I just got back from a Hill Country hunt in Moutain Home, Tx where the ranch owner's daughter knocked off a trophy whitetail and a 375 lb hog within 20 min of each other w/ a .223 Remington. His new gun of choice for pork is the .17 HMR, so if he is any indication we might be inclined to revise the saying to "everything but the rifles are bigger in Texas"!
To answer your question more directly, I was strongly advised against allowing my daughter to deer hunt w/ a .223 Remington when rifle shopping here in Michigan. They fall fine to the ole 30 WCF, 2 3/4" slugs in Southern LP, and even non-mag muzzle loaders, but the 223 Rem or 243 Win will raise eyebrows... seen it first hand!
