Didn't say if you'd be handloading or not. If not, then I'd pick a popular cartridge that I know that I could find ammo for, PA or NC. I'd say going with the 30-06, 308, 270 isn't a bad idea and would work on ANY deer. May be "blue collar" choices, but those have put plenty of deer (and larger game) on the ground. Ammo companies make many options for these guys and you have a variety to choose from. If you handload or can find ammo easily, the 7mm-08 and 280 Rem. are added to the lest.