First time hunting for white tale

Good Luck Great Gun & round Stat Safe & Keep your EYES & EARS open ; )
Y/D

The won't be whitetails here in California. Here they're desert mule deer. I got one over near the Hemet side of the national forest. They tend to be on the small side, so your 150 grain soft points are just right.

They aren't true desert mule deer (for majority), thus the size differential. They are blacktail.

Ask your dad what make of ammo and type + weight of bullet shoots best in his 30.06. THAT'S what you need to use. Each specimen of any make/type of rifle "prefers" certain ammunition that it shoots best.

Also, different bullet weights, makes and types shoot to different "point of aim" locations, so knowing what he preferred would probably yield you better accuracy and thus less chance of wounding and tracking a deer for hours. Shot placement is everything.

Also, try to sight in the round that you get before the hunt. Scopes can move, aimpoints can mysteriously change sometimes.

Good luck on your hunt.