All the advice is good, but you should consider your application. I see you are from Michigan but that doesn't tell me whether that's where you hunt, or the average range of your shots. If you are looking for anytime, anywhere, all species in North America, do it all, I would say a .30-06 is your huckleberry. YMMV


Carry what you’re willing to fight with - Mackay Sagebrush

Perfect is the enemy of good enough