This is my thinking too. I wouldn't spend the next 10 years hunting whitetails with a 300 win mag because one day I hoped to go on an elk hunt. I buy rifles based on what I'm going to use them for all the time. That said, a 30-06 should fill your needs as a duel purpose gun. It's not too much for whitetails. Ammo is cheap and readily available everywhere. There probably isn't another caliber out there with more options for ammo type either. You could use standard lead cup and core stuff in the 150 to 165 grain range for whitetails and step up to the tougher 180 grain bullets for elk.

im thinkin maybe one of these.

http://www.google.com/imgres?q=canno...,r:0,s:0,i:141

I have a Ruger hawkeye 270 nice but not the most accurite gun. The TC and Tikka far outshoot it.
Although I am about to buy a Ruger mark11 target rifle in 6.5 creedmoor.

Last year My wife bought me a 308 m77 ruger left handed new in the box ....Got to love her .That said ... I have and hunted with 30/06,7mm,270.Hunting in western ny unless your a field sitter its in the woods game . 06 being a great big game gun and ammo choices ,be it getting smaller ,would be my all purpose big game choice . Recoil is a little sharper than most people like at the range but i never notice it hunting .270 is a great field gun and pretty decent deer gun , however a little twig will upset that sucker beyond belief. 308 Is my choice because its a 30 caliber like the 06 , short action ,great supply of surplus ammo to work with does a great job on deer and should be more than enough for elk,,, recoil is way less than 06 and lighter than 270. Just my opinion......whatever you decide shoot the heck out of it ;)

I have a Ruger 77 MKII in a 280 rem., it is probably my favorite hunting rifle but if you dont handload I would go with a 30-06. As far as Rugers not being accurate, that is hogwash! Yeah they dont have the greatest triggers but that is a very easy fix, even with the stock trigger and sometimes you might have to free float the barrel, but again a very minor and easy fix. My 280 is as accurate as ANY hunting rifle I have ever been arround, with 154gr. Hornady SST's it will consistently shoot 3/4" and under 5 shot groups at 100 yards.