Wisconsin issues hunting licenses to 10 children under a year old

Wisconsin’s Department of Natural Resources sold nearly 2,000 hunting licenses to children age nine or younger through Sunday, including 10 to children under a year old, The Chicago Tribune reported Tuesday.

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) earlier this month signed a bill eliminating the minimum age to participate in a mentored hunt. The minimum age was previously set at 10 years old.

The Department of Natural Resources data showed 1,011 licenses went to 9 year olds, 52 went to children under age five, and 10 of those went to infants less than a year old.

{mosads}Under the new law, hunters must be 14 years of age or older and pass the state’s gun safety courses before being allowed to hunt on their own. But the adults who register the children to get licenses can decide when they take part in the sport. 

Both the adult and child are allowed to carry weapons under the new law, as long as the adult stays within arm’s reach. 

No one was killed during the recent deer hunting season, but seven people were wounded. All of those who were identified were at least 24 years old, and five of them shot themselves, The Chicago Tribune reported.