Fact Sheet: Hunters Targeting Children

What is Families Afield?

Families Afield is a lobbying group dedicated to lowering the minimum hunting age across the country and exempting children from hunter safety courses. It describes age minimums and required safety courses as "barriers" to children wishing to hunt. They are working state-by-state, attempting to pass legislation in so-called "restrictive" states.

Who is behind this initiative?

The Families Afield lobby was formed by three hunting groups: National Wild Turkey Federation, U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance and National Shooting Sports Foundation.

Why are they removing safety precautions for children?

The hunting industry is big business with $20-billion-a-year in profits. Because the number of hunters has steadily declined across the country for nearly three decades, the hunting industry is concerned about the loss of profits that is certain to come if this trend continues. 

Are children being placed in danger?

Yes. According the International Hunter Education Association, there were 445 hunting accidents in 2004. At least 103 accidents involved children, and of those, at least 20 were fatal. Though the Families Afield lobby claims that hunting is far safer than other recreational activities, even cheerleading, it should be obvious that injuries sustained while hunting can be far more severe. Cheerleading is seldom fatal.

One striking aspect that emerges from the list of hunting accidents is the large number of incidents in which parents killed their children or children killed a parent or other relative. Unlike the sprained ankles and twisted knees that come from cheerleading, these are devastating traumas that ruin the lives of the survivors and destroy families.

Young children simply lack the mental and emotional maturity to take part in an activity that requires split-second life and death decisions—the same reasons why most states require a person to be  16 years of age to drive and 21 years of age to drink. It is irresponsible to remove precautions put in place to protect children.

The Families Afield campaign calls for an adult to be in close proximity to the child at all times. Doesn't this assure safety?

No. Hunting often requires split-second decisions to shoot or hold fire that leave no time for an adult, even an adult standing within arm's length, to assess the situation and intervene. Compounding the danger is the potential for an adrenaline surge that can lead children to fire in the heat of the moment and before they know it is safe.

Many of the children involved in serious hunting accidents were hunting with a parent or other adult.

Aren't minimum hunting ages unwarranted government interference in the rights of parents? Aren't parents the best judges of when their children are mature enough to hunt?

Governments (in this case, state governments) regularly establish rules to protect children and the general public from avoidable, unwarranted danger. Laws require small children to be secured in child safety seats when they ride in cars, for example, rather than leave that decision to parents. Laws establish minimum ages for driving and for drinking, rather than trusting to the judgment of parents.  While many parents will make sound decisions, others will not, and will place their children and the public at unnecessary risk. The long list of serious hunting accidents suggests that too many parents are making the wrong decision about their children and hunting.

What states have passed Families Afield legislation?

Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Utah and Washington have passed legislation to either lower the minimum hunting age or exempt children from hunter safety courses. Visit Laws and Legislation on Children Hunting for complete information.

Related Links

Babes in the Woods: Industry Targets Children

Laws and Legislation on Children Hunting

What the Experts Say About Hunter Safety Education