I have been a lifelong outdoors-men, backpacking, camping, fishing all the time, did some very small hunting when I was a teen, nothing major or bigger than a rabbit.

I am looking to get into hunting during the fall/winter months, not in any great hurry really as school takes up the majority of my time, but I want to slowly get into it, maybe head out once or twice on my winter break this year.

I am trying to decided what would be best long term to invest time and money into, gun or bow hunting. I have used both, and don't mind either, but I want to go with one or the other for the time being.

factors are mainly just money, as far as start up goes. I am going to get either a basic compound bow set, whatever I can find cheapest to get me by that has all I need, or a good starting point 20gauge slug gun.

So any tips, pointers is great, this is new to me for the most part unlike fishing.

point me in the right direction for information would be even better, i couldn't find any really good forums, but would like to know about them.

also, I am from NE Ohio. Thanks.

Best long term investment would be a Rem 870 12ga or 20ga id go 12ga even though I personally run a 20ga. There is nothing you cant do with a 870 12ga and 2 barrels and a few chokes. Slugs and you got bambi slayer and enough umph to knock a ticked grizzly on its ass. Throw a bird barrel on it and now you got dove to coyotes covered. I like the 20ga for its flatter trajectory with slugs but its hard to get ammo for well specialty ammo. 12ga ammo is available anywhere and everywhere and much easier to find certain rounds for like in my case #4 buckshot for coyotes cant get it for a 20 without hand loads. You can get combo slug/bird guns for 300 at walmart anytime for a Mossberg 500 or DSG runs sales in the fall for Remington 870s for like 350.

Bows you can use a bow for a while to but there's a new model coming out every year always taunting to get faster and better bows I used a 80s Fred Bear compound with a wal mart special sight, release,rest, arrows and broad heads i had maybe 150 invested in it and killed a good few deer with it and occasional squirrel when I felt cocky.

as far as hunting specific forums Idk of many for deer I belong to a few for coyote/fox hunting though.

Cool, I am familiar with bow pricing for xbows and compounds, but not so much with shotguns anymore.

I would love to be able to get a good combo gun, 12/20ga w/ two barrels for 500 or less. I will be checking DSG and Gander Mnt this week to see what they have going on.

Depending on other factors, if I don't get a gun it will most likely be a xbow from the Horton line.

we will see

for 500 you can get a hell of a combo shotgun DSG and gander both usually have there big gun sale early fall and 870 in either 12 or 20 with a bird barrel and cantilever or deer sight barrel for about 350-500 depending what model and finish you want and what sale they have going. just a cantilever barrel alone is 250-300! I had one on my 11-87 I loved it I shoot my 870 20ga 200yards now with open sights and shoot 6.5" groups from standing position.

nice I will be keeping my eyes open for sure. my winter break is the whole month of December and I want to get out at least once for nothing more than to just clear my head from school haha.

Yeah I love hunting and fishing for just that getting out and clearing my head I use it to relax/unwind, calm down, and to celebrate. I'm not sure about NE Ohio but most hunting is closed in December other then some small game and like a week of muzzle loader for deer. I usually start my coyote hunting in December when there's deer carcasses everywhere i set up on them and wait em out no sense calling usually with all that food for them.

well deer seasons for bows is

September 29, 2012

through

February 3, 2013

so that is why I am leaning in that direction. fits more of my time frame for the next few years.

mossberg 500. the field package comes with rifled barrel with a picatinny rail for easy mounting. It also comes with a smooth bore barrel with 2 chokes. improved cylinder and full. got mine on sale for $230. mossberg 500's and remington 870's are built tough as hell, they'll last you a lifetime.

yeah I owned a mossberg 500 when I was in high school. really loved that gun, wish I still had it.

I'v had my 870 for 15 years it has been to hell and back sill going strong and a tack driver by shotgunning standards