>>2269044Replying because I'm in a similar situation - But I think I have a tad more experience.
A 12ga is good for a lot of management units. It can take game from rabbits to close-range shots at deer with the right load. Some rural areas are open to buckshot deer hunting, which you can often hunt without a long hike. 7.62x54r is a good large-game cartridge, provided you have quality ammunition and you can hit an animal's vitals within like 300 meters.
Animals go where the food is, and where they can get shelter from the weather. Look at their diet, and sources of water too. Analyze where food would be on the landscape - Many animals in my part of the world work their way upward in elevation as the warm season progresses. They grazing new areas as the snow melts. When winter comes, they go back to the low elevation, deep forest. This gives them shelter from the weather, and food such as willow bark and tender vegetation tips. Analyze the seasonal pattern of life in your region to see where the food is.
Most animals drink once at dawn and once at dusk. Especially in the winter, they often move from shelter to drink. You can sometimes get a shot while they walk between these areas.
Consider your silhouette, scent, and noise. You want to minimize all three. Be hella quiet - don't slam car doors, watch your step for sticks, and only whisper if you must. Wear drab clothing. Avoid silhouetting against the sky, and use terrain to hide from the animal's line of sight. Perhaps most importantly, be aware of where your scent is going. Most game animals have surprisingly poor eyesight, but have excellent hearing and smell. Ideally, you should move so that the wind is not blowing towards the area you will hunt. Because they will smell you.
Make sure you have freezer space for all the meat, or at lease a lot of hungry friends.
