Before sunrise, the woods are quiet, broken only by the rustle of leaves and the occasional snap of a branch. A deer steps out into a clearing. This scene is a familiar one for Hailey Flohr ‘27, as a part of a tradition that has been passed down through generations.

“Hunting has always been in our family,” said Flohr. “My dad was the one who first got me into it because he’s always done it, and I’ve always looked up to him.”

Hunting requires patience and dedication. A typical hunting day for the Flohr family begins before most people are awake.

“We’re out in the woods all day,” said Flohr. “My family and I get up before sunrise and take all the equipment out there. We usually have a bag with food, and we have blinds where we sit in them, make a fire, and wait.”

Flohr’s dad’s side of the family has seen many generations of hunters in the family. Family members from Michigan travel up north during hunting season to partake in the activity.

“During hunting season, we hunt every weekend,” said Flohr. “I’ll go out with my dad and brother at the same time, but we have our own spots where we wait.”

Hunting often involves extended periods without activity. During this time, individuals remain in place and rely on listening for signs of movement.

“It can get boring, sitting alone all day,” said Flohr. “I will sometimes listen to music while I’m waiting, but that’s a little hard to do because I’m also trying to listen to my surroundings at the same time.” 

There are two Michigan deer hunting seasons that Flohr participates in. Bow season refers to archery-only hunting, and the season ran from Oct. 1 to Nov. 14 this year. Rifle season lasted only two weeks, from Nov. 15 to Nov. 30.  

“She started when she was young, just rifle with her dad,” said Lisa Flohr. “As she got older, she moved into bow, and now she hunts on her own with bow and rifle both seasons.”

Michigan has strict hunting laws to prioritize the protection of wildlife. In Michigan, hunters aged 10 or older must complete a hunter education course to hunt alone. In addition, the Flohrs prioritize respect and responsibility when hunting.

“Before Hailey can hunt, she has to put in some serious practice time,” said Lisa Flohr. “We have a target in our yard where she practices, and she can’t go up and hunt until it is accurate and won’t be a wounding issue.”

Beyond family traditions and safety, hunting has also shaped how others see Flohr, highlighting her dedication to the activity.

“Haley loves hunting,” said her friend, Elizabeth Redinger ‘27. “She goes up every weekend and sometimes complains about having to sit in the cold. Last year, she caught a buck, and her family will also give my family venison once in a while.”

The attention and patience required for hunting extend into other parts of her life, influencing the way she observes and interacts with the world.

“She’s really observant and she notices things that not many other people would,” said Redinger. “We’ll be sitting in a room, and there could be a small hole in the wall that she’ll notice from far away that no one else I know would have seen.”

Michigan has one of the highest numbers of hunters in the U.S., selling over 600,000 hunting licenses as of 2023.

“It’s a very respectful thing in our family,” said Lisa. “It’s done with respect to not wounding deer, and we take only mature deer.”

People hunt for a variety of reasons, including conservation efforts to control population, food, and spending time in nature. 

“We keep everything from it,” said Lisa. “We eat the deer, and usually she’ll either have a picture or some kind of memento if she gets one from that season. It’s all used for food, and anything not used is donated.”

Hunting is a valuable family tradition that functions as a hobby and a form of connection for the Flohrs that they hope will be passed down.

“I would continue this in the future and pass it on to future generations,” said Flohr. “It’s a valuable skill to have, and I think it’s important to complete hunter safety training even if someone later decides that hunting isn’t for them.”