The Hunter's Safety Class is a great suggestion. I've been hunting for nearly 50 years and just recently took a Hunter's Safety Class which is required for an elk hunt in Colorado later this year. I learned a great deal in this class and would highly recommend it for anyone...new and old hunters alike. Also, think about joining a gun club. You can get some great information about the sport. Just today, I had an opportunity to try an incredible bull barrel Browning A-Bolt .308 target rifle that a fellow member brought to the range.

Learn as much as you can about all the calibers and find the ones that may work best for you. My favorites are 25-06 for deer on open range, 30-30 for brush and thicket and .300 win mag for elk and larger critters. That said, a .270 is hard to beat for an all-around caliber. You are going to have a great deal of fun in determining what may be the right gun for you. I know I did.