yeah i started going with my dad to hunt at age 10 then i did that for 2 years then at age 12 i went with my dad with my .243.... unfortunatly my 1st hunt of the rifle season when i was 12 i was about 8 yrds away form my stand walking there and i drop my .243 in the MUD!!! it got droped on the scope and had about 3in. of mud in the barrel, soi wouldhave touse my dad's gun incase we saw a deer 'cause mine was in no condition to shoot... we never saw one though. (he had his just in case a bunch of deer came out and he a chance to shoot 2 lol)