For deer, my buddy--who's richer than I am--uses a 6.5mm Creedmoor. His PRS rifle weighs, literally, almost 20 pounds; wouldn't want to go in the field with that even if it was just a mile hike to a tree stand.
My understanding is, overall in the U.S., the most common deer hunting calibers are 30.06, .308, and .243, in that order. Doesn't make 'em the best, just the most common. I haven't been deer hunting in a long time. Hogs have been about it, and those infrequently. And I can't remember the last time I took a shot at even a stationary paper target over 400 yards away. So I'm competent to make not one single observation or recommendation about your question.
But several years ago I went through a caliber consolidation. Like I said, I'm not as rich as my PRS friend, and I decided I'd rather have a higher round count in fewer calibers than fewer rounds in a lot of different calibers. Both handguns and rifles. Had to be a solid round, of course, but my main driver after that was availability. I ended up with only three utility rifle calibers: .22LR, 5.56mm, and .308. If I win the lottery and can throw a hundred grand at it without blinking, I'd almost certainly expand that list. A lot. For no good reason, I've wanted a .338 Lapua Magnum ever since I shot one umpteen years ago. I still wouldn't be able to hit anything past 400 yards, but I would miss with definite authority.
Based on all my conversations with my PRS buddy, I think it comes down to just how purpose-driven you need the rifle to be. For going long range precision, you'll want to spend probably more than the cost of the rifle on quality glass, and then pick up one of the latest--and not cheap--internet-of-things magic range finders that can reach way the heck out there. Going over 1,000 yards can get expensive really quickly.
Bottom line is that there may be no perfect tool for both typical deer hunting scenarios as well as 1,000-yard-plus precision rifle shooting. The right shooter for PRS may be a bull-barrel heavyweight that you wouldn't want to lug around on hillsides for hunting. And it might have a Swarovski 5-25x52 scope that costs more than a lot of people's monthly salaries that you wouldn't want to bang around on tree trunks.
So I think Paladin offered pretty good information if you end up wanting to to choose more of a compromise: a capable round for hunting medium-sized game that can also shoot flat enough to reach out past .308 accuracy probabilities.
And if I'm never able to have a .338 Lapua, maybe someday I'll get a Barrett in .50 BMG to snipe coyotes at 150 yards. Everything doesn't have to be for-purpose specific...
