I was discussing this with some friends...
Back in the seventies, at least half of the deer guns used (Central and northern NY) were birdguns drafted for deer. Many single shot shotguns, several bolt action 12 gauges, many pump guns...both slug guns and bird barrels were in use. Actual rifles were probably split fifty fifty with one half being surplus conversions. Mausers, Enfields, Lee Enfields and Krag Jorgensons were very common. The balance were most frequently Model 94s, Remington and Winchester bolts...30-30, 06" and 270.
For the most part, those are the most popular cartridges still with the addition of .308s. Not many magnums in the deer woods in NY, and the slug shotguns have been largely retired.