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Originally Posted by SvilleKid
Too little information, to be sure!!
Small game, slow moving and decent range shots, .22 rifle. This especially for squirrel after leaves mostly off trees. use scope just about as good as on a deer rifle.
Fast moving small game like rabbit, quail, dove calls for shotgun. A pump (Rem. model 870 comes to mind) works good for beginners. A 20 gauge is what I use, but novices may need the better stopping power and pellet load of 12 gauge. Heavier gun, tires you out faster than a 20 gauge, plus does not "swing" as fast/easily when tracking fast moving game.
Deer is anybody's preference. Shotguns with Buckshot or slug for really short shooting areas (heavy woods, short sight distances). Right shotgun and changeable barrels gives a multi-use gun, but limited to no more than 40 +/- yard shots for best chances of kills. Next would be .30-30. These can be had used in lever action (especially Marlins) for very reasonable, and are solid performers over 100 yards, good up to 200, but requires good sights and understanding of bullet drop over shot distances. 30-30 is my main-stay for woods and small field hunting. Always has stopped cleanly the deer I've shot, and here in my area of the south, not as many long shot possibilities demanding any bigger gun. Plus 30-30 was helped a couple years ago with introduction of ballistic tip ammo for better long distance shooting. Smaller bullet weight (as opposed to .30-06, .270 and .308) lacks knock-down power for some shooters and over longer ranges.
Longer ranges, .30-06, .270 or .308 are common, and all can do the job about equally well on any deer you will find in Georgia. These are all very accurate at 200 yards and even can be reliably certain at 300 - 400 yards in the right hands. I shoot a .30-06 for longer shot hunting areas and my son goes for a .270.
Anything smaller like a .223 has great ballistics, high muzzle velocities and long range accuracy, but really lacks the knock-down killing power for most medium to large deer. If you are going to shoot it, you need to plan to kill it. Only humane way.
If you have never hunted before, and want to start, I would recommend squirrel hunting with a good .22 rifle with a 4x9 power scope, at least 40mm optics. Take a good hunters education course (a requirement for hunting license in most states), and if little gun safety is discussed, take a gun course. That will also help in learning correct shooting positions and methods as well as safety requirements.
Good luck on the endeavor.
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Great post. Hits my experience perfectly. I started squirrel hunting with a .22 when I was a kid. Some of my best hunting memories. Squirrel stew is damn good if you are hunting corn fed squirrels like we were.
I currently hunt in a thick birch woods/swamp with a .30-.30 lever action Marlin. You are definitely right about the drop but damn accurate gun, easy to use and maintain. Got a buck last year at over 200 yards with it. It was on the two track that goes into the property not in the woods which is why the long shot. I also have also used a .308 Mauser hunting by cornfields which is very accurate 400+.
I would also say hunting is much about who you hunt with as what you are hunting. Squirrel hunting with my grandfather was some of the best time I ever spent with him. He is also why I started deer hunting and I continue in large part because that is the only time of year I see that wing of my family. Don't get me wrong I enjoy the hunting but the comraderie is as much of the event as the hunt itself. It also helps when hunting larger game like deer to be hunting with experienced hunters because gutting your first buck is harder than one would think. Getting some direction and good natured joshing from more experienced hunters makes it a lot easier.
This past weekend was opener where I normally hunt and due to a confluence of things out of my control I had to miss this year for the first time in a long time. Will likely get in a local hunt later but missed deer camp with my family.