3-Year-Old Accidentally Shoots 2 During Youth Turkey Hunt in Wisconsin

Incident involves the youngest shooter and victim on record in state hunting-incident summaries since 2007

Apr. 19, 2026 at 3:54pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of a single shotgun shell casing lying on the forest floor, lit by a harsh, direct camera flash against a pitch-black background, conveying the sudden, serious nature of the accidental shooting incident.A stark reminder of the dangers of unsupervised youth hunting, this close-up of a spent shell casing evokes the sudden, gritty reality of the accidental shooting incident.Burlington Today

A 3-year-old boy and his 34-year-old parent accidentally shot and injured one adult and a 7-year-old child during a youth turkey hunt in Wisconsin. The incident, which remains under investigation, is the youngest shooter and victim on record in the state's hunting-incident summaries since 2007.

Why it matters

Wisconsin law allows children of any age to hunt with supervision, following the 2017 removal of the minimum age limit. This incident raises concerns about safety protocols and the appropriate age for young children to participate in hunting activities.

The details

On April 12, two hunting parties were participating in the 2026 Wisconsin youth turkey hunt at the Honey Creek Wildlife Area near Burlington. The 3-year-old boy and his parent 'spotted what appeared to be a turkey moving through the woods' and the parent 'aided in positioning, aiming and firing of the firearm at the movement.' The shotgun pellets struck another hunting mentor and their 7-year-old youth mentee in the head, back and hands.

  • On April 12, 2026, the incident occurred during the Wisconsin youth turkey hunt.
  • The victims were treated at the hospital, with the 7-year-old child kept for at least two days with non-life-threatening wounds before being released.

The players

3-year-old boy

The youngest shooter involved in the incident, which is the youngest on record in Wisconsin hunting-incident summaries since 2007.

34-year-old parent

The adult who was with the 3-year-old boy and aided in positioning, aiming, and firing the shotgun.

Hunting mentor

An adult hunting participant who was struck by the shotgun pellets.

7-year-old youth mentee

A child hunting participant who was struck by the shotgun pellets and hospitalized for at least two days with non-life-threatening wounds.

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What they’re saying

“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. This is a reminder that you can't be complacent about safety.”

— Renee Thok, Department of Natural Resources' hunter education administrator

What’s next

The district attorney will decide whether to press charges in the incident.

The takeaway

This tragic accident highlights the risks of allowing very young children to participate in hunting activities, even with adult supervision, and the need for stricter safety protocols and age limits to protect all participants.