The story behind the irony in love at first sight

The story behind the irony in love at first sight

I write about a wide variety of topics dealing with the outdoors, but to date, few have been as neat as this column.

This column is about a young lady meeting her husband at the West Virginia State Fair and creating a partnership out of love for each other and their love for the outdoors.

Rachelle Hedrick’s father was avid hunter who passed away from cancer when she was only 7 years old.

Rachelle’s memories of being young are being a country girl who played in the woods all day, jumping fences and making mud pies.

She remembers her father’s love for the outdoors, whether he was hunting or playing ball.

After her father’s passing, their lives took a different turn and she didn’t have the opportunity to hunt or fish growing up.

So how does a girl that grew up and lived in Waynesburg, Pa., meet a West Virginia man from Seneca Rocks?

It was God’s divine plan.

In 2007, a mutual friend had asked Rachelle to go to the West Virginia State Fair. Hanging out in the cattle barns, she had spotted this good-looking guy, but he was standing next to a pretty blonde, which she assumed was his girlfriend.

The next day as she was walking booth to booth, a gentleman who owned Smoke Hole Caverns and Log Cabins Resort handed her a brochure. As she turned the pages, a hunky guy holding a large trout caught her eye. Her eyes lit up as she asked, “Wow! Who’s that?”

She was answered with, “That’s my son, Josh Hedrick.”

Rachelle’s friend assured her that she had met that same guy the day before in the cattle barn.

Ironically, it was the same guy, and fortunately, the “girlfriend” she thought he had ended up being his sister. Phone numbers were surely exchanged, and the rest is history.

From the first time Rachelle drove to Smoke Hole for their first date, Rachelle says Josh put a bow in her one hand, and a fly rod in the other — they’ve been hunting and fishing ever since.

One of their favorite hunts together was when they drew first year for New Mexico archery elk in 2008. They stayed in a spike camp for six days and both successfully took large elk, which Rachelle’s was only at seven yards. Josh went to guide school in Idaho and also has a degree in wildlife and fisheries from West Virginia University, so he knows what he’s doing in the woods and on the water. Together, Josh and Rachelle own Smoke Hole Outfitters located in Seneca Rocks.

After dating for two years, Josh and Rachelle were married in June 2009.

They took their “huntingmoon” all the way to New Zealand, where they took two red stag and a fallow deer with their Matthews bows. Rachelle’s red stag scored 416 and claimed the No. 1 ranking in the world for a woman’s archery kill.

Last year, at the Safari Club International show in Las Vegas, they met Eva Shockey, Jim Shockey’s daughter.

Rachelle and Eva hit it off really well and became great friends.

The summer of 2012, Eva asked Rachelle if she would join her on the Aleutian Islands off the coast of Alaska for an all-girl “Reindeer Rifle Hunt.”

It didn’t take any thinking at all for Rachelle to give her a yes.

In October, Eva, Rachelle and another friend, Taylor Nitterhouse, headed off to Alaska in search of reindeer. They were all excited to see the famous TV personality and hunter, Eva Shockey.

The girls were very prepared for what they were told was the “worst weather in the world.”

They layered up in five layers every day, including heavy rain gear — to protect them from the harsh, high winds and cold rain. Umnak Island was absolutely beautiful with volcanoes and ocean water. One second it would be raining and the next second would be sunny.

Rachelle shot her reindeer on the first day, and Eva and Taylor did a double — shooting their reindeer only seconds apart on the third day.

It was a real adventure, being in an extraordinary part of the world, having a blast with a few girlfriends. Even the lodge was immaculate and the food was awesome. They ate some of their reindeer, but most of the meat was given to the natives.

The entire hunt was filmed and edited for a normal halfhour TV slot, and actually aired this week on Jim Shockey’s Hunting Adventures on the Outdoor Channel.

But don’t worry; if you missed it, it will be on again today at 8 p.m.