I was like 12 when I started hunting, because I didn't have a father around enough, to care about his kids. But I started my son and daughter when they were both 5 or 6 shooting. They started out with only a BB gun, until they learned all the safety aspects of shooting, before I let then shoot a real gun. Then I started my boy shooting a .22 when he was 8. My girl just never really wanted to go hunting. But She still shoots today, and I might add, that she out shoots the crap out of her husband now. And that's with a bow, rifle, and shotgun. My boy was following me on coon hunts and bear hunts at the age of 9. I think the earlier you teach them, the better they'll be in the long run. I never had any of my kids ever mess with any of my guns, or ammo, trying to show them off to their friends. They learned from a early age that even a pellet gun can kill you. We would shoot a pumpkins, cantalope, and milk jugs full of water. And I would explain to them that this is just like shooting at someones head. The results really enter their heads to the point where they both respect all guns.