Lorien, I’m not a hunter because of my current situation and place of habitat. Additionally I have very little expertise (let's just say none!) to give you a definitive response but I was at the stage where you seem to be about a year or so ago, so here are what I would do if in your shoes:
Bolt action hunting rifle in .270 Winchester paired with a good scope which does not cost an arm and a leg, yet not a piece of crap either. For a budget friendly ensemble, Nathan gave you a very good lead. For brand new or let's say contemporary built albeit slightly used, I'd go with a Tikka and SS barrel.
If you want something which can also act as self-D typa rifle in a more brushy environment where taking looong shots may be useless and perhaps inhumane in hunters' lingo, consider a lever action rifle chambered in 30-30. For more budget friendly types, maybe a good Marlin (I forgot which years are bad or suspect!). Henry Repeating Arms makes a very nice looking one in SS but I'm not all that convinced about Henry's.
If & when grizzlies are the major concern, I would not look below 30-06 for the bolt action or 45-70 for the lever action but since you said that the deer in your area are on the smaller sizes, I'd go with ta bolt action in .270 plus a 10mm pistol side arm.
