An Aussie dad has revealed how he is already teaching his two-year-old son to use a bow – as new reforms propose allowing all children under 12 in NSW to hunt.
The children will be given a hunting licence to hunt with bows and dogs and will no longer need to be supervised by 16 to 18-year-olds, according to the proposal.
Families say removing the age limit will allow them to ‘educate their children about safe hunting practices from a young age and international visitors may bring their young children’.
However, the proposals have been slammed by animal right groups who have described them as ‘absolutely absurd’.
The age that children can become licensed to hunt with firearms will remain at 12 and the time period for a hunting licence will be extended from five to 10 years.
Zach Williams, a bowhunter from Adelaide who has a podcast called Hunting Connection Podcast, is a supporter of the plans.
He said he had already begun teaching his son Oliver, two, the fundamentals of using a bow and has taken his stepson Aidan, seven, on hunting trips.
Zach Williams, a bowhunter from Adelaide who has a podcast called Hunting Connection Podcast, with his stepson Aiden
Mr Williams said he had already begun teaching his son Oliver, two, the fundamentals of using a bow and frequently took his stepson Aidan, seven, on hunting trip
A supporter of the plans, he says its important to get children used to the outdoors
‘It’s a sport like anything else like soccer or football, it’s all very similar, plus it’s very primitive,’ he told .
‘It’s almost as old as us, austin archery has been around longer than any other sport. It’s a tradition I feel strongly about.’
Mr Williams regularly takes Oliver out in a baby carrier while he goes hunting.
‘Oliver comes out on my back when I go out with my archery equipment and has been coming out since about a year of age,’ he said.
‘I put him in a baby carrier and take him out looking for signs. It’s getting him used to being outdoors, going out looking and being quiet and he enjoys that father-son bond and looking for animals.’
NSW Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party MP Mark Banasiak said it was important to teach children about responsible hunting practices.
‘The kids will be trained and supervised by adults,’ he said.
‘These animal rights groups don’t want anyone hunting, they don’t just have an issue with kids under 12, they don’t want anyone to hunt animals.’
Mr Williams said he regularly takes Oliver out in a baby carrier while he goes hunting
Pictured is his stepson Aiden. Discussing hunting, he said: ‘It’s a sport like anything else like soccer or football, it’s all very similar, plus it’s very primitive’
NSW Animal Justice Party MP Emma Hurst slammed the proposal.
‘At the moment the regulations are that children under 12 years of age can’t be taken hunting but that is essentially removing those hunting laws and by removing the limitations you’re essentially allowing toddlers to go out hunting animals with bows,’ she said.
‘It’s absolutely absurd, it’s gobsmacking that the government would put this proposal forward.’
At the moment, hunters are permitted to hunt game on a variety of public and private land with a standard hunting licence from 12 years old.
The NSW Department of Primary Industries said the proposed changes were ‘draft regulations’ only.