I am looking to buy a TC Encore pistol to hunt deer with. I am thinking the .308 would be about right, as far a round that could kill a deer at 200 yards but also have manageable recoil for a pistol.Does anybody have any thoughts on a different caliber?

Or should I look into buying a 11-87 slug gun?

It would probably be just a personal preference. I had rather have a rifle shooting rifle cartridges or a shotgun over a pistol, and especially a rifle for the 200 yard shots. I've shot a friends .270 pistol some and really wouldn't care to deer hunt with it over a rifle/shotgun.

7mm tcu or maybe the new 30 cal tc cartridge. 200 yards is a long poke though. you better have a steady rest, like a bipod, and practice like crazy. I would stick with a 44 mag and keep shots uner 75 yards.

Savage used to make a bolt-action pistol (Striker)in a variety of calibers. They only dropped it last year or the one before, so there's plenty out there.

Look at your hunting regs first. Some states regulate handguns based on caliber, some regulate based on muzzle velocityetc.

If I were you and you really want to pistol hunt go with the 44 mag as stated earlier and shoot close 75 yds or less. I am only comfortable with my 44 out to about 30-40 yds but thats me.

with open sights I agree, but with a scope, i would trust my self anyway to go 75.

With a good rest, you should stay around 100 yds. If you are a real steady, good shot, might be 125 with a scoped 44. mag. The 45 long colt is good from 50 to 75 yards for me. The 22 mag, in the head for hogs.

.44 mag is plenty, dropped him in his tracks.
I would be comfortable to 75-100 yards with steady rest and 50-60 free hand.
Keep the rifle for your 200 yard attempts...

That it fits a given pistol doesn't make it a "pistol caliber", try hunting deer with a .308 in any gun here, you'll find yourself staring through bars. Rifles are for 200 yard shots anyway, not pistols.

I have the contender with a 223 and 44 mag 14" barrell scoped that I hope to try out this year..