I'd be glad to show you around the woods a bit. Show you waht to look for, stand placement, food sources, bedding areas, how to dress one out etc. All of this you can get out of magazines and videos, having someone show you speeds the process up. Both take time to absorb it all.

As far as weapons. I have used a .270 for about 20 years with great success. I started shooting a .243 over the last year or so (I still have the .270 though). If you want to become a better hunter pick up a bow. That way you have to be close to em. That takes more skill than shooting from out to 300yds and up. With a bow you are limited to a lot shorter range. Then you have to deal with the deers major senses like smell, hearing eyesight that you don't normally have to when using a rifle at longer ranges.

I am near Ral (wake co), I hunt mostly in Halifax co (about 50 miles east of Raleigh) though. Shoot me a pm if you want some one to help show you the ropes.

And also thanks for serving our country.