Great...Re: You learning to shoot with a .22 All I can say is them ground critters you have now best get the Hell out of Dodge once you get some practice in! Besides, a gun in a single woman's home is good. A knee to the vitals is good but, looking down the barrel of a gun in a woman's hand is a much scarier proposition for the would be burglar/rapist!
Deer meat is very good and if done right can be awesome. Especially the backstrap. And it is about the leanest meat you can find...and tender to boot!
I do hope NJ gets their bear problem under control.