I started predator/varmint hunting at age 7 with a trusty 22LR rifle with no scope and graduated to a scope by age 9 on our Illinois farm. That continued until age 14 when my interests turned to bigger game but my hunting skills were pretty well developed by then.
It's a great beginning to a life long sport to start a boy (or girl) out hunting at a young age.
Other than my dad, I am the only hunter in my family and extended family though. Too bad...
Some of the best times in my life were stalking chicken killing foxes and coons.
Groundhogs were never safe around our farm or any of the nearby farms when I was called upon to eliminate those pesky critters.