DTC Jr was 3 when he started shooting a 22. He killed his first squirrel with a .410 at age 3 and then he helped me shoot coons out of traps too. We started shooting the 20 gauge at age 6 with bird shot. He doesn't even know there is a difference between a 2 3/4" number 7 or a 3" number 5. He has 7 longbeards under his belt at age 8. 3 rios from TX and 4 easterns in MO, and we are headed to NE next week for merriams. He has killed 3 deer, 1 doe, and an 8 and 9 pt buck. The 9 pt will score around 130". I will say with kids always use ear protection and we always wear his heavy coat too so he doesn't notice the recoil when practicing.