tennessee, he had shot a slingshot with

uncanny accuracy. When he was a barefoot tyke of seven, he began using the

slingshot in hills around his home to hunt meat for the family pot because it

was simply necessary. “I learned the hard way on rabbits, squirrels, coons and

possums. It was hit or go hungry.”Slingshot grew up learning how to blow a duck call, able to bring ducks

to within 20 yards of his slingshot. He was considered one of the best callers

at Reelfoot Lake, using a Tom Turpin call. Everyone told of the many times he

called up and brought down 50 to 75 ducks a day, selling them at market for

$4.50 a dozen. Even after he had made enough money to buy a shotgun, he always

carried his slingshot with him.In addition to shooting rabbits, bullfrogs, turtles, snakes and

squirrels, his favorite target was a duck on the wing. When he went

waterfowling, he took a handful of rocks, and when the ducks flew over, he

popped them either in the head or neck. “It doesn’t bust up the game so

bad—just stuns ’em,” Slingshot always said. If hunting with a companion, after

shooting a duck, he said, “Mah timin’s a bit off. Ah meant that mallard to

squat smack on your head.”