I've carried my Colt series 70 govt model .45acp with CorBons as my only deer gun, but didn't come across any game on that trip out.
I more often carry the .454 revolver, as deer season coincides with bear season, and the .454 is a better choice for bear.
And before we start with the '1911 lets you shoot 4-5 times faster than a big revolver' debate, bear in mind the revolver delivers 4-5 times the power PER shot, so "inflicted power"-wise, it's a wash. Plus the 1911's total payload is around 3,100 ft/lbs (7x450 or so with good factory ammo). Once again, the revolver beats this by 4 times; 6x2,000 ft/lbs, or 12,000 total.
If it were hunting for survival, guys would play it safer, and you wouldn't see them pushing the limits of their own ability or their equipment's; but it's a sport. So instead of a scoped .308 rifle, they'll use a scoped .308 handgun, etc. It makes him put more work into it than the rifle does.