Tikka T3 Lite .25-06
I know our hunting here in the UK is a little different to yours Stateside, but this rifleis an excellent weapon/tool. Lovely to use, reliable, pin-sharp accuracy and extreme light-weight in the field, even with a scope fitted. This is a fact I've come to appreaciate many times whilst trudging hand over foot up Ben Lomond in Scotland after Red's.
It would be the rifle I'd keep above all as it'snot onlya suitable fox/vermin calibre here in Englandbut alsomeets all the differingEnglish and Scottish laws regarding Deer calibre sizes and energies.
Being renowned as a high velocity, flat shooting round it would probably also suit most styles of hunting and most medium-sized speciesin the States, withthe longer range shots that you tend to take. The round will easily deliver large energies to the target out to 400 yds and with minimal bullet drop and windage effects.
It's a "Synthetic and Blue"and when combined with factory 117g Federal Premiums and a fixed 8x Scmidt scope it's allowed me to concentrate on and enjoymy hunting and "forget" about my hardware, regardless of species and the prevailing weather.