I'm in Kansas and hunt whitetails and coyotes. I don't think my current go-to hunting rifles are indicative of what others are hunting with.
For the last few years I've hunted with ARs; .223, .308, and 6.5 Grendel, with a smattering of 10mm 1911 hunts in there.
In hunting across 3 states, I have yet to run into another hunter carrying an AR (other than my 2 sons), of any flavor.
I did run into a hunter from out of state who asked if everyone in Kansas hunted with a .25-06, 'cuz he heard that's what everyone in Kansas hunts with. Huh, I neither own, nor do I know anyone who hunts with a .25-06.
Another out of stater I ran into was hunting with a .338 Win Mag, because, according to him, he got tired of the big Kansas bucks running off after he knocked 'em down with his .300 Win Mag. I had a .223.
So, there's that.
