In a testament to the inclusivity and opportunities furthered by America’s Second Amendment, a 104-year-old woman recently became the oldest person in the state of Wisconsin ever to harvest a deer.
According to Wisconsin’s Department of Natural Resources database, the woman in November became the oldest person in the state to purchase a gun deer license and harvest a deer. Her achievement is an inspiring example of how our country’s Second Amendment allows law-abiding citizens of diverse age groups to pursue opportunities for personal enrichment.
The woman, from Phillips, Wisc., was born in 1915. She raised five children and encouraged them to go hunting. She made the decision to get her first hunting license after spending time spotting deer with her son during the 2018 hunting season. After watching her son shoot a buck last year, she then decided at age 103 that she wanted the ability to hunt a buck for herself.
Known to her family as an independent spirit who enjoys ziplining and regularly partying for Mardi Gras in Louisiana every year, the senior citizen set her sights on making an achievement in hunting.
“She wanted to go hunting because she wanted to experience the part of being out in the stand with the boys,” according to her son. “She likes the idea of being out in the woods.”
She got her hunting license in time for the 2019 season. She made history on the first day of the nine-day season by nabbing a spike buck within two hours. After spending time in a blind in a comfortable chair talking with her son, she sighted a young deer about 30 yards away and carefully took the shot. “I got a buck!” she kept repeating in excitement, according to her son who accompanied her.
"This speaks to the adage that you should never underestimate the power of our senior citizens,” said Preston D. Cole, Wisconsin DNR Secretary-designee, adding, “This proves that Wisconsin's gun deer hunting season is for every generation."
The fact that a 104-year-old woman became a hunter is only part of this exceptional story. What is very worthy of attention is the fact that our nation’s Second Amendment freedoms allowed this woman to make an achievement that has made her state and family proud. In a society encumbered with strict gun-control laws, this record-setting elderly hunter likely would have been deprived of the opportunity to lawfully use a firearm.
Advocates for new gun-control laws should consider that such laws can impede the ability of American citizens of diverse ages and backgrounds to make historic and enriching achievements through the lawful and responsible use of firearms.
