First off, don't worry too much about weapon selction. Get whatever fits you, it is just a personal choice. And .24 -.35 caliber centerfire rifle, .45-.54 muzzloader and 45#+ bow is just fine provide you are proficient with it. Besides your weapon is the least used thing in deer hunting, you spend hours waiting then use your weapon for a few seconds.
Now a piece of advice I have (worth what it costs, nothing) is to get yourself a bow and/or muzzloader as soon as funds and time allow you to practice (especially if you are new to archery).
If you buy a muzzleloader you will have a gun you can use in both muzzleoader and modern gun season, thats a twofer!
The reason I suggest this is you will learn TONS more about hunting in the weeks prior to rifle season than you will during rifle season, especially in a heavily hunted area. You can usually only learn to "intercept" deer during rifle season in a pressured area. During bow and muzzloader you can learn to "hunt" them as they go about their activities of feeding/breeding/sleeping without the outside influence of hunting pressure altering their behavior. Late October- mid November is a magical time in the woods.
If you can't get a bow or muzzloader this year, just get out and scout in October and November, start learning to recognize good sign and take camera with you to the treestand a few time before rifle opens. Anytime spent in the woods is educational, you don't need a weapon in your hands to learn to hunt!
Good luck! If it is in your blood it will soon become an obessi...no... a compulsion.
Now a piece of advice I have (worth what it costs, nothing) is to get yourself a bow and/or muzzloader as soon as funds and time allow you to practice (especially if you are new to archery).
If you buy a muzzleloader you will have a gun you can use in both muzzleoader and modern gun season, thats a twofer!
The reason I suggest this is you will learn TONS more about hunting in the weeks prior to rifle season than you will during rifle season, especially in a heavily hunted area. You can usually only learn to "intercept" deer during rifle season in a pressured area. During bow and muzzloader you can learn to "hunt" them as they go about their activities of feeding/breeding/sleeping without the outside influence of hunting pressure altering their behavior. Late October- mid November is a magical time in the woods.
If you can't get a bow or muzzloader this year, just get out and scout in October and November, start learning to recognize good sign and take camera with you to the treestand a few time before rifle opens. Anytime spent in the woods is educational, you don't need a weapon in your hands to learn to hunt!
Good luck! If it is in your blood it will soon become an obessi...no... a compulsion.