Tomahawk throwing in Scouts: who can lead and what to log
By a volunteer Scout leader
Updated 16 October 2026
3 min read
Tomahawk throwing isn’t part of the national Adventurous Activity Permit Scheme, but it still needs a competent leader. Logging your sessions is the simplest way to show you are one.
Please note: this is practical advice from one leader to another, not official guidance. Always check the current Policy, Organisation and Rules and talk to your county or district assessor about their process.
The short version
- Tomahawk throwing must follow the Scouts tomahawk throwing guidance (FS120011).
- It’s led by an appropriate activity leader: a competent person who regularly takes part.
- The guidance suggests at least a day (7 hours) of hands-on experience before leading.
- Training is strongly encouraged, and some areas run their own sign-off, so check locally.
- Log every session to build and show that experience.
Who can lead
Tomahawk throwing must follow the Scouts tomahawk throwing guidance. It’s led by an appropriate activity leader, described as a competent person who regularly takes part in the activity. Young people can lead too, if they have the necessary skills.
There’s no national permit, but the guidance suggests at least a day (seven hours) of hands-on experience before someone is considered competent to lead. Training in safe operation is strongly encouraged. Some counties and districts run their own sign-off, so check what applies where you are.
What to log each session
- Date and venue.
- Hours of hands-on throwing or leading.
- Equipment: tomahawks or small hawks, and targets used.
- Range setup and safety measures.
- Number of participants and your role.
Building experience
Help at sessions run by an experienced leader and log every one, noting your hours and who was leading. If your area has a local sign-off, that log is exactly what you’ll want to show.
Log your next tomahawk throwing session in Paracord
Free for one activity type, with unlimited logs. Export a PDF of your history for your assessor with Pro.
