New to hunting and shooting?

I am almost completely new to both. I don't live in a family that owns many guns or goes hunting, but my close friend and neighbor does and I have become very interested in both. What is a good gun to get me started? I can fire my friends 30.06 proficiently, so I don't think recoil will be a problem. Also, what big game animal is good for a new hunter to start on? I was thinking either deer or antelope. I live in Utah.