THE PRINCESS GOES HUNTING By Hailey Hole
Ever since I was a little girl my dad would come home with hunting stories. These were stories that I d never heard before, stories that were too violent for my precious little ears. However I was intrigued, inspired and motivated. I made a promise to myself that I would eventually get my hunting license and go hunting. My 16 th birthday came and I passed the hunter safety course online. I was eager to hunt on opening day. After passing the field and shooting course I was ready to hunt for life. Soon my dad surprised me with a.308 Howa sporting rifle and Nikko 3.5 x 10 scope. At the shooting range, we discovered that my gun s accuracy was way off! We aligned it to max accuracy. I quickly joined the NRA and was finally ready for deer camp! Hailey Hole on a NRA approved range with her.308 Howa bolt-action rifle, Nikko 3.5 x 10 scope and Remington ammunition. We loaded up the motor home and hit the road the day before deer season opened. It was a long 5-hour drive to Starbuck, Washington.
We enjoyed a tasty meal at Huwe s Café with our fellow hunters. We then headed to camp and set up the tent. We had a good night s sleep and were ready to hit the mountains the next morning. (L-R) Austin Whittum, Lowell Whittum, Tim Hole and Hailey Hole at camp.
Waking up at 5:00 AM was not what I enjoyed, but I was determined. The day dawned clear and brisk with a light breeze. The fall colors were brilliant. After hiking up and down a mountain for what felt like 10 miles, we gathered our fellow hunters and came back for lunch. Tim and Hailey Hole
(L-R) Lowell Whittum, his son Austin, Tim Hole and Hailey Hole at Huwe s Café, a five-star restaurant in Starbuck, Washington. After another hearty meal at Huwe s Cafe we returned to the mountain. This time we hunted the other side. Some fellow hunters we met had seen a couple bucks in the area and directed us to that spot. We had to read the wind so they wouldn t smell us. Avoiding spooking the deer, we climbed up a hill below the deer, or so we thought. Turned out it was the wrong hill; we headed down the slope and up the correct rise this time. Getting closer we quieted our steps. Spotting a couple does, we sat patiently, waiting for the buck to rise; he was bedded down in the tall grass ahead of us. Getting positioned about 175 to 200 yards distant, I decided to look at the doe which was still standing through my scope. Spotting the doe centered
straight ahead, I saw the buck rise. I would have shot it right then but the doe was right behind the buck and if I were to miss and hit the doe I was going to have to pay a fine...out of my own wallet. No thanks! Anyway, I was super uncomfortable and agitated in the firing position I was set in to shoot. Trying to adjust I was struggling lining up my scope on the buck. Then the doe moved out of the way: my time to take my trophy! Yet I still was uncomfortable with my shooting positioning. Soon the others in our party, Lowell Whittum (master hunter), his son Austin and my dad, were growing anxious. They urged me to just shoot it! Pressure was intensifying. Lowell said frantically shoot over my back for a rest. He lay on his stomach and I popped up quietly and positioned myself as quickly as I could, resting my rifle over his back. But then, Lowell s deep breathing was affecting my concentration and my gun s accuracy. Timing my aim to synchronize with his breathing, I squeezed the trigger. As I watched hopefully through the scope the buck just dropped, hit with a single Remington 180-grain Core-Lokt bullet felled by my first shot on opening day! However, we weren t certain the animal was yet dead. Climbing up to it through tall grass and sage, I made eye contact with the buck. The animal was dead on the ground. My trophy buck was shot straight through the shoulder. Everyone in the group was highfiving me and congratulating me over my very first hunt. Tying the rope around the trophy and dragging it all the way down the hill was the hardest part of the whole weekend. We took the buck to camp and hung him upside down; I was taught how to skin the carcass. We gutted it an awful sight for a diva like me! I was so caught off guard by blood and guts everywhere; I ve never been so disgusted yet proud at the same time. And I have no one to thank but my good ol Pops he s my inspiration! I eagerly savored the whole outdoor experience.
Hailey Hole and her proud father Tim with Hailey s very first trophy whitetail buck. That night we all went out to celebrate my trophy at the Rawhide Bar & Grill in Starbuck, Washington. I d been thoroughly fulfilled by my very first hunting trip! October 13, 2012.
Hailey enjoying a game of pool with her Dad, Tim, at the Rawhide. And this ain t no bull!