Either a Remington model seven stainless or model 700 mountain rifle stainless in 7mm-08 with 140 grain Partitions or 308 with 165 Partitions
^^^This would be my first choice^^^
My second choice would be my favorite of all the rifles I own. It's a early 1980's Winchester XTR Model 70 Featherweight in 7x57. Mine has the rare Factory Sights and wears a 2.5x8 Leupold VXII. Out of all my hunting rifles, it's usually my go to gun for 90% of my hunting needs.
And in staying with the thread theme, for deer hunting only, and if I hunted in TX, only, my 3rd choice would be one of my heavy barreled AR15's in .223 with a 60 gr Partition. TX Deer have small bodies and are easy to kill, in general. I use it quite a bit for culling does at the Ranch.