new to hunting

[joel the signman]

i agree with the range comment.you are doing yourself and the deer a disservice by not being proficent with your firearm of choice.Best to get some range time in with some different guns pick the one you like best and practice.

[LAHunter]

For the best combination of effectiveness / cost, a Marlin 30/30 is hard to beat. It'll work great under 200 yards, and is good when you're in heavy cover. It also has really mild recoil, a plus if you're new to shooting.

Personally, I use a Savage 110 30-06. It's about all the gun you'd ever need between here and Canada.

Like the other posters said, whatever you choose be sure you put some rounds through it, aside from just sighting in the sights / scope. Familiarize your self with the action, and take shots like you would while hunting.