I live in Southern California for now, Ventura County specifically, and looking to buy my first gun for hunting. I would like to use it for as many kinds of game as I can, though I'm not certain what all is widely available close to me. I've read that shotguns are hailed as being more diverse than rifles, but with their shorter ranges I'd hate to get one and have it be useless for the majority of game. I'd also hate to get a rifle and be restricted to deer hunting which I may not even be skilled enough to come upon. I should also note that I have been to a couple events at our local shooting range with my family and greatly enjoyed both target and skeet shooting, so am at least familiar with firing different weapons and am fine with kickback.