>>589507Get an ar-7.
Or a 10/22 breakdown.
Or that thing that packs into the stock. Look it up, I can't remember the name.
Or, you know, if you aren't hunting anything, just take a pistol if it's for general animal defense. I've got a marlin .22 I lug around sometimes. It's fun. I think for me, if I had the money, I'd want something super short and lever action. Just for lulz and badass factor.