Thanks, Redleg. The amount of information on this thread is already more than I could have hoped for. My hunting experience is absolutely zero, with the exception of shooting birds with my bb gun 15 years ago. I do go shooting every time I visit the relatives out in Montana, and my girlfriend's Christmas present to me was an 18-month membership at a local shooting club. I don't think I'm sensitive to kick-----my main concern is that my ears are protected so I don't blast a hole in my eardrum. Last week I went out shooting with my relative's SKS rifle and it was a pure joy. I don't know how that compares on the spectrum of kick force, but it was just fine.
OK, I was just going to suggest this when you mentioned enjoying the SKS...
If I were you, I'd consider the Ruger Mini-30. The Mini-30 fires the 7.62x39 round (30 caliber), the same round as the SKS. Power is roughly equal to the 30-30. Recoil is mild, and 7.62x39 is about the cheapest center-fire ammo you can shoot (you said you wanted to spend hours on the range). I believe that you can find good quality hunting ammo in this caliber now.
The Mini-30 is an autoloader carbine, and comes standard with a 5-shot magazine. It's a handy size and weight for carrying long distance. I see slightly used (maybe new) Mini-30s in the local gun shops (Knoxville TN area) for approx $399. Scopes and rings, as well as a plethora of after-market parts, are readily available. Not the most accurate rifle out there, but plenty good for deer. Mostly, it's fun to shoot and absolutely reliable with the 5-shot factory mag.
Fletcher J