I took hunter's safety when I was younger but ended up not hunting. I've been thinking of going small game hunting with what is left of the season. I was thinking of going for rabbit, squirrel, and grouse(if get ready in time). Since I haven't hunted before I'm not sure how much I'll be into it. I've been thinking of getting a 22, but a shotgun seems like it'd open up way more hunting opportunities with waterfowl hunting, etc. A shotgun seems like overkill for squirrels tho. What do you think my best option would be if I plan to get only one gun? I'm mostly interested in small game, but not that interested in deer hunting. Also can you hunt grouse with a 22 in Michigan?

scouted a little today and only saw a cottontail and flushed what might've been a grouse.

well, my short answer is a quality shotgun will be far more versatile for the one gun hunter...
the long winded explanation is...
#1- of the dozen or so species listed in the michigan hunt guide, i would not target 2 of them with the shotgun, the elk and the bear, although i'm sure many bear are harvested each year with shotguns.
#2- for me, when i'm squirrel hunting my choice of weapon is a crap shoot... seems to me that when i'm hunting with the wider pattern scattergun, the pests hold up tight, high in the tree, just out of effective range,,, and when i'm carrying the pinpoint accuracy .22 rifle, the tree rats are bounding on the run, leaping from tree to tree like the "flying luewenda's",doing the acrobat's at the circus, and never pause the give me a steady shot. i personally do not consider a shotgun overkill for squirrel, they are tough little buggers, i've had to chase and ring their neck after punching a couple holes in them with the .22, i've seen the bb's of the shotgun not penetrate the meat,and lay just inside of the skin,
#3- as far as bird hunting goes, i'm not aware of a statute banning the .22,however i believe the "purists" will frown upon it, seems to me that it would have the stigma,similar to roadhunting, and a poaching technique.. i truly enjoy carrying my shotgun, turkey license,and a call or 2,while shroom hunting in the spring.
#4-to get this closed, i'll say that the rossi, shotgun/.22combo i bought my son has not impressed me,,,you will still have the choice of guage and shot sizes, and i look forward to seeing some input from others...feel free to hit us up with any further, specific questions, good luck and keep us posted!!

Thanks for the reply. I'll consider a shotgun more. Looked up the rossi on Cabelas and see what you mean with almost half the reviews being bad. Wasn't sure on the .22 for grouse cause have read some mixed things on it.

My recommendation is a Verona Shotgun. I bought one just because of the price and it has become my only shotgun I use.
reviews are here:
http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewtop ... 63&t=18188

I don't like the Rossi combo, but my kid has it and he likes it. He's taken squirrels with the .22 and .410.

If I want to really get out and hunt birds and rabbit I use a shotgun. I have and do hunt rabbit with a .22, and grouse and pheasant if there were any, but it's not easy. A shotgun is the one gun you need for moving targets, but I'd get a .22 too. I hate picking lead out of my food, so I use the .22 for squirrel and other stationary objects.

I use the .22 for everything within safe reasoning and legal requirements, but it's not easy and you have to pick your shots. that's not something you can normally do when hunting grouse and rabbit, because they are up and running or flying away. Kind of hard to hit them like that with a .22 and it can be unsafe shooting into the air considering the range of the .22

I have a Remigton 870 express combo in 20 gauge, it's a good all around gun, comes with interchangeable chokes and also a rifled slug barrel. it's my all around gun, and would be even more so if it were a 12 gauge. but, I use it mostly for deer and rabbit.

go with a shotgun remington 870