You haven't really told us much about your shooting experience. How you can handle recoil (kick) will determine how much rifle you want. A 30-06 is a good all-around cartridge, but if you are sensitive to its kick, you may have trouble shooting it. That is why I recommended the 6.5x55mm.
Regardless of the caliber you select, plan on spending serious time at the range to get to know your rifle. Remember, you may only get one shot in an entire season, so make it a good one!
Good luck!
A 308 is not to bad in the kick dept either.
Thanks, Redleg. The amount of information on this thread is already more than I could have hoped for. My hunting experience is absolutely zero, with the exception of shooting birds with my bb gun 15 years ago. I do go shooting every time I visit the relatives out in Montana, and my girlfriend's Christmas present to me was an 18-month membership at a local shooting club. I don't think I'm sensitive to kick-----my main concern is that my ears are protected so I don't blast a hole in my eardrum. Last week I went out shooting with my relative's SKS rifle and it was a pure joy. I don't know how that compares on the spectrum of kick force, but it was just fine.
My brother owns a 6.5x55 mm. It is a very nice gun, easily groups within 1" at 100 yards, and he didn't pay all that much for it - certainly less than $300. I have fired it and it's a nice weapon to handle.
I myself have two center fire rifles, an old Enfield Mk 4 No. 1 that I need to buy a new magazine for (.303 British), and a Marlin 1895SS lever action (45 - 70 Govt.). The Enfield is a good shooter and makes a fine deer gun, but it is big and heavy and you'll feel it toting it around in the woods all day. The Marlin is definitely overkill for deer when using the 40,000 C.U.P. rounds it's capable of shooting, but factory ammo is loaded for much lower pressures and velocities due to all the antiques out there, and frankly, I just enjoy the hell out of firing that big thumper.
FWIW, my next purchase will be a synthetic stock Remington 700 ADL in .270. Wal Mart sells them for about $350, and I figure on another $200 - $250 for a decent scope.