If you talk to a lot of guides and ranchers in texas they will tell you that the 25-06 is one of the best guns on deer you can get for our sized deer. A 300 mag is too much gun, you take the risk of tearing up the meat, and a 223 or 243 is taking the risk of losing an animal. I even have a friend whose son has a 300 RUM to shoot 180 lb whitetails! Talk about overkill. Most "seasoned" hunters ( I respect my elders!) that i know all agree that anything in the 30-06 family is the way to go for deer, even the gunners guru will tell you that in this issue of Guns and Ammo in his notes in the back. My 25-06 and 270 cant be beat, and nothing new has come out and probably never will that will ever do it so much better that any normal hunter could ever tell the difference. I certainly cant speak for other states, but thats the word from those who know here in Texas.