104-Year-Old Woman Takes First Buck

The 2019 hunting season has given us a litany of feel-good stories, none so much as the story of Florence Teeters—the 104-year-old woman from Wisconsin who made headlines nationwide on the opening weekend of the state’s firearm season for being the oldest hunter to ever successfully tag a deer. Florence is not your typical centenarian. The local news report shares that Florence is a bit of an adrenaline junkie and can be found ziplining or hanging out at Marti Gras. Hunting is well within her wheelhouse of activities. As a hunting community, we need to celebrate with the Teeters family for numerous reasons because everything good that hunting represents played out in this hunt.

Hunting Is Timeless
We love special and unique stories that come from the woods.  Florence’s age is certainly the eye-grabbing headline and is an incredible accomplishment alone. However, what she represents is much deeper. Florence’s story embodies the timelessness of hunting. The wild is an equal playing field transcending the generations and providing adrenaline-infused excitement regardless of age. Florence hunted with one of her younger sons and the local news quotes from the hunt reflect her excitement in the moments as she exclaimed twice, “I got a buck!” Hunting is for anyone and Florence shows us that age doesn’t matter. It’s all about being willing to get out into the field and make the best of your opportunities.

Florence Teeters took her first buck on her first hunt at age 104. (Image by Bill Ball.)

Hunting Is Family
The local news article shares Florence is the mother of five and raised a hunting family. She reportedly sat with her son during the 2018 season in the blind and experienced a successful hunt with her son that sparked her interest in purchasing a hunting license for the 2019 season. Hunting with family is a powerful and emotional time together, strengthening the bonds between siblings, parents and their children. "She wanted to go hunting because she wanted to experience the part of being out in the stand with the boys," her son Bill said, in one of the many articles sharing Florence’s story. In addition, her daughter purchased the stylish day coat she wore in hunter red and black. 

A spike might be the greatest symbol of a first big game animal and stays with us forever. Even the savviest of big buck hunters smile at this story.Hunting Is Experience
The experience is what is important versus the size of the animal. Florence shows us the thrill of taking your first buck is available to anyone. She shot a spike buck in a state known for big bucks. However, we celebrate the size of her buck for so many reasons intrinsic to us as a culture. It’s her buck, her desire to make it happen at 104 years old, but the same adrenaline she felt is something every hunter has shared as we connect as a hunting community. How many of us killed a spike buck for our first deer? A spike might be the greatest symbol of a first big game animal and stays with us forever. Even the savviest of big buck hunters smile at this story.

After reading this story I, too, will raise a glass to Florence during Marti Gras. Her accomplishment of taking a trophy spike is timeless and embodies the pure enjoyment of being with family and experiencing the indescribable moments of taking a first deer. Florence also reminds all of us that if she can get in the field, the rest of us don’t have any excuses.

About the Author: Jason Reid is an entrepreneur and writer from Upstate New York with a nomadic spirit. He has been a contributing freelance writer for more than a dozen publications and websites and has served on the board of directors for the Professional Outdoor Media Association for the past two years while helping companies grow across multiple industries. Jason has a passion for backcountry hunting, whitetails and gun dogs and for sharing the gospel of hunting with the next generation. Learning about hunting and wildlife conservation at an early age, one of his claims to fame is that he was featured in the centerfold of Field and Stream at age 14 alongside his brothers in an article promoting the youth hunting project known a “Young Bloods.”

Follow NRA Hunters' Leadership Forum on Twitter @HuntersLead.