Boy Mistakes Hunters for Turkeys, Results in Shooting Incident

A 3-year-old boy accidentally shot and injured a man and his son, believing them to be turkeys, while participating in a youth turkey hunt in Wisconsin.

Accompanied by his 34-year-old parent, the toddler used a 12-gauge semi-automatic shotgun during the outing.

According to a report from the Department of Natural Resources, the duo noticed some movement in the bushes and, misjudging the situation, assumed it was a wild turkey.

However, a 40-year-old man and his 7-year-old child were the ones in the bushes, just 35 yards away, and were hit by the shots in the back, hand, and head.

The incident occurred on Sunday, April 12, which marked the last day of hunting at the Honey Creek Wildlife Refuge near Burlington, as reported by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

In Wisconsin, regulations permit anyone of any age to hunt without needing to complete a hunting education course, as long as they have an accessible instructor with them.

Both individuals who were injured were taken to the hospital. While the adults were released the same day, the child required further treatment due to head injuries and was expected to stay for at least two more days.

The names of those involved have not been disclosed, but the report from the Department of Natural Resources mentions that charges may be considered once the findings of the investigation are forwarded to the district attorney.

This incident marks the youngest participant in a hunting accident in Wisconsin’s history.

The Wisconsin Youth Turkey Hunt occurs the weekend prior to the official turkey hunting season, allowing hunters aged 16 and under to take part.

This shooting incident also counts as the third hunting-related shooting reported this year.