I started when i was 4 yrs old with my cap gun,then my dad let me carry a 22 single shot
with out the bolt in it.when we would see a squirrel or rabbit sitting we would put the bolt in and let me shoot (bagged my first squirrel at 5 )
he would make me pretend the gun was loaded all the times and would let me have it if
the barrel ever pointed in the wrong direction.(still have lumps on my head :-) )
but by the time i could hunt (PA 12 yrs old) I was very well educated on how to handle
a gun.