"....I've been a .30-06 fan for years. It can handle all three species listed. However, after purchasing my .300 WSM for a mule deer hunt last fall, I now prefer it. There is plenty of factory ammo available, and federal ammunition loads their .300 WSM slightly superior to their .300 WM. The recoil in the .300 WSM only slightly more than the .30-06, yet it delivers more than 500lb more energy. The low trajectory makes it ideal for those 300 yard shots (on the cut overs, power lines, or out west)
I'll never sell my .30-06, but it will spend more time in the safe...."
That is a common refrain by those who venture up and out into the more robust cartridges on true big game.
30-06 is the camp minimum for our elk camp....
It works satisfactorily, but itis a "jack of all trades, master of none" round, though.