I'm not trying to argue DSF, to each his own. Use whatever you're most comfortable with.
Personally I kinda expect to track a deer a short distance, but I don't own any of the big magnums, I take a .308 for moose, and thats what I'll use for my caribou hunt in 3 weeks.
Even if you don't want to hunt with one, low recoil lever guns are fun to shoot.