3-year-old shoots two people during ‘Youth Turkey Hunt’ in Wisconsin
A hunting trip in Wisconsin ended in an accidental shooting when a three-year-old child fired a shotgun during a youth turkey hunt, wounding a man and his young son after they were mistaken for game.
According to a report from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, the child was participating in the Youth Turkey Hunt while being supervised by a 34-year-old parent who served as the child’s mentor. The parent assisted the toddler in handling and firing a 12-gauge semiautomatic shotgun.
Investigators said the pair noticed movement in a wooded area and believed it was a wild turkey. In reality, a 40-year-old man and his seven-year-old child were positioned about 35 yards away in the brush. When the shotgun was fired, pellets struck both victims in the back, hands, and head.
The incident happened on Sunday, April 12, which was the final day of the youth hunt at the Honey Creek Wildlife Area near Burlington, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Wisconsin law permits children of any age to hunt if they are accompanied by a qualified mentor who remains within arm’s reach. Under state rules, participants in the Youth Turkey Hunt must be 16 years old or younger.
Both victims were taken to a hospital following the shooting. The adult was treated and released the same day. The child suffered head injuries and remained hospitalized for at least two days before being released.
Authorities have not publicly identified anyone involved. The Department of Natural Resources said the case remains under investigation as officials attempt to determine exactly who pulled the trigger.
Renee Thok, who oversees hunter education for the DNR, said the findings will eventually be sent to a district attorney, who will decide whether any charges should be filed.
Officials also noted that the three-year-old involved in the incident is the youngest person ever connected to a hunting accident in Wisconsin. The youth hunt is held the weekend before the state’s regular turkey hunting season begins.
This marks the third hunting-related shooting reported in Wisconsin so far this year.
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