Colorado,
I know it must get old seeing all the magnum bashing threads. It honestly was not my intent to come across as "bashing" magnums. They MOST DEFINITLY have their place. Even with just whitetail deer.....If I hunted in South Texas looking down LONG senderos out of a elevated box stand, a 7mm. Rem. Mag. or .300 Win. or .300 RUM would be awesome for the TRULY long shots. On our smaller Texas deer, a good .25-06, .270, .280, or .30-06 would be sufficient for the ranges that I have any business shooting.
You're more the exception than the rule Colorado. MOST folks can't go grab a .300 RUM off the shelf a be proficient with it. I guess my point originally was that many hunters go out with too much gun and not enough experience with it.