JQ24- The Marlin 336 .35 Rem is a very good selection for close shots (150-200 yards or less) and is well suited for hunting in the thick or heavy woods. It is a common rifle to find in a deer hunter's hands up here in Maine as it has a proven history in this region. I personally prefer the Marlin 1895SS in 45-70 for many of the same reasons that make the 336 popular but with the added knock down power of the bigger round. For the record I have never had to track a deer after hitting it with the 45-70. At the same time I seldom hunt anywhere that provides more than 50 to 75 yards for a shot with most deer coming within 15 to 30 yards.

My father opts for his Savage 99 in .308 and hunts the same type of areas as I with equal success although he has had to track a few over the years.

Generally speaking bolt action vs lever action is going to be a matter of preference as any accuracy difference will be unnoticeable to most shooters at under 200 yards. I personally prefer lever guns and highly recommend them. Likewise I am very fond of Marlin firearms. They produce excellent quality rifles which you can find at very reasonable prices.

The choice is of course yours but as you asked for suggestions for .35's, I recommend the Marlin 336's in .35 rem.

Best of luck to you.

Maine Hunter