Oops! Messed that up!
Hi Adam,
Hello from a fellow St Augustinian, although I left there about 34 years before you were born! Sorry to be so late in replying..I'm new on the board.
At around your age I started out with a Rem Mod 514 .22, then got me an old Iver Johnson "Long Tom" single shot 12 gauge (killed a lot of squirrels & marsh hens (most people don't know what those are). We hunted around Moultrie Creek, Dupont Center, Pellicer Creek, Tocoi & St Mark's Pond (north US 1). Can't say we were too successful on deer, but we sure had fun.
After finally ending up with a safe full of guns, I would advise you to get yourself a Savage bolt action in 7 mm/08 caliber. They're not as pretty as the more expensive guns, but they are accurate, functional & about the cheapest way to go. The caliber is very accurate & has low recoil. A bolt action forces you to be a little more careful with your first shot (never too soon to learn).
All the best and I hope you have as much fun in St John's county as I did (back then we only bought a $2 county license).
I traveled around the world so much that I lost my southern accent. A friend here slapped the "YankeeJim" moniker on me because he said I sounded like a Yankee. After 17 years back in Florida, I have most of the accent back.
Good luck & happy hunting!
YJ