When I first hunted the place that I lived was a farming areaconsisting of fields surrounded by heavy brush with many patches of brush in the fields.Shot distances were relatively close and the mostcommon rifles of the day were lever30-30s, and lever 308win,and surplus bolt .303 british.
Over the years more and more brush was cleared and the fields became larger,and the shot distances increased.The most common guns became pumps and semi autos in 308win,270win,and 30-06.
As evenmore time passed even more brush was cleared and the area is now primarily large grain fields surrounded by smaller patches of brush and far fewer large sections of brush.The average shot distance increased still more,and the common rifles today tend to be bolt actions in 270win,7mmremmag and 30-06,with a fair number of 25-06 and 280 rifles being used as well.
Where I now hunt elk,and moose,the most common rifles are bolt actions in the 7mm remmag,30-06, various 300 magnums,and 338 winmagnums.
I should mention though that the 30-06 has never been nearly as popular in Canadaas it is in the U.S. most likely because it has never been our service cartridge and the surplus military rifles available here were in .303 British,not the 30-06.