IMHO the smaller calibers would be fine on the smaller deer, but not so much on the deer we have here in Minnesota.
There isn't a deer in North America that I'd hesitate to vent with a .223.
The .223 is my favorite deer, varmint, predator, target, and fun cartridge. There is no deer extant I would be afraid to take with the proper bullet out to 300 yards. Every deer here was killed with a single shot from a 223, 22-250 or .357 magnum. Their just deer! [/url]
Great photos! Love looking at happy youngsters posing with their animals! Congratulations!