Depending on your stature and the bulk of your hunting clothes, you might consider a full-size stock rather than a carbine stock. I started with a carbine stock on my hunting 6.8 but then switched to a Magpul MOE Rifle Stock and am much happier. The 6.8 is not a hard kicker, but it does recoil noticeably more than a 5.56. I found that my follow-up shots were faster and much easier with a rifle stock and buffer.

I realize that you plan on hunting at close range, but you might still want to consider a red dot like a Vortex Sparc.

Happy hunting!