Huntin’ Grandma Finally Kills The Big One

Viola Gentry, 89, finally shot the big one on Jan. 9 while hunting in Taliaferro County.

You’re never too old to enjoy the great outdoors, and that’s why Viola Gentry, of Sylva, N.C., still climbs in a tree stand every chance she gets, even at the age of 89.

While only getting the chance to go hunting with her husband once or twice before he passed away in 1994, she fell in love with everything about deer hunting.

Viola now tags along with her grandson, Carroll, to their hunting lease in Crawfordville, Ga. every chance she gets.

“I love to hunt,” said Viola. “I get more enjoyment out of that than anything else I do, just being with my family and friends.”

Although Viola has killed her fair share of deer in the past 12 years, she took her biggest buck to date on Jan. 9.

She would rather hunt from a tree stand, but that evening Carroll assisted her in getting in a ground blind.

After sitting only 30 or 40 minutes, out walked a few does, with a 9-pointer following closely behind.

“It was just before dusk,” she said. “As soon as I got the chance, I let him have it; I was tickled to death.”

An old friend of Viola’s promised that when she killed the “big one,” he would mount it free of charge. He stuck to his word, and Viola is currently waiting on the completion of her trophy mount.

“I was hoping I would get a big one before I have to quit going,” said Viola, “but I hope I don’t have to anytime soon. Hunting is just so peaceful.”