BY ISAIAH FRIZZELL
“There will be no hunting and no fishing unless we, the people, demand conservation.” – Theodore Roosevelt
Hailey Hunting History
Do you hunt? If you’ve lived here long enough, you probably remember Wayne Clayton’s High Desert Sports, which was a tried-and-true reservoir of hunting gear for all seasons. If you’ve thought about hunting, but have felt too old to try, think again!
Now, head down 1st Avenue in Hailey toward Java and you’ll find Glen, a deer-antlered mannequin welcoming you into the ultimate hunting supply and educational resource in the Valley.
First Lite
First Lite is an amazing Hailey success story. Born in 2007 by residents Kenton Carruth and Scott Robinson, the store became a Netflix show. Invention being the mother of necessity, First Lite was born from how Carruth and Robinson took dialogue with merino wool. A premier fabric for outdoor activities, merino wool was warm in the cold, cool in the heat and odor-free. However, the bright colors on offer, at the time, were not conducive to hunting. The idea of having camouflage merino gave birth to a hunting journey of epic proportions.
Enter Mary Gibson
Mary Gibson is assistant-manager for the flagship store in Hailey. Beautiful, charming and beset with sparkling eyes, Gibson is eloquent, sublimely hospitable and absolutely masterful in her understanding of hunting and locale.
Like so many, Gibson was not born into hunting. “My husband and I began adult-onset hunting 19 years ago. Adult-onset hunting is when you decide to start hunting as an adult. So I was raised around hunting but I never got to go. When I married my husband, I said, ‘Is this something you would like to do?’ Yes! And so we had several key mentors, including my boss, Keith Anschbaugh. He was there when I got my first deer and my first elk.
Gibson is extraordinarily passionate about hunting, education and conservation. Hopefully, most know that the Pittman-Robertson Act (1937) places an 11% excise tax on firearms and ammunition, and a 10% tax on archery equipment, while the Dingell-Johnson Act (1950) taxes fishing equipment at 10%. These federal excise taxes are collected and then distributed to all 50 states by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for conservation efforts and public access programs.
Hunting secures our natural resources through a nationwide system and encourages the continuation of life.
First LIte hosts events with many organizations across Blaine County. “We put on events at the store. We’ve done butchering and beers to bring people in and help them figure out how to take care of their animals and keep it clean, preserve their harvests. We are a resource for people who seek adult-onset hunting. You know, a lot of these traditions aren’t being passed down and if you think about it, all of us that are hunters are a part of a never-ending line of hunters that stretch back throughout the entire time of humanity.” Profound!
Gibson is living the dream of homesteading and sustainability. “I ski and hike, and I’m doing quite a lot of canning right now. I garden. I’m very passionate about where my food comes from, so I want to be responsible for it. And one of my big full-circle moments is when I get to serve my mom a steak that I harvested, you know, alongside some tomatoes that I grew.”
This is Idaho outdoor living. While the original owners sold First Lite to Meat Eaters, a company out of Bozeman, Montana, that has a Netflix show (same name), with star Steven Rinella (the show plays large screen, up high in the store), they are part and parcel of Hailey’s best outdoor education, offering classes, information and spectacular hunting gear in a space that just feels good to be in.
First Lite is located at: 111 N. 1st Ave., Hailey, ID 83333
Open from 9am–6pm
Call: 208-806-0066