"...walked between my legs..."

Kindasorta like this ???

That Elk is amazing. That said, the doe was closer that that. I had my legs out in front of me (and I only have a 28" inseam) and the deer actually put her feet (one at a rime) "between the 2 logs" - aka the deers BODY was maybe 6 inches from my head. I was hoping not to get stepped on!

Jumping in a bit late here to echo the positive recommendations. My experiences are in the NY, PA, MD and VA areas, and are that a good lever action 30-30 has been the go-to deer rifle for a long as I can remember.

The woods in these states, for those who have not experienced them, can be and are thick and overgrown. Seeing more than 100 or so yards is often tough, so the range limits of the 30-30 are not important. Most of the users tell me (and me to) that they like the ease and speed of handing in the bush and reliability of the rifle. Cost is reasonable also.

The only thing I would worry about is the growing lack of areas where rifle hunting is legal. Check carefully if there are any plans/rumors about changes to the rules in the area that you will hunt in.

As for price, I haven't bought a new or used rifle in a long time, so I will differ to the other posts on price, but second that a very careful check be made of the rifle.

I think you will be very pleased if you get this or another lever action 30-30. Good luck

The carbine pistol stock is more viable than people think. The problem with most was a poor design with considerable play in most examples EXCEPT the Broomhandle Mauser.
Certain vintage handguns are exempt from the prohibition,being found in collections or arcane calibers.
I owned a C96 commercial in 7.65 with the stock, perhaps the only example that works well.
I took it to Colonel Jeff Coopper's GUNSITE class as a joke, his disdain for small calibers and admiration for the 1911 well known.
After he calmed down, the Col took my broom and proceeded to shoot up a box of fiocchi's at some rather LONG ranges with usefull accuracy and put my few handloaded winchester silvertips into gelatin.
He finished with a undeniable smile and a look of brainstorming some ideas.
Then I pulled out my 3 digit colt navy 1911 and started another lecture about fine fireams.
There is an Arizona sheriff writing for the firearms magazines who carried a 'broom along with his big bore S&W while on horseback for just such an application.
A nearly forgotten firefight between Polish cavalrymen and a Bolshevik unit in the early post ww1 period saw broomhandles VS nagants at close quarters. The polish nearly wiped out the much larger Soviet force.
That little 7.62 was the fastest pistol cartridge until the .357 came out.

Not a "real" gun, but I put one of these on my Crossman model 1377 pellet pistol. That thing is now ACCURATE! I can easily hit sparrow sized targets at 50 yards or more...

Sometime in the distant past I had that same Crosman. It had a removable shoulder stock that replaced the grips. You are correct, it was a great little air gun. Wish I still had it.

I just wish it was .22 cal, instead of .177...