If you've never pistol hunted, I'd suggest starting out on small game with a 22lr to get used to shooting a pistol in a hunting situation. Hunting with a pistol comes naturally for some, for others, its a nightmare. Another thing to consider is the recoil. The recoil of the 06 in a Encore is not for the faint-hearted. The 30-06 in a properly equipped Encore is, in the right hands, a good 250yd deer pistol. I'm not passing judgement on you, but like you're buddy mooseslayer3, I think you need to sit back and take a good look at what you're getting into before taking the plunge.