I started shooting my brothers .177 Slavia air rifle at about 8 or 9 yrs. old.
At age 12, my uncle, a Cpl. in the RCMP gave me an "Ace" .22 for a Christmas present. I shot that until age 15, when I bought a single shot 20 bore cooey to compliment the rifle. At age 18 (I guess), I'd save enough to buy a 6.5 Rem Mag. and a 6x Bushnel scope. Later that summer, I bought Rockchucker and dies, components, etc, mostly with fox bounties from 2 close counties. I shot a lot of foxes with that 6.5.
Life seemed simpler, back then.