If I was buying a new rain dedicated rifle aimed at stalking, if would probably be the Marlin 336XLR, a stainless and laminate lever action rifle. It would be even better if they offered if with a carbon fiber stock and fiber optic sights. I have those and a plastic stock on my stainless muzzleloader and really think the ensemble makes a very good all weather rifle.
Since I recently bought a pre owned 30-30 Winchester 94AE and tested it yesterday at the range (it was then fired for the first time since its manufacturing in c. 1982), and taking into account that my best 8 shot group was hovering around 2.5", maybe 3", at 50 yards (150 grain ammo, 2 brands; 170 grain looks more promising, but I was tired after 46 shots and quit) -I feel like the fiber optic sights are a little less accurate, because they are bigger than the post- I think the replacement of the sights on that rifle by fiber optic sights would make an already suitable rifle simply perfect for the role envisioned by OP: It did cost half of what Marlin is asking for their rifle and it feels like a formidable stalking rifle, ahead of my BAR (scope 1.5-6 and see through mounts for the use of iron sights) and on par with my Encore (fiber optic sights). The gain envisioned with the use of fiber optic sights in dim light conditions surpasses in my opinion the accuracy loss, or possible accuracy loss, due to the use of fiber optic sights, in that precise use of a rifle as a stalking instrument. Just wipe and oil at the end of the day.