i have hunted with my trusty 30.06 for years, then i picked up a 7mm-08 in a smaller lighter gun for the woods. Now thats all i use anymore. I just love the 7mm-08. I purchased a savage bolt action and right out of the box is was so damn accurate, lower recoil, short action and will do pretty much anything you ask of it. my choice would be 7mm-08 for whitetail deer.