Pros and cons of the 30-06 round
 

What are the pros and cons of the 30-06 round for deer. Like max range, max power, recoil, ammo availability. Why are so many guys going away from it.

There are no con's with the 30-06. One of the best rounds ever invented.

recoil is a bit more than you should have to deal w/ from a deer caliber.

upside is ammo is about as cheap and plentiful as you could ask for.

The only downsides I can think of for the old '06 is the game down on their sides. For flat out versitility the '06 is hard to beat. Max range for deer is more than likely more than you can shoot accurately. Why are so many going away from it? Well its because there are a lot of other chamberings out there that are good enough for deer. (like the 7-08 to name one) But the '06 can do anything these smaller cartridges can do with power to spare. Which may be why some people are leaving it. I've heard it said and seen it written several times that the recoil from a 30-06 is about as much as the average shooter can shoot comfortably. But in a well stocked/fitted rifle the '06 is more than manageable.
Sorry - but a cartridge that has been around for over 100 years has to have something going for it. Yeah, the 300 magnums are more potent but with proper bullet selection and placement, the '06 will handle anything in NA.

30-06 is a great caliber some people may not like the recoil, others might want to be different, also urban sprawl might be pushing some to a light caliber. I use .308 just because i got a better deal on it then a 30-06.

I never realized there were cons to a 30-06. Also never realized people were "going away" from it. I know alot of people are taking to the new short mag cartridges but the thing about the 06 is that it has stood the test of time. I feel you've been misinformed.

Pros:
(1) more than adequate killing power, (2) appropriate loadings commonly available everywhere, (3) appropriate types of rifles commonly chambered in .30-06

Cons:
(1) trajectory may limit shooting to less than 300 yards, (2) recoil more than what other adequate cartridges generate (.25-06, .243 for example).

I'm trying to be objective. It is hard to argue with my pros, so I'll let them stand unsupported. With reference to trajectory, the .30-06 does not have as flat a trajectory as other available cartridges, for example the .25-06 and the .243. Sure, you might be able to theoretically kill a deer with a .30-06 at 1000 yards . . . but you might also need to be a champion rifle shooter able to estimate range to target with extreme precision. Also, while the recoil of the .30-06 is manageable by most hunters, notwithstanding it delivers more recoil than other adequate cartridges.

I've got two .30-06 and I appreciate them greatly. I also have a .25-06 and a .243. I take the .25-06 or the .243 for deer and pronghorn hunting and take the .30-06 for elk hunting. Sure, I could use the .30-06 for deer and pronghorn hunting also, but why not mix it up? Also, I do appreciate that most hunters -- 90% -- can't shoot accurately out at the ranges where the trajectory of the .30-06 may fall behind the faster cartridges. I know I don't have any business shooting game at 400 yards. I've shot a pronghorn at 240 yards, and that felt like a long shot.