When my husband began learning to hunt with his Dad - at an even younger age than you - he was made to take a course and test, during which he was instructed to ‘never shoot across a road’.
One day, he was out with his father AND the instructor, and had a clear, easy shot on a beautiful buck - across a road.
A deserted country road - but it was a road, and husband refused to shoot.
Later, both grownups teased him.
I guess the ‘thrill of the hunt’ causes even rules-oriented people to....slip, now and then :-)
I’m glad they ‘walked out of the cornfield’, and that the shot guy is ‘stable’.
The youngest legal age for firearm deer hunting in Michigan is 14. Small game hunting is 11 and I was 11 when I started legal hunting, just with a shotgun and just for birds and rabbits.
Started shooting firearms at the age of six when I was allowed to shoot a 22LR rifle. My Dad, Uncle, and older brothers were always right by my side and made sure the rules of firearms safety were always followed. I never had to take a course but my Dad made me learn the NRA safety rules and I had to recite them without help or not be able to touch a firearm.