RE: What rifle will cover ALL my needs???
Normally when a guy says he has decided on a make of gun and wants advice only on the cartridge, I try to stick to the topic and recommend a cartridge.
However here is a diffrent option. Get a Thompson/Center "Encore" single shot rifle in the "deer cartridge" of your choice (say .308 or .260 or 7mm/08). Then for a couple hundred $ you can get a diffrent barrel for it in an "elk cartridge" ( say .300 win. mag. or 7mm rem. mag. or 45/70), Then some day you might decide to take up long range chuck shooting so you can get a 22/250 barrel. You might get a shotgun barrel for it or the 209X50 muzzleloader barrel so you have a backup smoke pole or one for the wife or kid to use.
One rifle, lots of options.
Robin