Depends on several factors.

Where does he hunt? If he hunts in a wooded area, you can buy a brand new Winchester or Marlin 30-30 for less than $300. And we all know how many deer have been killed with the 30-30.

The New England Firearms Ultra-Hunter and Handi-Rifle are available in a number of good deer hunting calibers for well under $300.

If you can shoot well with open sights, a Moisin Nagant Model 91 or 44 can be had in excellent condition for less than $100... and I guess putting a scope on one of those isn' t TOO much of a pain. That 7.62x54 rimmed Russian round is ballastically between the .308 and .30-06... plenty good enough for deer at sensible ranges.

Dealer prices on Yugo and Czech Mausers in 7.92X57 (aka 8mm Mauser) run well under $100. The 8mm Mauser is sufficient for any game animal on the North American continent... and I would include the big bears, if the hunter is also a shooter and knows where to aim... knee, shoulder first and then finish them off.

For around $100 you can have those rifles drilled and tapped for a scope and get the bolt altered. Another $100 or less could cover a good, inexpensive scope (I like both Simmons and BSA).. When you got finished, you would have a package that capable of better accuracy than most shooters can manage... especially if you bust loose with another $40 for an adjustable trigger.

And then again, the Savages are good rifles... although all the Savage rifle/scope combos I have seen are about $350 plus tax.