Personally I prefer a much larger caliber, that can take
anything living, without destroying it totally. Either the Nato 7.62/308 Win, or the 30-06. Both have acceptable recoil, prize and size. Expanding rounds for everything bigger than a small deer or so, and solid for small prey, to save more meat, more food.
.22 can take out deer with headshot if you are a d**n good sniper, but never go for their head. They starve painfully to death without their jaw
Rather the neck.