My first deer rifle was a 336 Marlin 35caliber that was in 1956 i still have it that's what i would go with a Marlin a 444 would take care of anything you would meet up with !!!
I started hunting in 1956 here in Michigan, and a buck was a buck no matter the points, and you had better not ever shot a doe for any reason NEVER !!!!
I called a LGS and ask him how is it going, he said a little bit a go i could not sell a gun because i had no ammo for them, now i can't sell them because they won't pay the price of the ammo !!!
Well i could have went at 59 but i had the job i had worked all my life to get so i stayed till i was 70 i just was not ready to go at 59, it had nothing to do with money !!!
Back when i first starting hunting ( 1956 ) the old boys said if you can put 3 shots in a pie plate at 50yds you are good to go, well things have changed i want 1.5 at 100yds but my hunting has changed too, from the big woods to the big fields !!