They was shooten Squirrels and Coons at seven...
For sure! The young boys (and often girls as well) carried their firearm with them in order to bring home birds or rabbits for dinner. They also carried guns to kill predators after their livestock; not to mention to provide safety from the occasional unwanted and uninvited visitor to the homestead.
I’m a big believer in teaching gun safety and gun skills to a child as soon as possible. We would have fewer firearms accidents and fewer intentional deaths if a proper respect for guns were taught as early as kindergarten age.