New Hunter Help....

[georgiadawgs]

Hey all, wannabe hunter here, looking for any advice/help from the pros here. Went deer hunting a couple times w/uncles when I was a kid, but that's been over 10yrs. Wanting to get into it, and take my 11 and 9yr old son's with me. Here in GA, they are not required to attend hunter safety yet, although plan is we are all going to go anyway, that's in a couple weeks. Target date is for us to go out Thanksgiving morning together. Wanted to go Deer, but since I don't know sh*t, and they've never been, figured maybe starting w/small game this year would be the best bet. Obviousely I would love to find somebody to show me the ropes but that isn't possible, so it's me winging it, and hoping I can trick my boy's into thinking their old man knows what he's doing!
So plan is we're going to go small game hunting, I suppose mostly squirrel and rabbit. Spent several years in the military, so know my way around a weapon, but really don't know much about hunting guns. I have a Mossburg 12 gauge (hasn't been shot in about 10yrs). What I'm looking for help with, is what type of gun to use???
Plan is to buy my son's something, they can share it, I'm assuming best for them would be a .22 or .20gauge or .410gauge??? What would be best for an 11 & 9yr old? What would be best for small game? Likely will be in the woods, not wide open terrain. Also would like to take into consideration possibly moving up in the future, hunting deer...I know a .22 would be too small, what about .20 or .410 gauge? Any suggestions? Advice?
Right now Dick's Sporting Goods has a 'Rossi' 'Youth Matched Pair' 22LR/410ga or 22LR/20ga or 802 Bolt Action 22LR on sale for $100(no scope)...Is this a good gun for them to start with? Whats the difference between the barrell options or the 802 Bolt Action option? They also have a 'Remington' Scoped .22LR (adult size) for $150...Would this be a better choice?
Should I really look at making sure whatever weapon I get them is a 'youth' gun and not an adult size?
Also any suggestions for how to actually hunt the animals. What to look for in picking a spot? Should we roll in pre-dawn and sit in a blind? Stalk them? How to judge good spots? Down wind, up wind, does it matter? I know these sound stupid, but I really have no idea where to start...
Here in GA, there are many WMAs(wildlife mgt. areas), that you can publicly hunt, any tips on finding which one would be best to hunt? Terrain? etc.
Thanks for any help, advice, I know I didn't give any real specifics, and probably sound really clueless, but I am that's why just looking for any direction, suggestions...

[jsb57]

i would say at that age a youth gun would be best and i would go with the rossi probably the 22/20 they both could shoot the 20 i think with some of the lighter loads just tell them to hold it tight to their shoulder then you can let them target practice with the 22 which would be good good luck with the hunting most of all teach them saftey