Increase in hunting licences for children THE number of game hunting licences issued to children as young as 12 has surged in the past two years, official figures reveal, amid a push to allow them to shoot feral animals in national parks. Figures compiled by the group, Gun Control Australia, show that 410 game hunting licences were issued to children aged between 12 and 17 last year, up from 261 in 2011. While the group said figures were unavailable for 2010, there were 184 licences issued in 2009 and 121 in 2008. The Game Council NSW is lobbying the state government to allow minors to hunt feral animals with firearms and bows and arrows in national parks under the supervision of licensed adults. A spokeswoman for Gun Control Australia, Samantha Lee, said the NSW government's consideration of the proposal would result in more child hunters. "The O'Farrell government has just offered to help with recruitment by proposing to allow juniors to hunt in national parks," she said. On Monday, the chairman of the Game Council, John Mumford, defended the push by arguing minors have been allowed to hunt under supervision in state forests for years. In NSW, children over 12 can apply for a firearms permit and then for a junior hunting licence to hunt on public land, including in state forests, while supervised by a licensed adult. They must carry out the training required for an adult hunting licence. More than 70 national parks will be opened for hunting of feral animals from next month under a deal struck with the Shooters and Fishers Party to ensure passage of the government's electricity privatisation legislation. The Environment Minister, Robyn Parker, is developing access arrangements and undertaking a risk assessment. She said the new regime would not begin until the risk assessment process is finished, after which she is required to give at least 30 days' notice of access arrangements and invite submissions. "I don't make any apologies for taking the necessary time to ensure a thorough risk assessment process is completed in respect of each park," she said.