Boy, 3, Took Part in Turkey Hunt with His Parent. 2 People, Including a 7-Year-Old, Are Now Injured After Misidentified Target
Boy, 3, Took Part in Turkey Hunt with His Parent. 2 People, Including a 7-Year-Old, Are Now Injured After Misidentified Target
Desiree AnelloSun, April 19, 2026 at 3:54 PM UTC
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Stock photo of TurkeysCredit: Getty -
A 3-year-old and his parent accidentally injured one adult and a 7-year-old when they fired their shotgun at the Wisconsin youth turkey hunt
Wisconsin law allows children of any age to hunt with supervision, following a 2017 removal of the minimum age limit
The incident involved the youngest shooter and victim on record in Wisconsin hunting-incident summaries since 2007
A 3-year-old boy was involved in an accidental shooting that injured two people, including a 7-year-old child, during a youth turkey hunt.
On Sunday, April 12, two hunting parties were participating in the 2026 Wisconsin youth turkey hunt at the Honey Creek Wildlife Area near Burlington, when a 3-year-old boy and his 34-year-old parent “spotted what appeared to be a turkey moving through the woods,” according to an incident report filed by the Department of Natural Resources.
Upon spotting the movement, the parent kneeled in front of the toddler and “aided in positioning, aiming and firing of the firearm at the movement.” The parent and child were using a 12-gauge semi-automatic shotgun.
The shotgun pellets ultimately struck another hunting mentor and their 7-year-old youth mentee in the head, back and hands, per the report. Investigation surrounding the incident remains ongoing.
According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, both victims have since received treatment at the hospital. While the adult was discharged later that day, the child was kept in the hospital for at least two days with non-life-threatening wounds to the head before being released.
“The DA will decide whether to press charges,” Renee Thok, the Department of Natural Resources’ hunter education administrator, told the Meat Eater. “I’m just glad everyone will be okay.”
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Honey Creek Wildlife AreaCredit: Wisconsin Department Of Natural Resources
“For the sake of both juveniles, I hope this incident doesn’t deter them or anyone else from hunting again, because hunting is a safe activity,” she continued. “This is a reminder that you can’t be complacent about safety.”
In Wisconsin, former Gov. Scott Walker removed the minimum age limit for hunting in 2017, giving parents or an adult the responsibility to determine the age at which a child is ready to hunt with supervision.
While all hunters born on or after Jan. 1, 1973, are required to pass a state-certified hunter education course to mentor others, the adult in this case was “military-exempt” due to training he received during their time in service.
Additionally, the recent incident involved the youngest shooter and victim on record, per the Department of Natural Resources’ hunting-incident summaries since 2007. Previously, a 9-year-old boy shot a 48-year-old man in the arm while hunting mourning doves in September 2012.
on People
Source: “AOL Sports”
