Stuart!
As a hunter, I'm sure you have a pair of binoculars, is a great way to start learning your way around the night sky.
There are a couple of Sticky threads at the top of the Beginners Start Here topic, one on binos and the other on free start charts. Great reads and very informative. You'll find lots of Sticky threads in ever main topic that will answer most of your questions at the start.
Good luck with finding the Astro groups you are looking for, I'm much farther north so am not familiar with them directly. There is a big group of IIS'ers down that way that will certainly know how to help you.
Again welcome and clear skies!